Nevada: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries

22 February 1819

The Adams-Onis Treaty between the United States and Spain established the southern and western boundaries of the United States territory south of the parallel of 42 degrees north latitude, giving Spanish Mexico clear possession of present Nevada. (Parry, 70:1-30; Paullin, 63-64, plates 94-95; Van Zandt, 26-27)

24 August 1821

Mexico gained its independence from Spain. Present Nevada, which had been under the authority of Spain, came under the control of the Republic of Mexico. ("Mexican War of Independence," New Handbook of Texas, 4:698)

4 July 1848

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War between the United States and Mexico. Mexico recognized the United States' annexation of Texas, and agreed that the Rio Grande River was the true boundary between Mexico and Texas. The area of present Nevada became unorganized federal territory in the United States. (Parry, 102: 29-59; U.S. Stat., vol. 9[1848]/pp. 922-943)

12 March 1849

Mormon leaders in present Utah organized a government, and settlers voted this date to form the state of Deseret. The General Assembly of the newly proposed state of Deseret met on 2 July 1849. The large state was to include almost all of Utah and parts of present Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming, but this proposal never gained widespread support in the U.S. Congress. (Atlas of Utah, 160-161; Brown, Cannon, and Jackson, 90-91; Swindler, 9:375-381)

9 September 1850

The United States created Utah Territory from territory ceded by Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848), from territory to be purchased from the state of Texas in December 1850, and from unorganized federal territory. Map depicts non-county area of Utah Territory in present Nevada. That part of present Nevada south of 37 degrees north latitude remained unorganized federal territory. (Parry, 102: 29-59; U.S. Stat., vol. 9[1848]/pp. 922-943; U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 51[1850]/pp. 453-458; Van Zandt, 159)

13 December 1850

The United States created New Mexico Territory from unorganized federal territory (land ceded by Mexico to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848), and from territory purchased this date by the United States from the state of Texas. New Mexico Territory included all of present New Mexico, most of present Arizona, and parts of present Colorado and Nevada. Map depicts non-county area of New Mexico Territory in present Nevada. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49[1850]/pp. 446-452; Baldwin, 117-137; Van Zandt, 162-165)

4 April 1851

The state of Deseret was dissolved by its General Assembly, upon recommendation of Brigham Young. (Brown, Cannon, and Jackson, 90; Powell, 139)

9 January 1852

BERNALILLO (New Mex.) boundaries redefined by New Mexico Territory. BERNALILLO gained from VALENCIA (New Mex.) and non-county area in New Mexico Territory; exchanged with SAN MIGUEL (New Mex.); lost to SANTA FE (New Mex.) BERNALILLO included parts of present Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess./p. 292)

RIO ARRIBA (New Mex.) boundaries redefined by New Mexico Territory. RIO ARRIBA gained from SAN MIGUEL (New Mex.), SANTA ANA (New Mex. Territory, extinct), SANTA FE (New Mex.), and non-county area in New Mexico Territory; exchanged with TAOS (New Mex.). RIO ARRIBA included parts of present Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess./p. 292)

SANTA ANA (New Mexico Territory, extinct) boundaries redefined by New Mexico Territory. SANTA ANA gained from BERNALILLO (New Mex.) and non-county area in New Mexico Territory; exchanged with SANTA FE (New Mex.); lost to RIO ARRIBA (New Mex.). SANTA ANA included parts of present Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess./p. 292)

TAOS (New Mexico) boundaries redefined by New Mexico Territory. TAOS gained from non-county area in New Mexico Territory, exchanged with RIO ARRIBA (New Mex.) and SAN MIGUEL (New. Mex.). TAOS included parts of present Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess./p. 291)

VALENCIA (New Mex.) boundaries redefined by New Mexico Territory. VALENCIA gained from non-county area in New Mexico Territory, lost to creation of SOCORRO (New Mex.), and lost to BERNALILLO (New Mex.). VALENCIA included parts of present Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess./p. 292)

3 March 1852

DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct) created by Utah Territory from non-county area and TOOELE (Utah); DESERT included parts of present Utah and Nevada. DESERT not fully organized, attached to WEBER "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1851, 1st sess., sec. 3/p. 162)

IRON (Utah) boundaries redefined by Utah Territory. IRON gained non-county area, lost to creation of WASHINGTON (Utah); IRON included parts of present Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. WASHINGTON (Utah) not fully organized, attached to IRON "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1851, 1st sess., secs. 12-13/p. 164)

JUAB (Utah) created by Utah Territory from UTAH (Utah) and non-county area; JUAB included parts of present Utah and Nevada. (Utah Terr. Laws 1851, 1st sess., sec. 9/p. 163)

MILLARD (Utah) boundaries redefined by Utah Territory. MILLARD gained from SANPETE (Utah) and non-county area; MILLARD included parts of present Utah and Nevada. (Utah Terr. Laws 1851, 1st sess., sec. 10/pp. 163-164)

TOOELE (Utah) boundaries were redefined by Utah Territory. TOOELE gained non-county area, lost to DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct), GREAT SALT LAKE (now SALT LAKE, Utah), and UTAH (Utah); TOOELE included parts of present Utah and Nevada. (Utah Terr. Acts 1851, 1st sess., sec. 8/p. 163)

WASHINGTON (Utah) created by Utah Territory from non-county area and IRON (Utah); included parts of present Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. WASHINGTON (Utah) not fully organized, attached to IRON (Utah) "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1851, 1st sess., sec. 13/p. 164)

WEBER (Utah) boundaries redefined by Utah Territory. WEBER (Utah) gained from DAVIS (Utah) and non-county area; WEBER included parts of present Utah and Nevada. DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct) not fully organized, attached to WEBER "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1851, 1st sess., secs. 1, 3/p. 162)

3 May 1852

California legislature proposed creation of PAUTAH (Calif.) in Utah Territory. PAUTAH would have been located entirely within present Nevada. Creation never took effect because the United States never ceded the area to California. (Calif. Stats. 1852, 3d sess., ch. 118/p. 193; "Historical and Political Data, Carson County, Utah Territory," Political History of Nevada 1996, http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/nsla/archives/political/historica l/hist05.htm, 12 December 2002)

17 January 1854

CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct) created by Utah Territory from IRON (Utah), JUAB (Utah), MILLARD (Utah), and TOOELE (Utah); CARSON not fully organized, attached to MILLARD "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." CARSON was located entirely in present Nevada. (Utah Terr. Laws 1853, 3rd sess., p. 19)

10 January 1855

WEBER (Utah) lost to DAVIS (Utah); area within present Nevada was unchanged. (Utah Terr. Laws 1854, 4th sess., ch. 85/pp. 279-280)

18 January 1855

JUAB (Utah) exchanged with SANPETE (Utah); area within present Nevada was unchanged. (Utah Terr. Laws 1854, 4th sess., ch. 81/pp. 276-277)

2 October 1855

CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct) fully organized; detached from MILLARD (Utah). (History of Nevada, 38)

5 January 1856

BEAVER (Utah) created by Utah Territory from IRON (Utah); BEAVER included parts of present Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. (Utah Terr. Laws 1855, 5th sess., sec. 9/p. 7)

CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct) gained from DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct) and WEBER (Utah). (Utah Terr. Laws 1855, 5th sess., sec. 1/p. 5)

HUMBOLDT (Utah Territory, extinct) created by Utah Territory from DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct), JUAB (Utah), TOOELE (Utah), and WEBER (Utah); HUMBOLDT was located entirely in present Nevada. HUMBOLDT not fully organized, attached to TOOELE "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1855, 5th sess., sec. 2/pp. 5-6 and p. 8)

ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct) created by Utah Territory from DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct), JUAB (Utah), TOOELE (Utah), and WEBER (Utah). ST MARY'S was located entirely in present Nevada. ST. MARY'S not fully organized, attached to TOOELE "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1855, 5th sess., sec. 3/p. 6 and p. 8)

WASHINGTON (Utah) gained from IRON (Utah) all along its northern line when the boundary was shifted slightly from 30 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude to four miles north of Fort Harmony. (Utah Terr. Laws 1855, 5th sess., sec. 10/p. 7)

23 February 1856

WASHINGTON (Utah) fully organized, detached from IRON (Utah). (Larson, 26)

14 January 1857

CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct) was disorganized and attached to GREAT SALT LAKE (now SALT LAKE, Utah) "for election, revenue and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1856, 6th sess., pp. 11-14)

17 January 1859

CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct) was reorganized and detached from GREAT SALT LAKE (now SALT LAKE, Utah). HUMBOLDT (Utah Territory, extinct) and ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct) detached from TOOELE (Utah), attached to CARSON "for election, revenue and judicial purposes." (Utah Terr. Laws 1858, 8th sess., ch. 11/pp. 19-20)

8 April 1859

PAUTAH (Calif.) legally eliminated, ending the attempt by California to gain part of Utah Territory in present Nevada. (Calif. Stats. 1859, 10th sess., ch. 183/p. 186)

1 February 1860

TAOS (New Mexico) lost to creation of MORA (New Mexico); area within present Nevada was unchanged. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1859-1860, 9th assy./p. 76)

12 January 1861

SAN JUAN (New Mexico Territory, original, extinct) created by New Mexico Territory from TAOS (New Mexico); SAN JUAN included parts of present Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1860-1861, 10th assy. /p. 16)

18 January 1861

CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct) boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 10th sess., p. 19)

DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct), GREASEWOOD (Utah Territory, extinct), JUAB (Utah), SHAMBIP (Utah, extinct), and TOOELE (Utah) gained from ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct); all included territory in present Utah and Nevada. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 10th sess., p. 19)

HUMBOLDT (Utah Territory, extinct) gained from BEAVER (Utah), IRON (Utah), MILLARD (Utah), and WASHINGTON (Utah); HUMBOLDT remained attached to CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct). (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 10th sess., p. 19)

ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct) gained from BEAVER (Utah), IRON (Utah), MILLARD (Utah), and WASHINGTON (Utah); lost to DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct), GREASEWOOD (Utah Territory, extinct), JUAB (Utah), SHAMBIP (Utah Territory, extinct), and TOOELE (Utah). ST. MARY'S remained attached to CARSON (Utah Territory, extinct). (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 10th sess., p. 19)

28 February 1861

The United States created Colorado Territory from Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah Territories, and from the former Kansas Territory. BEAVER (Utah), IRON (Utah), TAOS (New Mexico), and WASHINGTON (Utah) all lost to Colorado Territory and were eliminated from present Colorado; areas within present Nevada were unchanged. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 59[1861]/pp. 172-177; Van Zandt, 141)

2 March 1861

The United States created Nevada Territory from Utah Territory; CARSON (Utah Territory) and HUMBOLDT (Utah) eliminated; ended attachment of ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct) to CARSON. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 83[1861], pp. 209-210; Van Zandt, 158-160)

25 November 1861

Nevada Territory passed a single act creating nine new counties. (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1861, 1st sess., ch. 24, secs. 1-9/pp. 50-52 and p. 291; for sections on particular counties, see following citations)

CHURCHILL created from non-county area. CHURCHILL not fully organized, attached to LYON for administrative and judicial purposes. (sec. 9/p. 52 and p. 291)

DOUGLAS created from non-county area. (sec. 2/pp. 50-51)

ESMERALDA created from non-county area. (sec. 1/p. 50)

HUMBOLDT created from non-county area. (sec. 8/p. 52)

LAKE (later ROOP, extinct) created from non-county area. (sec. 7/p. 52)

LYON created from non-county area; CHURCHILL attached to LYON for administrative and judicial purposes. (sec. 5/p. 51 and p. 291)

ORMSBY (extinct) created from non-county area. (sec. 3/p. 51)

STOREY created from non-county area. (sec. 6/p. 52)

WASHOE created from non-county area. (sec. 4/p. 51)

17 January 1862

BEAVER (Utah) gained from MILLARD (Utah), SANPETE (Utah), and ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct). (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 3/p. 47)

BOX ELDER (Utah) gained all of GREASEWOOD (Utah Territory, extinct) and MALAD (Utah Territory, extinct); gained from DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct), TOOELE (Utah), ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct), and WEBER (Utah); lost to CACHE (Utah), and lost islands in Great Salt Lake that were attached to GREAT SALT LAKE (now SALT LAKE, Utah) "for election, revenue and judicial purposes." BOX ELDER included territory in present Utah and Nevada. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 12/p. 49)

DESERT (Utah Territory) lost all territory to BOX ELDER (Utah) and TOOELE (Utah); DESERT eliminated. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., secs. 12-13/p. 49)

GREASEWOOD (Utah Territory) lost all territory to BOX ELDER (Utah); GREASEWOOD eliminated. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 12/p. 49)

IRON (Utah) gained from ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct) and WASHINGTON (Utah). (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 2/p. 46)

JUAB (Utah) gained small areas from CEDAR (Utah Territory, extinct) and SHAMBIP (Utah Territory, extinct); exchanged with MILLARD (Utah); lost to TOOELE (Utah) and UTAH (Utah). JUAB eliminated from present Nevada. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 6/pp. 47-48)

MILLARD (Utah) gained from ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct), exchanged with JUAB (Utah), lost to BEAVER (Utah) and SANPETE (Utah). (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 4/p. 47)

SHAMBIP (Utah Territory) lost all territory to TOOELE (Utah) and a small area to JUAB (Utah); SHAMBIP eliminated. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., secs. 6, 13/pp. 47-49)

ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory) lost all territory to BEAVER (Utah), BOX ELDER (Utah), IRON (Utah), MILLARD (Utah), TOOELE (Utah), and WASHINGTON (Utah); ST. MARY'S eliminated. (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., secs. 1-4, 12-13/pp. 46-49)

TOOELE (Utah) gained from CEDAR (Utah Territory, extinct), DESERT (Utah Territory, extinct), GREAT SALT LAKE (now SALT LAKE, Utah), JUAB (Utah), SHAMBIP (Utah Territory, extinct), and ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct); lost to BOX ELDER (Utah). (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 13/p. 49)

WASHINGTON (Utah) gained from ST. MARY'S (Utah Territory, extinct), lost to IRON (Utah). (Utah Terr. Laws 1861, 11th sess., sec. 1/p. 46)

18 January 1862

SAN JUAN (New Mexico Territory, original, extinct) lost all territory to TAOS (New Mex.) when the law creating SAN JUAN was repealed; SAN JUAN eliminated. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 16)

TAOS (New Mexico) gained all of SAN JUAN (New Mexico Territory, original, extinct) when the law creating SAN JUAN was repealed. (N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 16)

14 July 1862

BEAVER (Utah) lost to Nevada Territory in present Nevada when Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 173 [1862], p. 575; Van Zandt, 158-160)

BOX ELDER (Utah) lost to Nevada Territory in present Nevada when Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 173 [1862], p. 575; Van Zandt, 158-160)

IRON (Utah) lost to Nevada Territory in present Nevada when Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 173 [1862], p. 575; Van Zandt, 158-160)

MILLARD (Utah) lost to Nevada Territory in present Nevada when Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 173 [1862], p. 575; Van Zandt, 158-160)

Non-County Area 1 created when Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, p. 575; Van Zandt, 158-160)

TOOELE (Utah) lost to Nevada Territory in present Nevada when Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 173 [1862], p. 575; Van Zandt, 158-160)

WASHINGTON (Utah) lost to Nevada Territory in present Nevada when Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 173 [1862], p. 575; Van Zandt, 158-160)

5 December 1862

LAKE (extinct) renamed ROOP (extinct). (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1862, 2d sess., ch. 5/p. 6)

19 December 1862

LANDER created by Nevada Territory from CHURCHILL, HUMBOLDT, ESMERALDA, and Non-County Area 1. (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1862, 2d sess., ch. 58/p. 53)

Non-County Area 1 lost to creation of LANDER. (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1862, 2d sess., ch. 58/p. 53)

24 February 1863

The United States created Arizona Territory from the western portion of New Mexico Territory, which included part of present Nevada. BERNALILLO (New Mex.), RIO ARRIBA (New Mex.), SANTA ANA (New Mex., Territory, extinct), TAOS (New Mex.), and VALENCIA (New Mex.) all eliminted from Nevada (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 56[1863]/pp. 664-665; Ariz. Terr. Laws 1854, 1st assy./ pp. vii-viii; Van Zandt, 162)

16 January 1864

WASHINGTON (Utah) lost to creation of KANE (Utah); area within present Nevada was unchanged. (Utah Terr. Laws 1863, 13th sess., pp. 18-19)

16 February 1864

NYE created by Nevada Territory from ESMERALDA and Non-County Area 1. (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1864, 3d sess., ch. 102/p. 143)

18 February 1864

ROOP (extinct) was disorganized and attached to WASHOE "for judicial, legislative and revenue purposes." (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1864, 3d sess., ch. 127/p. 159)

19 February 1864

CHURCHILL fully organized, detached from LYON. (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1864, 3d sess., ch. 62/pp. 86-88)

20 February 1864

LANDER gained from CHURCHILL and ESMERALDA; LYON gained from CHURCHILL. (Nev. Terr. Stats. 1864, 3d sess., ch. 108/pp. 147-148)

31 October 1864

The State of Nevada was created from Nevada Territory and admitted to the Union by presidential proclamation. Enabling legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress 24 March 1864. CHURCHILL, DOUGLAS, ESMERALDA, HUMBOLDT, LANDER, LYON, NYE, ORMSBY (extinct), ROOP (extinct), STOREY, and WASHOE all became counties in the State of Nevada. (U.S. Stat., vol. 13, ch. 36[1864]/pp. 30-32 and proc. 22/p. 749; Van Zandt, 158-160)

10 November 1864

MOHAVE (Ariz.) created by Arizona Territory. MOHAVE included part of present Nevada. (Howell Code, Ariz. Terr. Laws 1864, 1st assy., ch. 2/ pp. 24-25)

16 January 1865

BEAVER (Utah) lost to creation of PIUTE (Utah); area within present Nevada was unchanged. (Utah Terr. Laws 1864, 14th sess., p. 16)

9 March 1865

NYE gained from CHURCHILL, ESMERALDA, and LANDER. (Nev. Stats. 1865, 1st sess., ch. 106/p. 352)

22 December 1865

PAH-UTE (Arizona Territory, extinct) created by Arizona Territory from MOHAVE (Ariz.). PAH-UTE included part of present Nevada. (Ariz. Terr. Laws 1865, 2d assy./pp. 19-20)

10 January 1866

MILLARD (Utah) gained from JUAB (Utah); area within present Nevada was unchanged. (Utah Terr. Laws 1865, 15th sess., ch. 146, sec. 6/p. 208)

WASHINGTON (Utah) gained from IRON (Utah); area within present Nevada was unchanged. (Utah Terr. Laws 1865, 15th sess., ch. 146, sec. 3/p. 207)

26 February 1866

LINCOLN created from NYE. (Nev. Stats. 1866, 2d sess., ch. 48/p. 131)

5 May 1866

Nevada Territory gained from Utah Territory resulting in the following changes:

LANDER gained from BOX ELDER (Utah), TOOELE (Utah), and MILLARD (Utah). (U.S. Stat., vol. 14, ch. 73[1866]/p. 43; Van Zandt, 158, 165; Nev. Stats. 1866, 2d sess., ch. 84/p. 183)

LINCOLN gained from IRON (Utah), WASHINGTON (Utah), MOHAVE (Ariz.), and PAH-UTE (Arizona Territory, extinct). (U.S. Stat., vol. 14, ch. 73[1866]/p. 43; Van Zandt, 158, 165; Nev. Stats. 1866, 2d sess., ch. 84/p. 183)

NYE gained from BEAVER (Utah), IRON (Utah), MILLARD (Utah), and PAH-UTE (Arizona Territory, extinct). (U.S. Stat., vol. 14, ch. 73[1866]/p. 43; Van Zandt, 158, 165; Nev. Stats. 1866, 2d sess., ch. 84/p. 183)

MOHAVE (Ariz.), and PAH-UTE (Ariz. Territory, extinct) lost to the state of Nevada when Nevada gained from Arizona Territory. Arizona Territory twice petitioned Congress to repeal the act and did not recognize the change until 18 February 1871. U.S. Stat., vol. 14, ch. 73[1866]/p. 43; Sacks, 25; Van Zandt, 158, 165)

BEAVER (Utah), BOX ELDER (Utah), IRON (Utah), MILLARD (Utah), TOOELE (Utah), and WASHINGTON (Utah) all eliminated from Nevada. (U.S. Stat., vol. 14, ch. 73[1866]/p. 43; Van Zandt, 158-159)

18 March 1867

LINCOLN exchanged with NYE. (Nev. Stats. 1867, 3d sess., ch. 90/p. 129)

27 February 1869

CHURCHILL gained from HUMBOLDT and LYON, lost to ESMERALDA. (Nev. Stats. 1869, 4th sess., ch. 41/p. 88)

5 March 1869

ELKO created from LANDER. (Nev. Stats. 1869, 4th sess., ch. 94/pp. 153-154)

ESMERALDA exchanged with NYE. (Nev. Stats. 1869, 4th sess., ch. 75/p. 128)

LANDER gained from CHURCHILL. (Nev. Stats. 1869, 4th sess., ch. 74/p. 128; Holt, Map of Caliifornia and Nevada 1869)

1 April 1869

WHITE PINE created from LANDER. (Nev. Stats. 1869, 4th sess., ch. 60/pp. 108-110)

1 March 1871

ELKO gained from LANDER. (Nev. Stats. 1871, 5th sess., ch. 39/p. 92)

7 March 1873

LANDER gained from HUMBOLDT. (Nev. Stats. 1873, 6th sess., ch. 113/p. 189)

20 March 1873

EUREKA created from LANDER. Act passed 1 March 1873; took effect 20 March 1873. (Nev. Stats. 1873, 6th sess., ch. 46/pp. 107-109)

16 February 1875

Legislature authorized EUKEKA to gain the Mineral Hill area of ELKO. The act was declared unconstitutional and void by the Nevada Supreme Court in July 1875 [see 7 February 1877]. (Nev. Stats. 1875, 7th sess., ch. 25/pp. 66-67; Mottaz, 41; "Nevada v. Rogers" in Nev. Rpts., 10:250-261)

20 February 1875

LINCOLN gained from NYE. (Nev. Stats. 1875, 7th sess., ch. 36/pp. 80-81)

26 February 1875

ESMERALDA gained from NYE. CHURCHILL boundary with NYE was redefined [no change]. (Nev. Stats. 1875, 7th sess., ch. 50/p. 102)

WHITE PINE gained from NYE. (Nev. Stats. 1875, 7th sess. ch. 52/pp. 103-105)

7 February 1877

EUREKA gained from ELKO. Earlier attempt to enact this change on 16 February 1875 was declared unconstitutional and void by the Nevada Supreme Court. (Nev. Stats. 1877, 8th sess., ch. 24/pp. 64-65)

2 March 1881

EUREKA gained from WHITE PINE. (Nev. Stats. 1881, 10th sess., ch. 70/p. 104)

18 January 1883

WASHOE gained all of ROOP (extinct); ROOP eliminated. (Nev. Stats. 1883, 11th sess., ch. 4/p. 12)

1 March 1883

LYON gained from ESMERALDA. (Nev. Stats. 1883, 11th sess., ch. 74/p. 99)

31 January 1891

At the January 1891 session, the Nevada Supreme Court confirmed the location of the boundary between EUREKA and LANDER based on an 1870 survey line, although in 1887 it was discovered that the line had been erroneously marked one and one-half miles east of its correct location. EUREKA claimed the disputed territory based on the later survey, but the court upheld the earlier line. ("Eureka v. Lander" in Nev. Rpts., 21: 144-150)

15 March 1895

STOREY boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Nev. Stats. 1895, 17th sess., ch. 80/p. 73)

19 March 1897

Legislature authorized a county referendum on the question, "Shall the County of LINCOLN be divided?" Referendum was rejected at the 1898 general election by a vote of 67 in favor and 486 opposed. (Nev. Stats. 1897, 18th sess., ch. 97/p. 112; Mottaz, 43)

6 March 1899

LYON boundaries were redefined to include the "territory over which LYON has exercised jurisdiction for the period of five years last past." Results were: LYON gained from DOUGLAS, and LYON boundary with STOREY was in dispute [see July 1911]. (Nev. Stats. 1899, 19th sess., ch. 30/p. 41; Mottaz, 43)

1 July 1909

CLARK created from LINCOLN. Act passed 5 February 1909; took effect 1 July 1909. (Nev. Stats. 1909, 24th sess., ch. 11/pp. 8-13)

10 February 1911

MINERAL created from ESMERALDA. (Nev. Stats. 1911, 25th sess., ch. 13/pp. 10-15)

July 1911

During the July 1911 term, the Nevada Supreme Court found in favor of LYON regarding the correct location of its boundary with STOREY [no change]. ("Lyon v. Storey" in Nev. Rpts., 34: 243-264)

24 March 1913

NYE gained small area in the city of Tonopah from ESMERALDA. (Nev. Stats. 1913, 26th sess., ch. 221/p. 312)

18 March 1919

PERSHING created from HUMBOLDT. (Nev. Stats. 1919, 29th sess., ch. 62/pp. 75-76)

19 May 1924

WASHOE exchanged with HUMBOLDT and PERSHING when WASHOE Board of County Commissioners unilaterally changed its eastern boundary north of 40 degrees north latitude to run on public land survey lines. HUMBOLDT, PERSHING, and the state of Nevada acquiesced to this change. WASHOE County Clerk's office was unable to locate this change in board minutes, 1923-1927. (Mottaz, 46; Washoe Board of County Commissioners Minutes, 19 May 1924; Washoe Co. Clerk, email to P. T. Sinko, 26 Sep. 2006)

18 March 1925

Boundary between ELKO and WHITE PINE was adjusted to run on public land survey lines [no mappable change]. (Nev. Stats. 1925, 32d sess., ch. 113/p. 149)

28 March 1933

LYON gained from MINERAL. (Nev. Stats. 1933, 36th sess., ch. 193/pp. 335-339; Nev. Stats. 1935, 37th sess., ch. 166/p. 361)

22 March 1951

CHURCHILL boundary with LYON was adjusted near town of Wadsworth [change too small to map]. (Nev. Stats. 1951, 45th sess., ch. 288/p. 440)

6 June 1961

CLARK boundary with MOHAVE (Arizona) was redefined as the result of an Interstate Compact (enacted 24 March 1960 and consented to by the United States on 6 June 1961) "to fix the location of the boundary line between the states of Arizona and Nevada [which] has become indefinite and uncertain because of meanderings in the main channel of the Colorado River" [changes too small to map]. (Ariz. Laws 1960, 24th leg., 2d reg. sess., ch. 69/pp. 174-180; Nev. Stats. 1960, p. 145; Mottaz, 47; U.S. Stat., vol. 75 [1961]/p. 93)

1 April 1963

STOREY boundary along Truckee River was clarified [not mapped]. (Nev. Stats. 1963, 52d sess., ch. 169/p. 269)

2 March 1965

DOUGLAS exchanged with ORMSBY (extinct). (Nev. Stats. 1965, 53d sess., ch. 94/pp. 130-131)

25 March 1965

LYON exchanged with WASHOE when boundary was placed on public land survey lines. (Nev. Stats. 1965, 53d sess., ch. 192/pp. 337-338)

4 April 1967

ORMSBY (extinct) exchanged with WASHOE when boundary was placed on public land survey lines. (Nev. Stats. 1967, 54th sess., ch. 243/pp. 722-724)

12 April 1967

DOUGLAS exchanged with LYON. (Nev. Stats. 1967, 54th sess., ch. 350/pp. 972-974)

16 April 1969

EUREKA exchanged with LANDER when boundary was placed on public land survey lines. (Nev. Stats. 1969, 55th sess., ch. 387/pp. 656-657)

24 April 1969

CHURCHILL exchanged with LYON. (Nev. Stats. 1969, 55th sess., ch. 590/pp. 1112-1114)

1 July 1969

The independent city of Carson City was created by the consolidation of ORMSBY (extinct) and Carson City; ORMSBY eliminated. Act passed 1 April 1969; took effect 1 July 1969. (Nev. Stats. 1969, 55th sess., ch. 213/pp. 287-289; Nevada Constitution, art. 4, sec. 37[A])

Boundaries of DOUGLAS, LYON, and WASHOE were redefined [no change]. (Nev. Stats. 1969, 55th sess., ch. 213/pp. 318-32)

16 February 1973

WASHOE boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Nev. Stats. 1973, 57th sess., ch. 31/p. 31)

21 April 1973

STOREY exchanged with WASHOE. (Nev. Stats. 1973, 57th sess., ch. 472, p. 697-699)

23 April 1977

Carson City (Ind. City) exchanged with WASHOE when boundary was adjusted along U.S. Highway 395 near Lakeview. (Nev. Stats. 1977, 59th sess., ch. 246/pp. 446-448)

12 May 1983

CHURCHILL exchanged with WASHOE when boundary was placed on public land survey lines. (Nev. Stats. 1983, 62nd sess., ch. 250/pp. 565-569)

PERSHING boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Nev. Stats. 1983, 62d sess., ch. 250, sec. 2/pp. 565-566)

7 June 1985

Boundary between CLARK and NYE was adjusted and placed on public land survey lines [change too small to map]. (Nev. Stats. 1985, 63rd sess., ch. 551, p. 1654-1655)

29 June 1987

BULLFROG (extinct) created from NYE. This creation was an effort by Nevada to discourage construction of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste disposal site. (Nev. Stats. 1987, 64th sess., ch. 819/pp. 2304-2305; Coates, "Nevada Scam")

3 May 1989

NYE gained all of BULLFROG; BULLFROG eliminated following a Nevada District Court ruling that the creation was unconstitutional. (Nev. Stats. 1989, 65th sess., ch. 104/pp. 241-246)