Welcome to

ELKO COUNTY, NEVADA

A Part of the NVGenWeb & USGenWeb Projects
"Home of the Ruby Mountains and the Provincial Capital of Cattle Ranching, Mining, and Reilroads."

Welcome!

Welcome to Elko County, Nevada. The main purpose for these pages is to provide genealogical research support for those who are digging for their roots and heritages in Elko County. If there are not any genealogical data readily available right now, please be patient. These pages will evolve over time. Also, if your ancestors did or still live here and you have information on these ancestors, wouldn't you love to share with others? If so, contact the County Coordinator and let us add your priceless data.

I Am Your County Coordinator

Hello! My name is Matt Friend. I am your Elko County Coordinator. I live in Arkansas. I am not able to do any local research or lookups for you, yet I hope, I have provided you with plenty of Elko County or the State of Nevada resources to utilize some of your own research. In the section called “A Path to Follow” a link called “Look Up Volunteers” where you can request from the group of volunteers there. Need assistance? Have suggestion(s) or question(s)? Contact me if you have any questions.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. -- Anonymous

History about Elko County Court House

Elko County had been created out of the northeastern part of the State of Nevada from its original county of Lander on March 5, 1869. The county was named after its principal town and sear of government. Across the nation it was associated with the railroad stations of those who traveled to the Great West. The origin of the name is uncertain.

The first courthouse was built in the 1870s, however, the first officials had occupied several “adobe buildings and a tent. Nevertheless, within months after the creation of the county, planning of the new courthouse happened.

“The commissioners accepted the plans of Walter Moberly for a courthouse. "The building is to be...of the Roman Doric style of architecture," reported The Elko Independent. "On the first or lower floor there will be four rooms for offices..., with a fireproof vault in one; and also, on this floor five cells for holding prisoners...On the second floor will be the courtroom...and four offices, .and a portico in front." In August 1869, the county commissioners awarded a construction contact for $17,744 to W.P. Monroe. As Monroe began building the courthouse, some people called for a more elaborate design. Despite the addition of higher walls, a heavy cornice, and alterations to the front stairway, Monroe finished the brick courthouse in a little more than three months, on December 18, 1869.

Monroe and the county disagreed over the final bill. After paying him over $20,000 for the courthouse, the commissioners rejected his bill for $240.00 for the locks. Monroe duplicated the keys and distributed them throughout the town, forcing the county to replace the locks at a cost of $600.00.” (Elko County District Courts)

Elko County Courthouse completed in 1869

By 1910, it was commissioned to build a new courthouse.

“The two-story structure, designed by William H. Weeks and built by the Sellman brothers of western Nevada, cost $150,000. The courthouse is on the site of its predecessor. It is a Neo-Classical building with a shallow dome and a two-story pedimented portico supported by Doric columns. A balustrade follows the roof line and accentuated an ornate cornice. In 1916, an article in the "industrial Issue" of The Elko Independent boasted that the courthouse "isn't the State capitol, as many might suppose, at first glance. It is the beautiful $150,000 county courthouse...built for the needs of the present." (Elko County District Courts)

Elko County Courthouse completed in 1911

To learn more about the History of Elko County Courthouse, visit the Elko County District Courts website.

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