Nelson, Nevada

Nelson
Census-designated place
View of Nelson, from the west
Nelson Location within the state of Nevada
Coordinates: 35°42′26″N 114°49′34″W / 35.70722°N 114.82611°W / 35.70722; -114.82611Coordinates: 35°42′26″N 114°49′34″W / 35.70722°N 114.82611°W / 35.70722; -114.82611
Country	United States
State	Nevada
County	Clark (Eldorado Valley)
Area
• Total	4.8 sq mi (12.4 km2)
• Land	4.8 sq mi (12.4 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Population (2010)
• Total	37
• Density	7.7/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)

Nelson is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The community is in the Pacific Standard Time zone. The location of Nelson is in El Dorado Canyon, Eldorado Mountains. The town is in the southeast region of the Eldorado Valley. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 37.

Nelson is located along Nevada State Route 165, about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of its junction with U.S. Route 95. Route 165 continues east 5 miles (8 km) to a dead end at Nelsons Landing on the Colorado River, 18 miles (29 km) by water north of Cottonwood Cove on Lake Mojave. Nelson is about 25 miles (40 km) from Boulder City by road.

The area known as Nelson was originally called Eldorado in 1775, by the Spaniards who made the original discoveries of gold in the area that is now Eldorado Canyon. The town was the site of one of the first major gold strikes in Nevada and one of the biggest mining booms in state history. Gold and silver were discovered here around 1859. The rush to the canyon began in 1861, several mining camps were established in the canyon, and a steamboat landing at the mouth of the canyon on the Colorado River, called Colorado City.

In its heyday, the area established a reputation for being rough and lawless. During the American Civil War, deserters from both the Union and Confederate armies would wander there, hoping that such an isolated location would be the last place military authorities would look for them.