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As early as 1865, a
camp was established here and in the Spring of 1866, Colonel
W.H. Raymond and others laid out the townsite. Hiko, situated
in the Pahranagat range of mountains, is an Indian expression
for "white man's town." Raymond, with Eastern capital,
purchased the machinery for a five stamp mill and had it shipped
via the Colorado River to Callville, then hauled by oxen the
140 miles to this site. In November, 1866, milling was begun
on Pahranagat ores and soon after, Hiko became the first county
seat of Lincoln County in March 1867. Raymond spent nearly $900,000
building roads, erecting dwellings, setting up the mill, prospecting,
and mining before the enterprise failed. The mill was moved to
Bullionville in 1879 and consequently, Hiko declined in population
and importance. The decline was accelerated after the removal
of the county government to Pioche in February, 1871. |
