Founded in 1869, Pioche, 174 miles north of Las Vegas, quickly gained a reputation as one of the roughest towns in the West. Rumor has it that 75 men were buried in its Boot Hill before anyone died of natural causes. The chamber notes that records show 10 Pioche-area residents were killed by gunfire in 1870 alone.

Named for San Francisco financier Fran-çois L.A. Pioche, the community today is as well-rounded as any small city in Nevada. Pioche relies upon its prominence as the seat of county government, in addition to tourism, recreation, hunting and fishing, farming and cattle ranching and some mining, for its economic livelihood.

Pioche boasts a fair sized community of retirees, drawn to the city by its friendliness, history, and character. Power is furnished to the area by the Lincoln County Power District. Water is abundant and sewer capacity is excellent.

The community's recreational facilities include a ballpark, swimming pool, picnic area and the Pioche Garden Club's Memorial Gardens.

One of Pioche's most popular attractions is its 1871 courthouse -- now a delightful museum. Among the most famous -- or infamous -- public buildings in the state, the stone structure is fondly referred to as the "Million Dollar Courthouse," a reference to the cost overruns and mishaps which saw the building's original $16,000 cost skyrocket into the stratosphere. The debt on the structure wasn't retired until 1937 -- when a new courthouse was in the process of being built. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., daily, April through October. Admission is a donation.

Also worth a look is the Masonic St. John Lodge, an 1873 brick and stone structure that is one of Nevada's oldest lodges, and is still in use today. You may also want to take in a movie at The Gem, a classic small-town theater.

It's unlikely folks who enjoy the outdoors will find a better location than Pioche, which is situated within just a few miles of five state parks: Spring Valley, Beaver Dam, Echo Canyon, Cathedral Gorge, and Kershaw-Ryan. The nearby Mt. Wilson Back-Country Byway also is a must for outdoorspeople.

Visitors will find lodging at the Overland Hotel or Hutchings Motel, and RV space is available at the Roll-In or Pioche RV parks. Wet your whistle at the Overland, the Alamo Club or Nevada Club, and feed a hearty appetite at the Grub Steak Dinner House, Silver Cafe, or Wilson's Deli and Restaurant.

The days are long gone when walking Pioche's streets could get a person killed. Now ambling around the Lincoln County seat is among the most pleasant experiences in Pioneer Territory.

Francois L.A. Pioche