Metropolis Ghost Town

Metropolis, Nevada is a small ghost town in Elko County, Nevada, twelve miles north of Wells.

Plans called for 40,000 irrigated and non-irrigated acres to be cultivated, surrounding a modern city of 7,500. In 1911, a city of graded streets, cement sidewalks, fire hydrants and street lights was laid out with a four square block commercial district, which included a showcase 3-story brick hotel.

The ornate Lincoln School opened in 1914 and Metropolis settled down to steady agricultural production until about 1925.

Farming decreased steadily afterward and the Southern Pacific Railroad removed its spur that year. Buildings were eventually abandoned, sold or moved away. The hotel burned in 1936 and the Lincoln School taught its last class in 1947. Metropolis is dead as a town, thought the abandoned ranches were eventually all bought up and incorporated into several large ranches today. (David Wright)