Nevada State Route 233
Encyclopedia
State Route 233 is a state highway
in rural Elko County
, Nevada
, USA. The highway follows the routes of the First Transcontinental Railroad
and California Trail
from Interstate 80
(I-80) to the Utah
state line. The highway was formerly numbered State Route 30.
follows the route of the First Transcontinental Railroad and the California Trail throughout most of Nevada, but departs these corridors east of Wells
. These historical routes went around the north end of the Pequop Mountains
, towards the north shore of the Great Salt Lake
. Modern I-80 directly crosses these mountains in route to the south shore of the lake. State Route 233 exits Interstate 80 at exit 378 in Oasis
, on the other side of the Pequops from Wells. Route 233 proceeds on a northeast course to rejoin the route of the railroad and trail. The highway passes through the community of Montello, Nevada
in route to the Utah state line, where the highway continues as State Route 30
. In Utah, the route also loosely follows the historical routes of the railroad and trail around the north side of the Great Salt Lake until connecting with Interstate 84.
, which was first used by emigrants during the California Gold Rush
. Later this corridor was used for the First Transcontinental Railroad
.
The highway was originally State Route 30. The highway first appeared on the official Nevada state highway map in 1933. The connecting highway in Utah was originally numbered State Route 70, but was renumbered Route 30 in 1966. With this change the highway carried the number 30 on both sides of the state line. The highway was re-numbered State Route 233 as part of a mass renumbering of Nevada state routes. The 1978 edition of the official Nevada Department of Transportation
state highway map was the first to show both numbers, with the 1982 edition the first to use only the 233 designation.
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 rural Elko County
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
, 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...
, USA. The highway follows the routes of the First Transcontinental Railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
and California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
from Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, Interstate 80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, and also goes through the towns of Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wells and West Wendover on its way through the state.I-80 follows...
(I-80) to the Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
state line. The highway was formerly numbered State Route 30.
Route description
Interstate 80Interstate 80 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, Interstate 80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, and also goes through the towns of Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wells and West Wendover on its way through the state.I-80 follows...
follows the route of the First Transcontinental Railroad and the California Trail throughout most of Nevada, but departs these corridors east of Wells
Wells, Nevada
Wells is a city in Elko County, in northeast Nevada in the western United States. The population was 1,346 at the 2000 census. Wells is located at the junction of U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 80, approximately east of Elko and is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The site...
. These historical routes went around the north end of the Pequop Mountains
Pequop Mountains
The Pequop Mountains are located in eastern Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. The range runs generally north-south for approximately 51 miles...
, towards the north shore of the Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
. Modern I-80 directly crosses these mountains in route to the south shore of the lake. State Route 233 exits Interstate 80 at exit 378 in Oasis
Oasis, Nevada
Oasis is an unincorporated community located in eastern Elko County, Nevada , at the junction of State Route 233 and Interstate 80, approximately 40 miles west of the Nevada border with the state of Utah. Built along the Central Pacific Railroad , the tracks run along the north side of town...
, on the other side of the Pequops from Wells. Route 233 proceeds on a northeast course to rejoin the route of the railroad and trail. The highway passes through the community of Montello, Nevada
Montello, Nevada
Montello is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States. It is home to Montello Elementary School which is part of the Elko County School District. The population of Montello is 216. Two small bars and a market/motel selling fuel & sundries comprise the business district...
in route to the Utah state line, where the highway continues as State Route 30
Utah State Route 30
State Route 30 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Utah. It is the only highway signed as a Utah state route to traverse the entire width of the state. Legislatively the highway exists as 3 separate segments. The three sections are easily connectable via Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 89...
. In Utah, the route also loosely follows the historical routes of the railroad and trail around the north side of the Great Salt Lake until connecting with Interstate 84.
History
This corridor loosely parallels the route of the California TrailCalifornia Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
, which was first used by emigrants during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. Later this corridor was used for the First Transcontinental Railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
.
The highway was originally State Route 30. The highway first appeared on the official Nevada state highway map in 1933. The connecting highway in Utah was originally numbered State Route 70, but was renumbered Route 30 in 1966. With this change the highway carried the number 30 on both sides of the state line. The highway was re-numbered State Route 233 as part of a mass renumbering of Nevada state routes. The 1978 edition of the official Nevada Department of Transportation
Nevada Department of Transportation
The Nevada Department of Transportation is a government agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. NDOT is responsible for maintaining and improving Nevada's highway system, which includes U.S. highways and Interstate highways within the state's boundaries. The department is notable for its...
state highway map was the first to show both numbers, with the 1982 edition the first to use only the 233 designation.