Nevada State Route 3
Encyclopedia
State Route 3 was the original designation for SR 208, SR 266 and SR 429. It was also the original designation for sections of SR 430, US 50, US 95, Alternate US 95, and US 395.
SR 3 was one of Nevada’s original state highways, first appearing on official state highway maps in the late 1920s. Originally called the “Bonanza Highway”, it ran 336.2 miles (541.1 km) from Reno
to the California state line west of Lida
. Soon after being commissioned, SR 3 started going through changes, becoming shorter and less important as a major highway in the process.
SR 3 first appears on official state highway maps in the late 1920s. By the mid-1930s, it was undergoing changes that would shrink it and eventually divide it into two separate highways.
In 1935, US 395 was extended into Nevada and routed concurrently with SR 3 from Reno to Holbrook. In 1937, US 6 was extended into Nevada and routed concurrently with SR 3 between Tonopah and Coaldale. By 1941, the northern terminus of SR 3 was truncated to the junction with US 395 at present-day Holbrook Junction, eliminating the duplication of route numbers between there and Reno.
A major change occurred in 1940. US 95 was extended into Nevada and replaced SR 3 from the junction with SR 5 south of Goldfield north to Schurz. SR 3 was now a discontinuous highway. The northern section ran from Schurz to Minden. The southern section ran from south of Goldfield to the California state line via Lida. Another major change occurred in 1941 when Alternate US 95 (initially mislabeled on state maps as US 95) replaced the section of SR 3 from Schurz to Yerington.
From 1941, SR 3 remained largely unchanged until 1978 when it was replaced in a statewide highway renumbering project. The northern section from Minden to Yerington was renumbered as SR 208. The southern section from US 95 to the California state line was renumbered as SR 266.
SR 3 was one of Nevada’s original state highways, first appearing on official state highway maps in the late 1920s. Originally called the “Bonanza Highway”, it ran 336.2 miles (541.1 km) from Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
to the California state line west of Lida
Lida, Nevada
Lida, Nevada is a small town in Esmeralda County, Nevada, near the border with California. It is located on State Route 266, north of Magruder Mountain....
. Soon after being commissioned, SR 3 started going through changes, becoming shorter and less important as a major highway in the process.
Route description
SR 3 began at the California state line west of Lida and took a circuitous route to Carson City and Reno. The route ran as follows:- California state line 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Oasis, CA east on present day SR 266 to SR 5 (now US 95), 41 miles (66 km) south of 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....
- North on present-day US 95 through GoldfieldGoldfield, NevadaGoldfield is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States, with a resident population of 440 at the 2000 census. It is located about southeast of Carson City, along U.S...
, Tonopah, and CoaldaleCoaldale, NevadaCoaldale is a ghost town in Esmeralda County, Nevada. There is reportedly also a community with the same name in Nye County, Nevada. Coaldale had a store, cafe, motel, and service station as late as 1993, but is now abandoned.- External links :*...
to SchurzSchurz, NevadaSchurz is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. It is located on the Walker River Indian Reservation. It is the burial place of Wovoka, the Paiute messiah who originated the Ghost Dance movement...
- West on present-day Alternate US 95 to YeringtonYerington, NevadaYerington is a city in Lyon County, located in western Nevada, USA. The population was 2,883 at the 2000 census. It is named after Henry M. Yerington, Superintendent of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad from 1868 to 1910. It is the county seat of Lyon County....
- South and west on present-day SR 208 to the junction of US 395 at Holbrook Jct
- North on US 395 through GardnervilleGardnerville, NevadaGardnerville is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the county seat of Minden. The population was 3,357 at the 2000 census....
and MindenMinden, NevadaMinden is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,836 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Douglas County and is adjacent to the city of Gardnerville. It is named after the town of Minden, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It...
to Carson City
- Route 3 forked at Carson City, with one branch following modern US 50 to Lake TahoeLake TahoeLake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
and the other branch US 395 terminating at Reno, NevadaReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
with then State Route 1
History
Dates are based on when changes appear on official Nevada state highway maps unless otherwise noted.SR 3 first appears on official state highway maps in the late 1920s. By the mid-1930s, it was undergoing changes that would shrink it and eventually divide it into two separate highways.
In 1935, US 395 was extended into Nevada and routed concurrently with SR 3 from Reno to Holbrook. In 1937, US 6 was extended into Nevada and routed concurrently with SR 3 between Tonopah and Coaldale. By 1941, the northern terminus of SR 3 was truncated to the junction with US 395 at present-day Holbrook Junction, eliminating the duplication of route numbers between there and Reno.
A major change occurred in 1940. US 95 was extended into Nevada and replaced SR 3 from the junction with SR 5 south of Goldfield north to Schurz. SR 3 was now a discontinuous highway. The northern section ran from Schurz to Minden. The southern section ran from south of Goldfield to the California state line via Lida. Another major change occurred in 1941 when Alternate US 95 (initially mislabeled on state maps as US 95) replaced the section of SR 3 from Schurz to Yerington.
From 1941, SR 3 remained largely unchanged until 1978 when it was replaced in a statewide highway renumbering project. The northern section from Minden to Yerington was renumbered as SR 208. The southern section from US 95 to the California state line was renumbered as SR 266.