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Lovelock
The capital of Pershing county is Lovelock. Lovelock was named after George Lovelock. In 1866,
he bought 320 acres of Big Meadows and took the oldest water rights along the Humboldt river. He
donated 85 acres to Central Pacific Railroad and in return they named the newest town after him.
The land was good but it attracted many farmers. The more farmers that came the less water there was.
Finally, in 1933 400,000 dollars were loaned to Lovelock Irrigation District. This was used to build
Rye Patch Dam. The dam was completed in 1936 and provides water irrigation water to 40,000 acres. Almost
all of the farmland is used to grow grain to feed livestock. Also, the Lovelock Seed Company is one of the
top alfalfa growers in the world.
Edna Gurviance came from Lovelock. She left and went to San Francisco where she met Charlie Chaplin. They
made 40 movies together. She died of cancer in 1958, up until then she was still with Charlie Chaplin.
The Rest Of Pershing County
In 1919, Humboldt County was divided, and Pershing County came to be. Pershing county was named after the
famous general in WWI. Pershing county is about 6,000 square miles. Today mining is a large part of life here.
They have a big diatomaceous-earth mine, and several gold and silver mines nearby.
The Landmarks of Pershing County
Lovelock Cave - It was discovered by teenagers in1887. It was not explored
until 1911 when guano miners dug up 250 tons of bat guano and findings Indian artifacts in the process.
The cave is 160 feet wide by 40 feet deep. It was created by Lake Lahontan. Aboriginal inhabitants lived
here 2000 B.C. The artifacts are shown in museums around the country.
Leonard Rock Shelter - There are petroglyphs on the rocks. In the 1950s,
archaeologists found artifacts that dated back to 4000 B.C.
Pershing County “Round” Courthouse - Still in use, it is
one of the only round courthouses in the country. It’s great for weddings.
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