Tag: Tonopah

Tonopah is a census-designated place (CDP) located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno.
Its name was given to it by its founder, Jim Butler, and it is thought to be a Shoshone Indian word, pronounced “tuh-noe-puh.” Although the town previously had a variety of names, including Butler City, Jim Butler’s name remained. It is said to mean “hidden spring”.
In the 2000 census the population was 2,627 and the CDP has a total area of 16.2 square miles (42 km), all land.
The community began about 1900 with the discovery of gold and silver rich ore by prospector Jim Butler when he went looking for a lost burro (donkey) he owned. The burro had wandered off during the night and had sought shelter near a rock outcropping. When Butler discovered the animal the next morning, he picked up a rock to throw at the beast, but instead noticed the rock was unusually heavy. He had stumbled upon…