On October 31, 1864, Nevada became the 36th state in the union and that same year the first settlers took up ranching in the Lamoille Valley, which a mere five years later would become part of the newly established Elko County. In 1867, Tuscarora was founded and the first permanent settlers established ranches in Starr Valley and South Fork Valley.

With the arrival of the Central Pacfic Railroad in 1868, Elko, Carlin and Wells were established. That same year the Idaho Central Wagon Road connected Carlin to the mines in Silver City, Idaho. Mountain City was also founded.

On March 5, 1869, by act of the Nevada Legislature, Elko County, the 4th largest county in the continental United States, was created. A special election was held on June 21, 1869 where Len Wines, J. Pierson and J.H. Lettingwell were elected as the first Commissioners of Elko County. One of their first acts was to commission the building of a courthouse and jail. On January 10, 1870, the Commissioners accepted the completed Elko Courthouse building at a cost of $22,942.48

The University of Nevada was first established in Elko in 1874. It was moved to Reno in 1886. President Rutherford B. Hayes, established the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in 1887.

The Elko County Board of Education established the first county High School in 1895, and around the late 1800's, one of the first female doctors of Nevada, Doctress A.C. Buchins, practiced medicine in Elko.

The Jarbidge Gold Boom began in 1908 and lasted until 1935. Jarbidge was officially founded in 1910.

December 5, 1916 became infamous as the date of the world's last stagecoach robbery and murder, which took place in Jarbidge Canyon. William Smith founded Wendover in 1917, and the legislature aurhorized the incorporation of the City of Elko. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson established the Elko Indian Colony by executive order. It was later relocated in 1931.

1927 saw the first completely automatic hydroelectric system in Nevada, planned and organized by H.H. Cazier at Wells. It was the first rural electrification system. In 1934 construction began on Wildhorse Dam and Reservoir on the Oywhee River. Elko helped usher in Nevada's golden age of entertainment with the appearance of Band Leader ted Lewis on April 26, 1941. In 1956, Jackpot, the community near the Idaho border, was founded.

Newmont Mining Company opened its extensive gold mining operation near Carlin in 1965, and it still operates today along with Barrick Goldstrike, Anglo Gold, Queenstake and several other mining companies.

The National Basque Festival began in 1963 in Elko.

Elko County gained a treasure in 1968 with the establishment of the Northeastern Nevada Museum. The world famous Cowboy Poetry Gathering started in Elko in 1985 and continues to draw cowboys and spectators from all over the world each January.

On September 23, 1992 the Elko County Courthouse was placed on the national Register of Historic Places and in 1993, Elko was named one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America.

In June of 1998, Elko County sold their county-owned hospital to Province Healthcare, who in 2001 completed a new $50 million, state-of-the-art hospital and medical center for the region.

The new century saw Great Basin College, established in 1967, adding several four year degree programs, a new technology center and health sciences building, and continually expanding their facilities, degrees and services.

Elko County had led the way in many firsts for the State of Nevada, and has produced five Nevada Governors. Strong beliefs and pride in an independent spirit, tarditions and guaranteed freedoms keep this county in the forefornt of protecting its citizens and natural resources while still working toward a prosperous environment in which to live, work, raise children and retire. Not to mention haveing some of the most beautiful landscapes in Nevada, from the Ruby Mountains to our desert lands.