Lander County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,734. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.
History
Lander County was created in 1862 as the result of a mining boom on the Reese River along the old pony express line, taking a considerable portion of Churchill and Humboldt counties with it. Named for Frederick W. Lander, chief engineer of a federal wagon route and Special Indian Agent in the area, it was one of the original 11 counties of Nevada when statehood was granted in 1864. Its first county seat was Jacob's Spring in 1862, which was moved to Austin in 1863, and finally Battle Mountain in 1979. Eventually, Lander County would be known as the "mother of counties", since three other counties in Nevada were later formed from it: Elko, White Pine, and Eureka.
Geography
thumb|Derelict building off [[Nevada State Route 305|State Route 305 in the Reese River Valley with the Shoshone Range in the distance]]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.
The summit of Bunker Hill, located in the Toiyabe Range near the Nye County border, is the highest point in the county; while the county's most topographically prominent peak is Mount Lewis.
Major highways
- 20px Interstate 80
- 20px Interstate 80 Business (Battle Mountain)
- 20px U.S. Route 50
- 20px State Route 304
- 20px State Route 305
- 20px State Route 306
- 20px State Route 376
- 20px State Route 722
- 20px State Route 806
Adjacent counties
- Elko County - north
- Eureka County - east
- Nye County - south
- Churchill County - west
- Pershing County - west
- Humboldt County - northwest
National protected area
- Toiyabe National Forest (part)