Excelsior is a ghost town in Elko County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.[1]

Excelsior, Nevada
Excelsior, Nevada is located in Nevada
Excelsior, Nevada
Excelsior, Nevada
Location within the state of Nevada
Coordinates: 41°42′16″N 116°10′08″W / 41.70444°N 116.16889°W / 41.70444; -116.16889[1]
CountryUnited States
StateNevada
CountyElko
Elevation6,306 ft (1,922 m)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)

Geography

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The site of Excelsior is near the junction of Nevada State Route 226 and Spanish Ranch Road, at 41°42′16″N 116°10′08″W / 41.70444°N 116.16889°W / 41.70444; -116.16889.[1]

History

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The Cope Mining District was formed in 1869. The Excelsior Mine was one of the principal mines of this district, the other being the El Dorado Mine.[2]

Excelsior was a mining community of approximately 20 men at its peak. Only a couple of frame buildings were built before the site was abandoned.[3] A post office called Excelsior was in operation from 1871 until 1872.[4] Aaron Van Ulick was the first and only postmaster. Upon the post office's March 12, 1872, closure, mail was routed through nearby White Rock.[3]

The mine at Excelsior was an ore mine;[5] the mine closed in 1873.[2] The closure of the Excelsior mine had a major impact in the region, helping to cause an exodus in nearby Mountain City by 1875.[6]

The site today is marked by a few dugouts; no houses remain.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Excelsior, Nevada
  2. ^ a b West; Thompson (1881). The History of Nevada. Oakland, CA: Pacific Press. pp. 292–293.
  3. ^ a b c Hall, Shawn (2002). Connecting the West: Historic Railroad Stops and Stage Stations of Elko County, Nevada. University of Nevada Press. pp. 5–6. ISBN 978-0-87417-499-1. Excelsior. DIRECTIONS: From Deep Creek, take road west for 5.8 miles. Take a right turn and follow the road for approximately 101⁄2 miles to White Rock ...
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Excelsior Post Office
  5. ^ Biennial Report. Nevada Dept of Public Instruction. 1877. p. 79.
  6. ^ Hall, Shawn (March 1, 1998). Old Heart Of Nevada: Ghost Towns And Mining Camps Of Elko County. University of Nevada Press. ISBN 978-0-87417-409-0.

See also

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