Jarbidge, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Jarbidge is an unincorporated community
in Elko County
, Nevada
, United States
. It lies on the edge of the Jarbidge Wilderness
, several miles south of the Idaho/Nevada border. Noted locally for its remoteness, the community is usually accessed by road from Rogerson
in Twin Falls County
, Idaho
. There is an 80-mile-long dirt road to Jarbidge heading north from the Deeth exit of Interstate 80
; it is usually open only from late June until October due to snow. The community lies on the West Fork of the Jarbidge River
.
Gold was discovered near Jarbidge in 1909, making it the site of one of the last gold rushes in the American West. Its population swelled to around 1,200 in 1911, but afterwards began a slow decline. Mining operations ceased in the area in 1932. Today, much of the Jarbidge's economy derives from its reputation as a rustic tourist
destination.
The name "Jarbidge" originates from the Shoshone
word "Jahabich," which means "devil." This was the Shoshone name for the nearby mountains.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Elko County
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies on the edge of the Jarbidge Wilderness
Jarbidge Wilderness
The Jarbidge Wilderness is located in the upper elevations of the Jarbidge Mountains in northern Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. Established in 1964, it was the first wilderness area in the state...
, several miles south of the Idaho/Nevada border. Noted locally for its remoteness, the community is usually accessed by road from Rogerson
Rogerson, Idaho
Rogerson is an unincorporated community in Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. It is located approximately 18 miles north of the Nevada border on U.S. Route 93. It is near Salmon Falls Dam....
in Twin Falls County
Twin Falls County, Idaho
Twin Falls County is a county in the south central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census, the county had a population of 64,284 . The county seat and largest city is Twin Falls....
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. There is an 80-mile-long dirt road to Jarbidge heading north from the Deeth exit of Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
; it is usually open only from late June until October due to snow. The community lies on the West Fork of the Jarbidge River
Jarbidge River
The Jarbidge River is a , high altitude river in northern Nevada and southwest Idaho in the United States. The Jarbidge originates as two main forks in the Jarbidge Mountains of northeastern Nevada and then flows through basalt and rhyolite canyons on the high plateau of the Owyhee Desert before...
.
Gold was discovered near Jarbidge in 1909, making it the site of one of the last gold rushes in the American West. Its population swelled to around 1,200 in 1911, but afterwards began a slow decline. Mining operations ceased in the area in 1932. Today, much of the Jarbidge's economy derives from its reputation as a rustic tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
destination.
The name "Jarbidge" originates from the Shoshone
Shoshone language
Shoshoni or Shoshone is a Native American language spoken by the Shoshone people. Principal dialects of Shoshoni include Western Shoshoni in Nevada, Gosiute in western Utah, Northern Shoshoni in southern Idaho and northern Utah, and Eastern Shoshoni in Wyoming.Shoshoni-speaking Native Americans...
word "Jahabich," which means "devil." This was the Shoshone name for the nearby mountains.