This Nevada mining town was so ruthless that its first 72 deaths were murders. Despite its deadly start, it’s known today as Nevada’s liveliest ghost town. Get to know Pioche!
Silver ore was discovered in the hills of what would eventually become Pioche (pronounced pee-oach) in 1864, though commercial mining wouldn’t develop in the area until a few years later in 1869, the same year the town was founded.
Pioche’s growth was rapid. Within three years of its founding, the town had produced $5 million worth of ore, grown to a population of 6,000, and was designated as the seat of Lincoln County.
But despite its large population and a thriving mining economy, Pioche was not a pleasant place to live for law abiding citizens. Shootouts were so frequent that it’s claimed the first 72 people laid to rest in Pioche were the victims of murder. Things grew so out of control that the town established the Boot Hill Cemetery, dedicated specifically to house the remains of both murderers and their victims.
Pioche’s outlaw reputation even extended itself into the legal system. The construction of a courthouse was so overcome with political corruption, missed payments, and interest charges that costs ballooned from it’s original $26,000 budget to $1 million. It would take intervention from the Nevada State Legislature and a total of 65 years for the building to be paid off in full. Today, the building is affectionally known as the Million-Dollar Courthouse and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
As for the mining in Pioche, it steadily declined between 1872 and 1876. The town was mostly abandoned by the end of the 19th century. Pioche was never replaced as the Lincoln County seat though, allowing it to avoid the fate of many other mining towns. Today, 1,000 people still call Pioche home. Located 180 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Pioche attracts tourists wanting to escape the big city for a look at 19th century Nevada.