This area was long occupied by Native American tribes of the Plateau, particularly the Western Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock peoples. Their traditional ways were disrupted after European-American settlement, as the two cultures competed for resources and had differing conceptions of land use and property.

Elko County was established in 1869 fromLander County; the name was taken from the name of the county seat,Elko.

In 1877 what became known as the Duck Valley Indian Reservation was established by presidential executive order for the Western Shoshone in this area, after they signed treaties with the United States. Later the Paiute became involved in the Bannock War, but after they were allowed to return from exile in Washington State, in 1886 another executive order was used to expand the reservation to accommodate them. The federally recognized tribe of the two peoples together conducts farming and ranching in this high desert territory.

The population of the county increased markedly in the late 20th century as the economy improved.

On March 14, 2014, the Bureau of Land Management sold 29 oil and gas leases for $1.27 million to a collection of six companies that included Noble Energy. The transaction was the first such in Nevada.[4]~ Wikipedia

Situated in the Northeastern part of the state, Montello,Nevada, is approximately 58 miles northwest of Wendover and about 176 miles northwest of Salt Lake City,Utah. The tiny town has a little more than 500 residents, so there isn't much to do in Montello. However, you can find an assortment of attractions within driving distance of the city.

Crittenden Reservoir (ndow) sits on 260 acres of state-owned land. You've got to travel about 19 miles north of Montello on a gravel road to get there. The reservoir is an ideal destination for fishermen because the facility stocks a variety of fish, including several types of trout and largemouth bass. You can fish the entire perimeter of the reservoir, and the east and west shorelines are the most accessible.Campingis not permitted along the shorelines, but you can find several primitive campsites along west side of the road that runs north of the reservoir. Water skiing is prohibited, but visitors can go float tubing. Crittenden Reservoir is open year round from one hour before dawn to two hours after sunset.

Salt Flats

The city of Wendover straddles the Nevada-Utah border and is best known for its casinos. You might also find Bonneville Salt Flats State Park (blm.gov), 10 miles east of Wendover, worth the trip from Montello. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management runs the BSFSP, a 30,000-acre parcel of land that contains a massive layer of hard, white salt crust left over from Lake Bonneville, a large lake from about 15,000 years ago. The BSFSP covers about 46 square miles and is 12 miles long and five miles wide. The salt crust is nearly five feet thick in some areas. Each summer, professional and amateur race teams converge on the BSFSP to compete in high-speed drag racing. Listing Broker: John Parsons, Broker/Owner - 775-773-8725; Listing Brokerage: UC/Legacy Farm & Ranch