Most of Nevada's hundreds of ghost towns have no inhabitants. Belmont has about ten residents, though most of its main street has fallen into ruin. The town was settled after the discovery of silver deposits in 1865 started a rush. Within two years, Belmont had a population of several thousand. In 1867 it became the seat of Nye County; the large Italianate courthouse, completed in 1876, still stands. As was typical of many Nevada boom towns, the boom was over by the time the courthouse was built. Tonopah replaced Belmont as county seat in 1905.
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