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Searchlight - the stop over Ghost Town
According to Nevada Senator Harry Reid, who has written extensively about his hometown, the most likely story on how it got its name was when George Frederick Colton was looking for gold in the area in 1897. Shortly thereafter he found gold leading to a boom era when Searchlight had more population than Las Vegas. At the time, it was in Lincoln County, Nevada. As talk surfaced for carving Clark County, Nevada out of Lincoln County Searchlight was initially considered to be the planned county seat. Between 1907 and 1910 the gold mines produced $7 million in gold and other precious minerals and the town had a population of about 1,500.
Other stories on the origin of the name include a story that Colton was lighting a Searchlight brand of matches when he discovered the gold ore. Reid dismisses this story saying that the Searchlight matches were not available in 1898. Yet another story says that Colton thought the area would be a good place because it was on a hill. Colton's mine was called the Duplex because the gold ore was found on two levels.[2][3]
Searchlight declined after 1917 but hung on as a stop on the Arrowhead Highway. In 1927, U.S. Highway 91 bypassed the town and its population dropped to 50.
The town had a resurgence in the 1930s and 1940s with the construction of nearby Hoover Dam and was home to the El Rey Bordello in the 1940s and early 1950s when it burned. The last gold mine ceased operating around 1953.
Credit: Wikipedia
I Bet You Have Never Heard Of Searchlight?
I Light in the Desert.
Well, have you? I would like to know. For years, it was just a stopping off point between Las Vegas, Nevada or Laughlin, Nevada. Years ago, you might stop to camp or just to get gas. It is much bigger these days. Rumor has it they have a nearby lake where you can fish for bass.
Have You Ever Heard Of Searchlight?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, I've been there.
No, I searched but could not find it.
"From 1897 to 1940, the mines had produced more than four and a half million dollars worth of gold."
Search Along With Us.
Credit photo: digital-desert site
- City-Data
- Statistics for Searchlight, Nevada
- Las Vegas Territory
- Surrounding Territory of Nevada
- Travel in Nevada
- Lake Mead National Recreation and more....
- American Towns
- Searchlight site.
- Digital-Desert - Searchlight
- Ghost Town
- Business in Searchlight
- If you travel there, great directory.
- Searchlight Nevada
- One of the best sites.
- First 100
- George Frederick Colton went looking for the Lost Dutchman mine, but instead found his fortune in Searchlight.
- Rootsweb Ancestry
- Nevada History
- Travel Nevada
- Much of Nevada looks just as it did when the pioneers traveled west more than a century ago. The only addition to the mostly unchanged landscape are the trails that crisscross the topography and offer countless opportunities to get out and explore the region. This is Nevada Silver Trails, and it draws upon the adventurous spirit common to all mankind.
- Soup Can Searchlight
- Very interesting article.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Deserts, Casinos and UFOs
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/26/2009) 
US State Flag - Searchlight, Nevada (NV) Mouse Pad
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/26/2009)
Historic Nevada Town Of Searchlight 1910 Panorama, Elegant Black Antique, 12x41" M-P
Amazon Price: $333.75 (as of 12/26/2009)
Searchlight: The Camp That Didn't Fail
Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)
Searchlight Rag
Scott Joplin, who never lived in Searchlight, was so intrigued by the stories of his composer friend, Tom Turpin - who had spent time in Searchlight in his youth - that he composed the Searchlight Rag
Walking Box Ranch
Silent movie star, Clara Bow, the 'It Girl', and her western star husband, Rex Bell moved to Searchlight and their 'Walking Box Ranch', where they eventually raised a family.
(Anniversary of Searchlight is July 20, 2010)
Who Are You?
Map it!
Let The Light Search on eBay
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Famous People of Searchlight
World War II Pilot; Senator, Costume Designer
William Harrell Nellis flew 70 World War II combat missions and was shot down three times, the last time fatally. On April 30, 1950, the Las Vegas Air Force Base in Nevada was renamed Nellis Air Force Base in his honor. Continue Wm. Harrell Nellis
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Edith Head (October 28, 1897 - October 24, 1981) was an American costume designer who had a long career in Hollywood that garnered eight Academy Awards-more than any other woman in history.
She was born Edith Claire Posener in Searchlight, Nevada[1], the daughter of Max Posener and Anna E. Levy. Her father was a mining engineer in the gold mine there. Whether her parents were married is unknown but, in 1901, her mother married Frank Spare and Edith was passed off as his child. Though her birth parents were Jewish, Head would claim to be a Catholic later in life. Continued Edith Head
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he Senate Majority and Minority Leaders are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences that hold the majority and the minority respectively. These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By rule, the Presiding Officer gives the Majority Leader priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate. Continued Senator Harry Reid
Searchlight Blog
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Stats @ Hometown Searchlight
The population of 89046 is 822.
That's #23625 out of all 42,305 zip codes.
92% of the population is white, which is 18 points more than the national average.
The average household income in 89046 is $25,272, which is $4,426 less than the typical average.
This contributes to the average house being worth $136,500. When the survey was done in 2000, that represented a difference of 73% from the typical value.
Men make up 54% of the population, and the typical age in this part of NV is 55.8.
Stats about: Searchlight, NV
Population: 822Number of Households: 833
Average House Value: $136,500
Average Income per Household: $25,272
Elevation: 2,028 ft
Population Breakdown:
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Current Weather @ Searchlight, Nevada
Current weather conditions in Searchlight, NV (89046)
Local Pollen Reports
46°F (Feels like 39°F)
Last update: 12/26/09 2:55 AM PST
Humidity: 32%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 18°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 30.12in steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 17mph From: Airport Conditions
Today
Fair
High: 46°F
Low: 35°F
Sunrise: 6:47 AM
Sunset: 4:33 PM
Sunday
Dec 27
Mostly Sunny
High: 48°F
Low: 34°F
Sunrise: 6:48 AM
Sunset: 4:34 PM
Monday
Dec 28
Partly Cloudy
High: 48°F
Low: 35°F
Sunrise: 6:48 AM
Sunset: 4:35 PM
Tuesday
Dec 29
Mostly Cloudy
High: 49°F
Low: 36°F
Sunrise: 6:48 AM
Sunset: 4:36 PM
