1881 - Hiko

Hiko, situated in the Pahranagat range of mountains, sixty-five miles southwest of Pioche, was laid out in the spring of 1866, by Col. W. H. Raymond and others. Mr. Raymond had purchased a large quantity of what were called "squatters claims," in this vicinity. He had been East the year before, and brought back with him the Pioneer Mill, which he erected with the avowed object of determining the value of the Pahranagat ores. This, however, proved a complete failure, both in construction and in working the ores, and was taken down and removed to Meadow Valley, opposite Panaca to work the ores of the Ely District.

In March, 1867, by the action of the County Commissioners, Hiko became the county seat of Lincoln County, and continued to be such till the twenty-fourth day of February, 1871, when, by the action of the Legislature and the vote of the people, the county seat was removed to Pioche. At one time Hiko was a lively little village, but after the removal of the county seat, it declined in population and importance to almost nothing, although a post-office is still maintained there, with a semi-weekly mail from Pioche.

In the summer of 1881, Jay Gould, of New York, commenced at this point to survey the line of a railroad which is thought will connect San Francisco with the Utah Southern. Should this road pass through Hiko, it may again become a town of some importance.

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Extracted, 2021 Aug 25 by Norma Hass, from History of Nevada, published in 1881, page 490.

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