Nevada State Route 140
Encyclopedia
State Route 140 is a two-lane state highway
in Humboldt County
, Nevada
. It serves a sparsely-populated section of the state, connecting northwestern Nevada to southern Oregon
. Most of the highway was originally part of State Route 8A
, and was later improved through an effort to provide an all-weather highway linking northern Nevada to the Pacific northwest.
in the Quinn River Valley. From this point, the highway heads west towards the sparsely populated regions of northwestern Nevada. SR 140 crosses into the Desert Valley before entering a branch of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation. Inside the reservation, the route crosses the Quinn River
. Upon exiting the Indian territory, SR 140 curves northwest to parallel the Quinn River for about 10 miles (16.1 km) as it rounds the northern edge of the Jackson Mountains
. As the river turns southeast towards the Black Rock Desert
, the highway continues its northwest trajectory. The route crosses over the 4820 feet (1,469.1 m) Denio Summit before reaching Denio Junction. State Route 292 intersects the highway here, providing access to Denio
, the only town in this region of Nevada.
At Denio Junction, State Route 140 turns westward again, somewhat paralleling the state line. About 15 miles (24.1 km) from the junction, the highway enters Virgin Creek Valley. The valley has been known for its black fire-opals
, and some mining operations in the area will allow civilians to hunt for the precious stones for a fee. Near this valley, SR 140 enters the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
, an area designed to provide habitat for pronghorn antelope and conserve native fish, bird and plant species. The highway travels about 25 miles (40.2 km) through the wildlife range towards the Oregon state line. SR 140 ends at the border, with Oregon Route 140 continuing northwest towards Adel
and Lakeview
.
Much of the State Route 140 alignment can be traced to the early years of Nevada's state highway system. A road roughly following about 100 miles (160.9 km) of the southern end of the current alignment was in place by 1919. However, instead of entering Oregon en route to Adel, the road veered westward through Washoe County
towards Vya
and Cedarville, California
. By 1929, this alignment had been established as State Route 8A
. The highway remained mostly unimproved for many years after designation by the state. The portion of highway from US 95 to Denio became a gravel road by 1940 and wasn't fully paved until 1953, The route was realigned near Denio Junction by 1949 (eliminating backtracking through Denio) and the portion between Denio and the California state line had been improved to a fully graveled road by 1952.
In the 1950s, a push began for an all-weather route connecting northwestern Nevada, southern Oregon, and the redwood
region of California
—at the time, there were no improved roads directly connecting these areas. Community leaders along the route formed an association to promote what they called the "Winnemucca to the Sea Highway". Efforts to realize the association's goals moved forward in the next decade. By 1960, Nevada officials had paved a portion of State Route 8A west of Denio. Instead of following SR 8A to Vya, the newly paved road curved northwest to the Oregon border near the Humboldt–Washoe county line. Oregon officials constructed a new paved road linking Adel to the Nevada state line in 1962. This work completed the 117 miles (188.3 km) stretch of Winnemucca to the Sea Highway between Denio Junction and Lakeview, Oregon. The Winnemucca to the Sea Association, however, envisioned Route 140 as a continuous number—branching from "parent" highway U.S. Route 40 in Winnemucca
—that would be applied to the entire length of highway. By 1968, State Route 140 had been designated along the paved portions of SR 8A, with Oregon Route 140 continuing on to Adel and Lakeview. State Route 140 was also signed along US 95 south into Winnemucca—this section of SR 140 was later removed in the 1970s.
When Nevada officials began the process of renumbering the state's highways in 1976, SR 140 was planned to be redesignated as State Route 291. The proposed route number was first seen on the 1978 version of the state's highway map. Once the renumbering process was finished in the early 1980s, however, the highway retained the State Route 140 designation it has today. The route has remained relatively unchanged since.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, Nevada
Humboldt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 18,052. Its county seat is Winnemucca.The county was the site of an arrest in 2000 that led to the U.S. Supreme Court decision Hiibel v...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. It serves a sparsely-populated section of the state, connecting northwestern Nevada to southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Most of the highway was originally part of State Route 8A
Nevada State Route 8A
Former State Route 8A was a two-part state highway in the U.S. state of Nevada, running from California State Route 299 in a general easterly and southeasterly direction via Vya and Denio to US 95 north of Winnemucca, and south from US 40 at Battle Mountain via Austin to US 6 near Tonopah...
, and was later improved through an effort to provide an all-weather highway linking northern Nevada to the Pacific northwest.
Route description
State Route 140 begins at a junction with U.S. Route 95 about 32 miles (51.5 km) north of WinnemuccaWinnemucca, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile...
in the Quinn River Valley. From this point, the highway heads west towards the sparsely populated regions of northwestern Nevada. SR 140 crosses into the Desert Valley before entering a branch of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation. Inside the reservation, the route crosses the Quinn River
Quinn River
The Quinn River, once known as the Queen River, is an intermittent river, approximately long, in the desert of northwestern Nevada in the United States. It drains an enclosed basin inside the larger Great Basin....
. Upon exiting the Indian territory, SR 140 curves northwest to parallel the Quinn River for about 10 miles (16.1 km) as it rounds the northern edge of the Jackson Mountains
Jackson Mountains
One hundred seventy five million years ago continental plates collided causing the rise of the Jackson Mountain Range. Today the majority of the range is divided into two federally protected wilderness area, the North Jackson Wilderness and the South Jackson Wilderness...
. As the river turns southeast towards the Black Rock Desert
Black Rock Desert
The Black Rock Desert is an arid region in the northern Nevada section of the Great Basin with a lakebed that is a dry remnant of Pleistocene Lake Lahontan...
, the highway continues its northwest trajectory. The route crosses over the 4820 feet (1,469.1 m) Denio Summit before reaching Denio Junction. State Route 292 intersects the highway here, providing access to Denio
Denio, Nevada
Denio, Nevada is an unincorporated community that lies on the Nevada-Oregon state line in Humboldt County, Nevada and Harney County, Oregon, in the United States. The community is also known as Denio, Oregon. There was formerly a Denio, Oregon post office north of the state line. Most of the town...
, the only town in this region of Nevada.
At Denio Junction, State Route 140 turns westward again, somewhat paralleling the state line. About 15 miles (24.1 km) from the junction, the highway enters Virgin Creek Valley. The valley has been known for its black fire-opals
Opal
Opal is an amorphous form of silica related to quartz, a mineraloid form, not a mineral. 3% to 21% of the total weight is water, but the content is usually between 6% to 10%. It is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most...
, and some mining operations in the area will allow civilians to hunt for the precious stones for a fee. Near this valley, SR 140 enters the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge located on the northern border of the U.S. state of Nevada. A very small part extends northward into Oregon. It is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as the Nevada component of the Sheldon-Hart Mountain...
, an area designed to provide habitat for pronghorn antelope and conserve native fish, bird and plant species. The highway travels about 25 miles (40.2 km) through the wildlife range towards the Oregon state line. SR 140 ends at the border, with Oregon Route 140 continuing northwest towards Adel
Adel, Oregon
Adel is an unincorporated community in southeastern Lake County, Oregon, United States. It consists largely of a cafe and gas station, amid a community of loosely scattered ranches...
and Lakeview
Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview is a city in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County. Although it is an incorporated city, the municipal government refers to the community as "The Town of Lakeview", and bills itself as "Tallest Town in Oregon"...
.
History
Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 421,407 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County includes the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.-History:...
towards Vya
Vya, Nevada
Vya, Nevada is a small ghost town located in Washoe County, in northwestern Nevada. It is to the east of the California state line, about 10 miles plus. Not much remains of the small town, which essentially died in the 1920s. Just two wooden buildings can still be seen—the Vya Post Office and Library...
and Cedarville, California
Cedarville, California
Cedarville is a census-designated place in Modoc County, California. It is located east of Alturas, at an elevation of 4652 feet ....
. By 1929, this alignment had been established as State Route 8A
Nevada State Route 8A
Former State Route 8A was a two-part state highway in the U.S. state of Nevada, running from California State Route 299 in a general easterly and southeasterly direction via Vya and Denio to US 95 north of Winnemucca, and south from US 40 at Battle Mountain via Austin to US 6 near Tonopah...
. The highway remained mostly unimproved for many years after designation by the state. The portion of highway from US 95 to Denio became a gravel road by 1940 and wasn't fully paved until 1953, The route was realigned near Denio Junction by 1949 (eliminating backtracking through Denio) and the portion between Denio and the California state line had been improved to a fully graveled road by 1952.
In the 1950s, a push began for an all-weather route connecting northwestern Nevada, southern Oregon, and the redwood
Redwood
-Trees:Conifers* Family Cupressaceae *** Sequoia sempervirens - coast redwood**** Albino redwood*** Sequoiadendron giganteum - giant sequoia*** Metasequoia glyptostroboides - dawn redwood* Family Pinaceae...
region of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
—at the time, there were no improved roads directly connecting these areas. Community leaders along the route formed an association to promote what they called the "Winnemucca to the Sea Highway". Efforts to realize the association's goals moved forward in the next decade. By 1960, Nevada officials had paved a portion of State Route 8A west of Denio. Instead of following SR 8A to Vya, the newly paved road curved northwest to the Oregon border near the Humboldt–Washoe county line. Oregon officials constructed a new paved road linking Adel to the Nevada state line in 1962. This work completed the 117 miles (188.3 km) stretch of Winnemucca to the Sea Highway between Denio Junction and Lakeview, Oregon. The Winnemucca to the Sea Association, however, envisioned Route 140 as a continuous number—branching from "parent" highway U.S. Route 40 in Winnemucca
Winnemucca, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile...
—that would be applied to the entire length of highway. By 1968, State Route 140 had been designated along the paved portions of SR 8A, with Oregon Route 140 continuing on to Adel and Lakeview. State Route 140 was also signed along US 95 south into Winnemucca—this section of SR 140 was later removed in the 1970s.
When Nevada officials began the process of renumbering the state's highways in 1976, SR 140 was planned to be redesignated as State Route 291. The proposed route number was first seen on the 1978 version of the state's highway map. Once the renumbering process was finished in the early 1980s, however, the highway retained the State Route 140 designation it has today. The route has remained relatively unchanged since.
Major intersections
See also
Other segments of former State Route 8A:- State Route 305, the central segment that ran from AustinAustin, NevadaAustin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
to Battle MountainBattle Mountain, NevadaBattle Mountain is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Lander County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,871 at the 2000 census. Though it has no legal status as a municipality, it still functions as the county seat of Lander County...
. - State Route 376, the southern segment that ran from near TonopahTonopah, NevadaTonopah is a census-designated place located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno....
to near AustinAustin, NevadaAustin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
.