Incorporated Town: 1925
Incorporated City: 1971
Population 2000: 2,395
Elevation: approx. 4900 feet

Carlin is a small community located in northeast Nevada, 23 miles west of Elko, NV and is situated along Interstate 80. Carlin’s city limits encompass 9 square miles with a residential population of 2,395. Carlin has a Mayor/Council form of government. The City’s responsibilities and structure are outlined in the City Charter adopted in 1971.

The developed portion of Carlin covers roughly one-half square mile and is located in the center of the nine square mile city limits. Approximately 75% of the land within the city limits lies north of the Humboldt River with the remaining 25% located south of the River. Important tributaries flowing through the city to the Humboldt River, are Maggie Creek and Mary's Creek. The two creeks generally serve as the east and west boundaries of the City.

Carlin is significant as the gateway to the world's largest gold mines (north) and also maintains active oil fields (south). Mining became a major employment base in the early 1960's with the development of the area commonly known as the Carlin Trend. The Carlin Trend boasts two of the largest open pit gold mines in the world, processing approximately 3 million ounces of ore annually. The Newmont Gold Quarry site is visible from the Interstate and the northern slopes of the City.

Carlin has a small town atmosphere quality of life, and is within minutes of major shopping, fine dining, gaming/shows and other amenities.

CITY COUNCIL:
The legislative body of Carlin consists of a directly elected Mayor and four At Large Council representatives. Council chooses the Vice-Mayor from among its membership. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term along with two council representatives while the other two Council representatives are elected alternately for 2 years.

City Council appoints a City Manager, City Clerk, Police Chief, City Attorney, City Engineer, City Auditor and members of various citizens’ boards and commissions.

CITY STRUCTURE:

The City consists of five departments, under the direction of the City Manager:

- Administration -Public Works -Senior Center

- Police Department -Fire Department

A department head manages each of the five departments.

CITY OFFICES:

City Hall is located at 108 S. Eighth Street
Police Department is located at 152 S. Eighth Street
Public Works/City Shops are located at 810 Oak Street
Fire Department is located at 121 Hamilton Street.
Senior Center is currently located at 718 Cedar Street but will soon be relocating to a brand new facility located at 320 Chestnut Street.

General operating hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. City Offices are closed on the following holidays: New Years Day, MLK Jr’s Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving (Family Day) and Christmas.

CLIMATE:

Carlin has a high desert climate characterized by warm dry summers and relatively dry cold winters. Average precipitation is about 10 inches annually with peak periods occurring during the winter months and late spring. Snowfall averages more than 40 inches annually.

Average January temperatures are about 23º F with sub-zero readings not uncommon while the average July temperature is about 70º F. Summer high temperatures may occasionally exceed 100º F but usually are somewhat less than that with cool nights.

RECREATION:

A 9-acre recreation area has been developed with the following:

3 - Baseball/Softball Fields
2 - Tennis Courts
4 - Basketball Courts 1 - Volleyball Court
3 - Horseshoe Pits
1 - Nature Study Area
1 - Football Field

The play field at the Carlin School is also available as a joint use facility for public recreation purposes. An archery range has been developed by a local archery club on private lands and is available for public use. A nature study area has been developed that offers fishing and nature trails. We also have a Motor Cross Track that is operational during the warm weather season.

Backpacking - Biking - Camping - Fishing - Hunting:
Carlin offers unlimited areas with easy access including:

Ruby Marshes (90 minutes)
Wildhorse Reservoir (90 minutes)
South Fork Reservoir (40 minutes)
Jarbidge Wilderness Area (3 hours)

Lamoille Canyon (60 minutes)

Angel Lake (90 minutes)

Wilson Reservoir (90 minutes)

Jack Creek (90 minutes)

LAND SALE:
The City of Carlin is presently offering for sale 400 acres of land, located just south of the two largest gold producing mines in North America and north of Interstate 80.

LIBRARY:
Carlin has a branch library affiliated with the Elko County Library located adjacent to the City Hall. The library is growing at an impressive rate and offers many opportunities for all age groups.

HISTORY:
The City of Carlin had it's beginnings as a campsite favored by immigrants traveling the California Trail during the Gold Rush period of the late 1840's, and grew quickly after it became the eastern terminus of the Central Pacific Railroad's Humboldt Division in late 1868. During 1907, the Western Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific) was built through the town, south of the Southern Pacific (formerly Central Pacific).

For many years, until the 1960's, Carlin was principally a railroad town. The main business district was located on the south side of the Southern Pacific Railroad while much of the railroad shop facilities and the roundhouse were situated north of the main line tracks. Residential areas were located on both sides of the Southern Pacific Railroad with most of the dwellings established north of the railroad shops.

With the replacement of steam engines by diesel power, Carlin's maintenance facilities were no longer needed. As the significance of the railroad decreased, the business district south of the railroad declined and businesses began relocating nearer Highway 40 and Interstate 80 on the north side of the City. In the 1960's, gold mining came into prominence in the general vicinity of Carlin.

After a long period of little growth or change in the City, a modern gold mining boom has affected the City. The 1980's were a time of substantial expansion for the gold mining industry in the area around Carlin, making the region one of the premier gold mining areas of the world. This boom has brought dramatic growth and change to Carlin as well as Elko County.