McCoy was named after James H. McCoy who made the original gold discoveries in 1914. However, it wasn’t until 1929 and after new gold deposits were discovered that McCoy began to grow. The Nevada Gold Dome Mining Company in 1929 and 1939 built a 20-ton amalgamation mill. A camp of around 75 people formed at McCoy during this period. Boardinghouses were built, a store opened, and a school began and operated until 1940. In 1930 the gold deposits went dry and by the end of 1931 virtually all mining activity had ceased. The population dropped to about a dozen during the rest of the decade. After mining activity ceased in 1941, McCoy was abandoned. There is an open pit gold mine currently operating at McCoy.

Submitted by: Shawn Hall from his book Romancing Nevada's Past: Ghost Towns And Historic Sites Of Eureka, Lander, And White Pine Counties Click here to purchase his book!