Classic Courthouse No. 21: Esmeralda County Courthouse, Goldfield, NV
Location: 233 Crook Avenue, Goldfield, NV 89103
Constructed: 1907-1908
Architect: Contractor John Shea, Salt Lake City UT
Current Use: District Court in continuous operation since 1908; Auditor and Recorder, District Attorney, Justice of the Peace, County Clerk, Sheriff and Treasurer
Population of Goldfield: 225 (2020)
Population of Esmeralda County: 729 (2025)
In 1906 Goldfield was the largest city in Nevada with a population of over 20,000.
Esmeralda County had a gold mining boom in the first years of the 2oth century.
In 1906 Goldfield hosted the historic World Lightweight Championship 42 round bout between Joe Gans and Oscar “Battling” Nelson. (In the last round Nelson delivered a low blow, and Gans was declared the winner by disqualification and retained the title).
The county’s population rapidly decreased after labor disputes in Goldfield from the efforts of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Western Federation of Miners to organize and control labor in the area. The mines were largely tapped out by the 1910s. Mark Twain wrote about his time as a miner in Esmeralda. By 1920 Esmeralda County’s population had fallen to 2400. Today its population is 729.
The builder-contractor of this castle-like stone courthouse was John Shea. The two-story structure is roughly 75 feet by 85 feet and has unique crenelated parapets and a central stepped parapet giving it a medieval castle appearance. Its historic interior includes original furnishings: old steel vaults in the recorder’s office, historic newspaper articles and vintage fire hoses on its walls. Adjacent to the rear of the courthouse is a still operational 1907 county jail which can hold twelve prisoners.
The large district courtroom occupies most of the second floor and has a Big Horn Sheep above the bench and two Tiffany & Co. lamps on the bench The story goes that a district judge was a hunter who was careful to not schedule trials during the hunting season. He brought a mount back for the courtroom. Among others the DA’s, Auditor and Recorder’s, and Sheriff’s offices and the Justice of the Peace’s courtroom are on the first floor. A remarkable number of county offices are housed in this 120-year-old building.
