MASON VALLEY,

The first recorded account of this region was made in 1844 by John C. Fremont. He was on his second expedition to explore and map the "West" and followed the course of the Walker River into a "large fertile valley."

This valley was named after its first settler, N.H.A. "Hock" Mason, who saw the area in 1854 while on a cattle drive to California and returned five years later to establish the valley's first homestead and the name Mason Valley. (Incredibly, many of today's new residents say they returned to live in Mason Valley after driving through it enroute to Reno. Las Vegas, or California.)

Mason Valley is one of the leading agricultural areas in Northern Nevada with approximately 50,000 acres under cultivation. This Valley sports a variety of crops from Jerusalem Artichokes to Wine Grapes. Garlic and onion crops are unique to Mason Valley.

Livestock production includes beef, sheep, dairy operations, llama breeding, and an ostrich farm that ships all over the country.

At an elevation of 4,380 feet, the area is typical of basin and range topography--lush farmland acreage surrounded by high desert terrain. Locally noted as being the "banana belt" area, temperatures rarely reach extremes with moderate temperatures and averaging over 300 days of sunshine.Temperature averages in January are 46 degrees with July averages at 92 degrees. The annual snowfall is 10 or less inches and humidity is low at 20%. Average annual precipitation is 5.52 inches.

Mason Valley residents enjoy the simple plesures of a rural lifestyle while experiencing the unbeatable business climate of Nevada. Yerington, located in the heart of Mason Valley offers a safe,friendly hometown with virtually unlimited business opportunities. Yerington has been the Lyon County seat since 1911 and is the only incorporated city in the county. This and other rural communities offer a small town lifestyle yet modernization affords this rural area good access and well managed growth.

Nevada's tax structure continues to be one of the least burdensome in the U. S. Unlike most other states, Nevada does not impose a corporate income tax, personal income tax, franchise, inventory, unitary, chain store, admissions, inheritance, special intangible, estate and/or gift tax. The sales/use tax in Lyon County is 6.5% with no tax on food for home use or on prescription drugs. Lyon County's appealing tax structure provides an excellent choice to many retirees.

Mason Valley, located in the heart of Lyon County, and the town of Yerington are accessed via Highway 95A from the North, or State Route (SR) 208 or 339 from the west, the Smith Valley area.

An increased effort to promote tourism has had quite an impact on the recreational attributes of the communities in and around Mason Valley. Locals and visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, camping, sight seeing, historical petroglyphs and other significant sites.

Just north of Mason Valley, Nevada's first military post was established in 1860. Fort Churchill, (Now a State Park) with adobe barrack ruins still standing, is open to the public.

In the early 1870's there was a willow-thatched saloon in Mason Valley which, according to local legend, served a liquor that tasted like poison. Or, "Pizen" as their dialect stated. This saloon was a transfer point for the liquor, and the community in the heart of Mason Valley became known as "Pizen Switch." In 1879 a committee was formed whose duty it was to murder and scalp anyone who referred to "Pizen Switch" instead of the more "respectable" name of Greenfield, Nevada. But by 1894, certain citizens saw the economic value of being on the route of the Carson and Colorado Railway. The best way to flatter the man with the power to decide the route? Rename your town after him!

During the late 1800's the Piaute Indian "messiah," Wovoka lived in the region. In 1889 Wovoka claimed to have had a vision in which he was instructed to teach a new dance (Ghost Dance Religion) that would restore the Native Americans to their old way of life. Although a peaceful dance and movement, the whites misinterpreted the movement, thus culminating in the killing of Sitting Bull. Today the "Spirit of Wovoka" is celebrated annually with an August powwow in Yerington..

The area also has a rich mining history stemming from the gold at Pine Grove and Bluestone at the turn of the century to copper at Weed Heights in 1950 and the Anaconda Copper Mine. At one time, the open pit mine was one of the largest in the country and can be seen from a look-out point.

We will continue to update this site with photographs and stories pertaining to the area. We thank you for taking the time to visit Mason Valley, Nevada and we hope that you will bookmark us and visit again soon.