La Plata, Nevada
La Plata was the second county seat in Churchill County in 1865. After taking the 15 mile journey into the mountains, one might wonder why in the world this would ever be a County Seat. But then, one might remember there just weren't many people in Churchill County at this time and a mining boom camp with three mills would have ruled the county. But the Eastern capitalist were fooled and there never was an sustainable ore. BuT 1868 the post office was gone and the county seat transferred to Stillwater.
If the ore at La Plata was not sustainable, the county seats of Churchill weren't sustainable either!
1861-1865, Buckland Station: Yes, a ranch and stage stop was the first county seat. It was adjacent to Fort Churchill, however.
1865-1868, La Plata: A booming mining camp without any ore! That didn't work too well.
1868-1903, Stillwater: Population, few. It was an important stage stop between the Central Pacific Railroad station at Wadsworth and the mines of Nye County. Another great reason to put a court here?
1903-present, Fallon: Fallon is without a doubt the largest town in Churchill County. So, by today's standards this makes sense. However, when the town was granted the county seat, it was actually only a dream of the town's owner! However, the veracious promoter Senator Warren Williams who platted the town, the Newlands Project which brought water to Fallon for farming, and a railroad spur into the city, made Fallon sustainable!
1861-1865, Buckland Station: Yes, a ranch and stage stop was the first county seat. It was adjacent to Fort Churchill, however.
1865-1868, La Plata: A booming mining camp without any ore! That didn't work too well.
1868-1903, Stillwater: Population, few. It was an important stage stop between the Central Pacific Railroad station at Wadsworth and the mines of Nye County. Another great reason to put a court here?
1903-present, Fallon: Fallon is without a doubt the largest town in Churchill County. So, by today's standards this makes sense. However, when the town was granted the county seat, it was actually only a dream of the town's owner! However, the veracious promoter Senator Warren Williams who platted the town, the Newlands Project which brought water to Fallon for farming, and a railroad spur into the city, made Fallon sustainable!