Potts is a
ghost town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...
and abandoned ranching property in
Monitor Valley
Monitor Valley is a valley in the U.S. state of Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, a ...
,
Nye County, Nevada
Nye County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,591. Its county seat is Tonopah. At , Nye is Nevada's largest county by area and the third-largest county in the contiguous United States, behi ...
, approximately 2 miles east of
Nevada State Route 82
Former State Route 82 (SR 82), also known as Belmont Road, is a road in Nye and Eureka counties in the U.S. state of Nevada, extending from State Route 376 (former State Route 8A) north of Tonopah northeast to U.S. Route 50 west of Eureka via ...
.
The ranch was founded by William Potts in the 1870s, and would remain in the Potts family until 1944 when the property was sold to Harvey Sewell and O. G. Bates. The Potts' spread, which was recognized as one of the finest cattle outfits in the state at the time, eventually came to include other properties, including the Butler, Morgan Creek, and Wilson ranches.
With
Belmont, the nearest established community, being 37 miles away, a number of other ranches developing in Monitor Valley, and several small mining camps springing up on the eastern flank of the
Toquima Range
The Toquima Range is a mountain range, located primarily in Nye County with a small extension into Lander County, in Nevada, United States. Most of the range is included within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The range reaches a maximu ...
, the need developed for more localized postal facilities. The ranch was originally granted a post office in 1893, however the grant was rescinded before the office became operational. The grant was re-extended in 1898 and the post office, with various members of the Potts family acting as postmasters, operated from August 12, 1898 until October 31, 1941.
The old ranch house, while somewhat dilapidated, is still standing at the location. Hot springs located near the site are popular destinations for hot spring enthusiasts and are maintained well enough for modest recreational use.
References
External links
Potts(robertwynn.com)
History of Nye County, Nevada
Ghost towns in Nye County, Nevada
Ghost towns in Nevada
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