Esmeralda County is named for the Esmeralda Mining District which was named for possibly the character Esmeralda of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” or for the Spanish and Portuguese word for “emerald”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Mineral County and Nye County
E – Nye County
S – Inyo County, California
W – Inyo County, California, Mono County, California and Mineral County
Created: November 25, 1861 
County Seat:
Aurora 1861 – 1883
Hawthorne 1883 – 1907
Goldfield 1907 – present
County Courthouse – Goldfield
Location: 233 Crook Street / Euclid Street
Built: 1907 – 1908
Style: lArmoury
Architect: M J Curtis
Contractor: John Shea of Salt Lake City, Utah
Description: The building faces south and is a two story buff colored cut stone structure. The building is located in the center of Goldfield. The south front has a central entrance on the first story with a canopy above. The roof line is detailed with unique crenelated parapets on the east and west and with a high parapet in the center. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the County District Court courtroom is located on the second story.
Note: The $79,833 construction bid for the courthouse was awarded to John Shea of Salt Lake City, Utah in July 1907.
See: The 5th Judicial District includes Nye County.
History: The first county seat in 1861 was Aurora where a courthouse was erected which also served as the courthouse for Mono County, California. The second courthouse was constructed in Hawthorne in 1883. When Mineral County was created, the third and present courthouse was constructed in Goldfield in 1907 to 1908.
Note: The highest point in Nevada is Boundary Peak at 13,140 feet ( 4005 meters ) which is located in the county.
County Courthouse – Goldfield
County District Court courtroom
Photos taken 2002 and 2013