There are a number of stories surrounding the naming of the once prosperous mining town of Searchlight.

According to the town’s most prominent resident, U.S. Senator Harry Reid, the town was so named because prospector George Frederick Colton said in 1897 that it would take a searchlight to find gold ore in the area. Another story, which Reid has dismissed, says Colton was using a Searchlight brand of match when he found ore in the area. Reid, who has written extensively on the history of his town, points out that the Searchlight brand was not available when the town was discovered. But perhaps the most interesting story suggests the city was named after the searchlights that were used to lure customers to the town’s brothels.

Whatever the origin of the name, when Searchlight was booming and the state was looking to carve Clark County out of Lincoln County in 1908, Searchlight was originally suggested to be the county seat, having about 1,500 of the area’s 3,000 residents.

The city started a decline in 1917 that came to a head with the completion of Highway 91, which completely bypassed the town. After that, the city’s population dropped to about 50. A resurgence came during construction of the Hoover Dam, lifting that number considerably. Searchlight now has a little more than 500 residents.

Today, many of the remnants from the old mining days are still visible, prompting some to refer to the area as a ghost town. While the outskirts may be, the main drag features the traditional trappings of any small highway town, plus a casino. It is also heavily policed, with Clark County deputies regularly enforcing the 25 mph speed limit through town.

By Greg Jones

Greg Jones is managing editor of Casino Connection Nevada, as well as associate editor of Global Gaming Business magazine.