Belmont

Belmont is a former mining town in Nye County, Nevada, founded after silver was discovered there in 1865. The settlement contains old brick and wood buildings, including a distinctive courthouse built in 1876, along with mill ruins and remains of structures that served the mining operations.

The town was established after silver was found in 1865 and quickly became the county seat of Nye County in 1867. Mining operations thrived through the 1870s with production of silver and other metals, but most mines closed by 1887, causing the population to decline sharply, and the county seat moved to Tonopah in 1905.

The name Belmont comes from the silver rush era and reflects the hopes of early settlers seeking fortune in remote Nevada. Today, the old brick buildings and quiet streets show how miners lived and what they valued in this remote place.

Belmont is located on State Route 82, about 46 kilometers northeast of Tonopah, and is best reached by this road. Most buildings are accessible for viewing from outside, though some are in varying states of repair, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended for exploring the old structures.

The Belmont Courthouse, built in 1876, is being restored by a local volunteer group called Friends of the Belmont Courthouse. This ongoing effort shows how communities work to preserve memories of the mining era and give visitors a window into how justice and government operated in remote mining towns.