Townapedia
2015-01-15 13 44 57 View east along Nevada State Route 319 in Panaca, Nevada
2015-01-15 13 44 57 View east along Nevada State Route 319 in Panaca, Nevada · Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Panaca, Nevada

Panaca is a community of 1,015 people in Lincoln County, Nevada.

Loading the weather...
Population1,015 -12.3% since 2019
Elevation4,728 ft 1,441 m
Land area3.1 sq mi
ZIP code89042
Nearest airportMesquite Airport (MFH) 68 mi

Why visit Panaca

Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks and 2 places to stay in and around town.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; December lows average 17°F.

About Panaca

Panaca is an unincorporated town in eastern Lincoln County, Nevada, United States, on State Route 319, about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east of U.S. Route 93, near the border with Utah. Its elevation is 4,729 feet (1,441 meters) above sea level. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 963. It is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling, the other being Boulder City.

From the Wikipedia article Panaca, Nevada (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks2

Panaca Heritage Center

Museum · 0.7 mi

1078 Main Street, Panaca

Open in Google Maps

Nevada State Parks visitors center

Museum · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Where to stay2

Pine Tree Inn & Bakery

Motel and hotel · 0.8 mi

412 North 3rd Street, Panaca

Open in Google Maps

Cathedral Gorge Inn

Motel and hotel · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Churches and places of worship1

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Church · Mormon · 0.7 mi

1085 Main Street, Panaca

Open in Google Maps

Advertisement

Shopping1

Panaca Market

Grocery · 0.8 mi

1105 Main Street, Panaca

Open in Google Maps

History

The area that was to become the Panaca settlement was explored by Mormons in 1857. Brigham Young dispatched the explorers in order to locate a potential refuge in case of a U.S. military campaign against Utah. The location was selected due to the Meadow Valley oasis at the headwaters of the Muddy River. Mormon scouts began irrigation ditches and started fields, but the site was soon deserted after the feared violence never materialized. Panaca was the first permanent settlement by European Americans in southern Nevada. It was founded as a Mormon colony in 1864. It began as part of Washington County, Utah, but the congressional redrawing of boundaries in 1866 shifted Panaca into Nevada. It is the only community in Nevada to be "dry" (forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages), and the only community in Nevada, besides Boulder City, that prohibits gambling.

Coke ovens here once produced charcoal for the smelters in nearby Bullionville (now a ghost town), but the town's economy is predominantly agricultural.

The name "Panaca" comes from the Southern Paiute word Pan-nuk-ker, which means "metal, money, wealth". William Hamblin, a Mormon missionary to the Paiutes, established the Panacker Ledge (Panaca Claim) silver mine there in 1864.

From the History section of Panaca, Nevada on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Gas and EV charging1

Schools, colleges and libraries5

Advertisement

Map of Panaca

12 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°100°January: 1.3 in of rainFebruary: 1.2 in of rainMarch: 1.0 in of rainApril: 0.9 in of rainMay: 0.7 in of rainJune: 0.3 in of rainJuly: 1.2 in of rainAugust: 1.0 in of rainSeptember: 0.7 in of rainOctober: 1.6 in of rainNovember: 0.4 in of rainDecember: 0.9 in of rainJanuary: 46°FFebruary: 51°FMarch: 60°FApril: 67°FMay: 76°FJune: 87°FJuly: 93°FAugust: 91°FSeptember: 84°FOctober: 71°FNovember: 58°FDecember: 46°FJanuary: 20°FFebruary: 22°FMarch: 27°FApril: 33°FMay: 40°FJune: 48°FJuly: 56°FAugust: 54°FSeptember: 45°FOctober: 34°FNovember: 23°FDecember: 17°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan46°F20°F1.3 in2.9 in
Feb51°F22°F1.2 in2.5 in
Mar60°F27°F1.0 in1.8 in
Apr67°F33°F0.9 in0.2 in
May76°F40°F0.7 in0.3 in
Jun87°F48°F0.3 in0.0 in
Jul93°F56°F1.2 in0.0 in
Aug91°F54°F1.0 in0.0 in
Sep84°F45°F0.7 in0.0 in
Oct71°F34°F1.6 in0.0 in
Nov58°F23°F0.4 in0.8 in
Dec46°F17°F0.9 in3.6 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cathedral Gorge Sp (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$64,083median household income
$263,300median home value
$920median monthly rent
32.7median age
36.3%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
63.4%of homes are owner-occupied
7.2 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1825%18 to 3427%35 to 6420%65 and over28%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Lincoln County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.

  • 2023-04-27: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
  • 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
  • 2005-03-07: Heavy Rains And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2005-02-23: Snow (Snowstorm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Mesquite Airport (MFH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 68 miles away.

  • Caliente 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
  • Pioche 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
  • Enterprise 39 mi east, about 1 h by car
  • Newcastle 47 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Central 50 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Veyo 50 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Alamo 51 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Dammeron Valley 52 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.