Nevada State Route 306
Encyclopedia
State Route 306 is a state highway
in northern Nevada
, USA. It connects the mining area of Gold Acres in Lander County
to Interstate 80
(I-80) at the Beowawe Interchange near Beowawe
in Eureka County
via Crescent Valley
. The road has been a state highway since the 1920s, having been established as part of a much longer State Route 21 by 1929.
. After about 12 miles (19.3 km), the highway crosses into Eureka County and passes through the small community of Crescent Valley. Passing through the town, SR 306 continues on its straight course northward through the valley of the same name. The route reaches the town of Beowawe, where it crosses over the Union Pacific Railroad
, and soon after, bridges the Humboldt River
. The highway passes briefly through Whirlwind Valley before reaching Interstate 80, where SR 306 terminates at the Beowawe Interchange (exit 261).
The road dates back to at least 1929. At that time, it was part of a longer State Route 21 which extended north from SR 2/U.S. Route 50 in Nevada
(US 50) near Austin
all the way through Crescent Valley and Beowawe to SR 1/US 40 (now I-80). By 1933, the southern end of SR 21 had been extended beyond Austin, branching from US 50 just west of town and heading in a southwesterly direction towards Ione
. Not counting the brief overlap with US 50, the total length of State Route 21 was around 144 miles (231.7 km). The entire route remained a dirt or gravel-graded route until about 1958, when the northern 30 miles (48.3 km) miles between Gold Point and US 40 were paved.
Aside from a little more paving south of Gold Point, SR 21 remained unchanged into the 1970s. However, on July 1, 1976, Nevada began a renumbering of its state highways. In this process, the paved portion of the highway between Crescent Valley and US 40/I-80 north of Beowawe was redesignated as State Route 306. This change was first seen on state maps in 1978. The rest of SR 21 remained on official Nevada maps for a short time, but was ultimately removed from the state highway system by 1982. The paved highway extending to the Gold Acres site wasn't shown on state maps until 1993. 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 northern 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. It connects the mining area of Gold Acres in Lander County
Lander County, Nevada
Lander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:...
to 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) at the Beowawe Interchange near Beowawe
Beowawe, Nevada
Beowawe is a ghost town in Eureka County in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. Beowawe is a Paiute Native American word meaning "gate", so named for the peculiar shape of the hills close to town which gives the effect of a gateway opening to the valley beyond. The town is located at...
in Eureka County
Eureka County, Nevada
Eureka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,651. Its county seat is Eureka.Eureka County is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
via Crescent Valley
Crescent Valley, Nevada
Crescent Valley is an unincorporated community in Eureka County, Nevada, United States. It is the site of Crescent Valley Elementary School, Crescent Valley Fair Grounds, and Crescent Valley Community Park....
. The road has been a state highway since the 1920s, having been established as part of a much longer State Route 21 by 1929.
Route description
SR 306 begins at the road to Barrack Cortez Mine, just east of Gold Acres in central Lander County. From this point, the route heads in a north-northeasterly direction, away from the mountains of the Shoshone RangeShoshone Range
in Nye County.The Shoshone Range is a mountain range in Lander County, Nevada.The Humboldt River and valley are on the northern perimeter of the range....
. After about 12 miles (19.3 km), the highway crosses into Eureka County and passes through the small community of Crescent Valley. Passing through the town, SR 306 continues on its straight course northward through the valley of the same name. The route reaches the town of Beowawe, where it crosses over the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, and soon after, bridges the Humboldt River
Humboldt River
The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. At approximately long it is the second longest river in the Great Basin, after the Bear River. It has no outlet to the ocean, but instead empties into the Humboldt Sink...
. The highway passes briefly through Whirlwind Valley before reaching Interstate 80, where SR 306 terminates at the Beowawe Interchange (exit 261).
History
U.S. Route 50 in Nevada
U.S. Route 50 is a transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching from Sacramento, California in the west to Ocean City, Maryland on the east coast. The Nevada portion crosses the center of state and was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life magazine in July 1986...
(US 50) near Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin 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...
all the way through Crescent Valley and Beowawe to SR 1/US 40 (now I-80). By 1933, the southern end of SR 21 had been extended beyond Austin, branching from US 50 just west of town and heading in a southwesterly direction towards Ione
Ione, Nevada
Ione, Nevada is an unincorporated community in Nye County, Nevada, located approximately 23 miles east of Gabbs, Nevada. Current services include one grocery store....
. Not counting the brief overlap with US 50, the total length of State Route 21 was around 144 miles (231.7 km). The entire route remained a dirt or gravel-graded route until about 1958, when the northern 30 miles (48.3 km) miles between Gold Point and US 40 were paved.
Aside from a little more paving south of Gold Point, SR 21 remained unchanged into the 1970s. However, on July 1, 1976, Nevada began a renumbering of its state highways. In this process, the paved portion of the highway between Crescent Valley and US 40/I-80 north of Beowawe was redesignated as State Route 306. This change was first seen on state maps in 1978. The rest of SR 21 remained on official Nevada maps for a short time, but was ultimately removed from the state highway system by 1982. The paved highway extending to the Gold Acres site wasn't shown on state maps until 1993. The route has remained relatively unchanged since.