The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Nevada (county)

NEVADA. I. A S. W. county of Arkansas, formed since the census of 1870 from portions of Columbia and Ouachita counties, bounded N. by the Little Missouri river, a branch of the Washita, and drained by several tributaries of that stream and of Red river; area, 625 sq. m. The surface is rolling and generally well timbered. The valleys contain much productive soil. Capital, Mount Moriah. II. A N. E. county of California, bordering on Nevada, and drained by Middle and South Yuba rivers; area, 1,026 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 19,134, of whom 2,627 were Chinese. The surface is generally mountainous, especially toward the east, which is traversed by the Sierra Nevada range. One half of the area is estimated to be occupied by mineral lands. Gold mining is the principal industry, and agriculture receives little attention, though there is much arable land, and timber is abundant. The county contains several of the richest and most productive quartz lodes in the state, and the placer diggings are not surpassed by any other. The number of mines in 1870 was 80, viz.: 25 hydraulic, 40 placer, and 15 quartz. The Central Pacific railroad passes along the S. border. The chief productions in 1870 were 5,548 bushels of potatoes, 10,183 gallons of wine, 50,741 lbs. of butter, and 4,804 tons of hay. There were 786 horses, 1,148 milch cows, 1,156 other cattle, 504 sheep, and 1,137 swine on farms; 1 manufactory of boots and shoes, 3 of iron castings, 2 of machinery, 4 of sash, doors, and blinds, 6 of tin, copper, and sheet-iron ware, 1 pork-packing establishment, 12 breweries, 1 flour mill, and 10 saw mills. Capital, Nevada.