Eureka County
Eureka County, located in central Nevada, is a high desert, mining and agricultural community surrounded by mountain ranges, farmland and natural resources including clean air, wildlife, gold, silver and several other base minerals, oil and gas.
A growing county, Eureka is home to citizens actively engaged in community involvement. Between the highly ranked school district, the libraries, the senior centers, the historic Opera House and the participation in community organizations including the Eureka Lions Club, Eureka County 4-H and FFA, Eureka finds itself a county of self-reliance and interconnectivity. In addition to rural stability, the county maintains a transparent online presence. Eureka employment opportunities are routinely posted online, alongside updates from the County Commission newsletter "Plain Talk." A huge tell in transparency came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when relevant community resources continued to be relayed throughout 2020 on the county’s website.
All together, Eureka, with its three towns, exemplifies rural life. Population may be sparse and spread out, but pride, reliance and a shared history unite the county. Energy is produced near Beowawe along Highway 80. The town of Eureka is the largest population area and is also the county seat. It is located on Highway 50 at the southern edge of the county. Here, decisions are made, and out in central Nevada, it would be hard to top such a town’s nickname: “The Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America.”
Every year, the town of Eureka hosts the Eureka County Fair. There’s a Ranch Hand rodeo, exhibit halls, 4-H livestock and project exhibits, family games and good food with lots of family and community fun. Additionally, the Eureka Opera House hosts regular evening shows exhibiting a variety of western singers and artists, an annual fiddlers contest and a paranormal event drawn to the unique historical events above and below ground in the and around the town of Eureka. There are also many major community events, including Basque picnics, chili cook-offs, and Cowboy Poetry gatherings in nearby Elko or White Pine counties. Rural Nevadans are used to driving hundreds of miles for groceries, supplies and recreation, so once acclimated to the lifestyle, the sense of community expands beyond the town and county boundaries. Based on the county activity it is evident that Eureka is a community of solidarity: the involved school district, the involved Sheriff’s Office, the love for outdoor recreation and the many testimonials from citizens who have lived there for two, five, ten, thirty-plus years.