Nevada State Route 376
Encyclopedia
State Route 376 is a 100 miles (160.9 km) state highway
in central Nevada
in the United States
. It connects U.S. Route 6
(US 6) near Tonopah
north to U.S. Route 50
near Austin
. The Tonopah–Austin Road existed as early as 1919, and was designated the southernmost segment of State Route 8A before being renumbered to SR 376 in 1976.
on US 6 in western Nye County
. From there, the highway heads north through the Ralston Valley for about 13 miles (20.9 km). The route then curves westward around some mountains to enter the southern end of the Big Smoky Valley
. SR 376 continues northeastward through the center of the valley, providing access to Manhattan
(via State Route 377
) and Round Mountain
.
Passing the Round Mountain turnoff, SR 376 shifts to the west edge of Big Smoky Valley. The highway passes east of the Arc Dome
, the highest point of the Toiyabe Range
. Following the base of the Toiyabe mountains, the route continues northward for several miles to enter Lander County
near the community of Kingston
. 16 miles (25.7 km) north of Kingston, State Route 376 reaches its northern terminus at a junction with US 50 about 12 miles (19.3 km) southeast of Austin
.
Roads linking Tonopah to Austin appear on Nevada maps as early as 1919, although it the exact composition of the route and its highway number was not clearly distinguished. By 1929, a mostly-unimproved route connecting Tonopah to US 50 east of Austin had been clearly established as the southern portion of State Route 8A. This early iteration of the route passed directly through Manhattan and Round Mountain. By 1933, the routing of SR 8A had bypassed the two towns to the west. The southern terminus of the highway was moved 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Tonopah on US 6 by 1937. SR 8A had become a paved highway throughout its entire length by 1950.
State Route 8A remained relatively unchanged for many years after it was paved. However, the route number was changed in the 1976 renumbering of Nevada's state highways. The SR 8A designation was eliminated and replaced by State Route 376 on July 1, 1976. This change was first seen on the 1978–79 version of Nevada's state highway map. The highway has not been changed since its renumbering.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in central 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It connects U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 6 cuts across the middle portion of the state, serving the cities of Tonopah and Ely, en route to Utah and points further east....
(US 6) near Tonopah
Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah is a census-designated place located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno....
north to U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 in Nevada
U.S. Route 50 is a transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching from Sacramento, California in the west to Ocean City, Maryland on the east coast. The Nevada portion crosses the center of state and was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life magazine in July 1986...
near Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
. The Tonopah–Austin Road existed as early as 1919, and was designated the southernmost segment of State Route 8A before being renumbered to SR 376 in 1976.
Route description
The southern terminus of State Route 376 is located about 5 miles (8 km) east of TonopahTonopah, Nevada
Tonopah is a census-designated place located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno....
on US 6 in western Nye County
Nye County, Nevada
-National protected areas:* Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Death Valley National Park * Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest * Spring Mountains National Recreation Area -Demographics:...
. From there, the highway heads north through the Ralston Valley for about 13 miles (20.9 km). The route then curves westward around some mountains to enter the southern end of the Big Smoky Valley
Big Smoky Valley
The Big Smoky Valley is a landform of the Tonopah Basin between the Toiyabe and Toquima mountain ranges. It is about 100 miles in length, and is known by other names : including Great Smoky Valley, Smokey Valley, Smoky Valley, Wen-A-No-Nu-Fee Valley, and Won-A-No-Nu-Fee Valley. The U.S...
. SR 376 continues northeastward through the center of the valley, providing access to Manhattan
Manhattan, Nevada
Manhattan is a small town in Nye County, Nevada located on State Route 377 about 50 miles north of Tonopah, the county seat, off State Route 376....
(via State Route 377
Nevada State Route 377
State Route 377 is a state highway in Nye County, Nevada, USA. The route connects the town of Manhattan to State Route 376. The highway previously existed as State Route 69.-Route description:...
) and Round Mountain
Round Mountain, Nevada
Round Mountain is a small town in Nye County, Nevada. The population of Round Mountain, Nevada as of 2005 is 744 .Round Mountain is best known for the Round Mountain Gold Mine, a large open pit heap-leach gold mine owned by Kinross Gold Corporation and Barrick Gold Corporation...
.
Passing the Round Mountain turnoff, SR 376 shifts to the west edge of Big Smoky Valley. The highway passes east of the Arc Dome
Arc Dome
Arc Dome is the high point of the Toiyabe Range in northwestern Nye County, in central Nevada in the western United States. It is one of the most prominent peaks in the contiguous states...
, the highest point of the Toiyabe Range
Toiyabe Range
The Toiyabe Range is a range of mountains in central Nevada in the western United States. It starts in northwestern Nye County north of Tonopah, Nevada and runs approximately 120 miles north-northeast through eastern Lander County, making it the second longest range in the state...
. Following the base of the Toiyabe mountains, the route continues northward for several miles to enter Lander County
Lander County, Nevada
Lander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:...
near the community of Kingston
Kingston, Nevada
Kingston is a small town in Lander County, Nevada. As of 2005, the estimated population of Kingston is 288.-References:...
. 16 miles (25.7 km) north of Kingston, State Route 376 reaches its northern terminus at a junction with US 50 about 12 miles (19.3 km) southeast of Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
.
History
State Route 8A remained relatively unchanged for many years after it was paved. However, the route number was changed in the 1976 renumbering of Nevada's state highways. The SR 8A designation was eliminated and replaced by State Route 376 on July 1, 1976. This change was first seen on the 1978–79 version of Nevada's state highway map. The highway has not been changed since its renumbering.
Major intersections
- Note: Mileposts in Nevada reset at county lines. The start and end mileposts for each county are given in the county column.
See also
Other segments of former State Route 8A:- State Route 140, the northern segment that ran west from U.S. Route 95 via DenioDenio, NevadaDenio, Nevada is an unincorporated community that lies on the Nevada-Oregon state line in Humboldt County, Nevada and Harney County, Oregon, in the United States. The community is also known as Denio, Oregon. There was formerly a Denio, Oregon post office north of the state line. Most of the town...
to northwestern Nevada. - State Route 305, the central segment that ran from AustinAustin, NevadaAustin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
to Battle MountainBattle Mountain, NevadaBattle Mountain is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Lander County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,871 at the 2000 census. Though it has no legal status as a municipality, it still functions as the county seat of Lander County...
.