Goldfield is the county seat of Esmeralda County, Nevada. It is about 170 miles southeast of Carson City, along U.S. Highway 95. As of the 2000 census, the Goldfield area had a total population of 440, almost half of the county's population, though for several years in the early 20th century Goldfield was the largest town in Nevada.
Goldfield was a boomtown in the first decade of the 20th century due to the discovery of gold -- between 1903 and 1940, Goldfield's mines produced more than $86 million. While a small permanent population remains in Goldfield, it is largely a ghost town.
As of the 2000 census, there are 440 people, 221 households, and 118 families residing in the Goldfield CCD. The racial makeup of the CCD is 93.2% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 2.0% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 5.2% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Gold was discovered at Goldfield in 1902, its year of incorporation.
By 1904 the Goldfield district produced about 800 tons of ore, valued at $2,300,000, 30% of the state's production that year. This remarkable production caused Goldfield to grow rapidly, and it soon became the largest town in the state.
Goldfield reached a peak population of about 30,000 people in 1906. In 1907 Goldfield became the county seat.
In addition to the mines, Goldfield was home to large reduction works. The gold output in 1907 was over $8.4 million; in 1908, about $4,880,000.
By the 1910 census, its population had declined to 4,838. By 1912, ore production had dropped to $5 million.
The largest mining company left town in 1919. In 1923 a fire destroyed most of the town's flammable buildings; some brick and stone buildings from before the fire remain including the old hotel and the high school.
By 1950 Goldfield had a population of 275.
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Goldfield, NV
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