Ely Nevada Homes for Sale

A copper and railroad town

Ely began in 1878 as a stagecoach station and grew after copper was discovered nearby in 1906. The Nevada Northern Railway was incorporated in 1905 to serve those copper deposits and later became a subsidiary of Kennecott Copper. Today Ely is the only incorporated city in White Pine County and the county seat. The city counted 3,924 residents at the 2020 census, while the county had 9,080 people spread over about 8,897 square miles along Nevada's eastern border.

The railroad is still the centerpiece of town. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum in East Ely is a National Historic Landmark, with more than 70 buildings and structures, 30 miles of track, and steam and diesel excursion trains; the East Ely shops complex received its landmark approval in 2006. Downtown, the Ely Renaissance Society has placed more than 20 outdoor murals and sculptures.

Getting around

U.S. Routes 6, 50 and 93 all pass through Ely. The town is the eastern end of the stretch of U.S. 50 nicknamed "The Loneliest Road in America," a name that came from a 1986 Life magazine article. U.S. 93, the Great Basin Highway, links Ely with Las Vegas by way of Pioche and Caliente. Ely Airport (Yelland Field) had commercial air service until March 31, 2013.

Outdoors and climate

At about 6,339 feet, Ely is often listed among the coldest places in the contiguous United States because of its cold nights. The elevation also puts mountain country close at hand:

• Great Basin National Park: established in 1986 and protecting 77,180 acres, including 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, Lehman Caves and ancient bristlecone pines. It is reached from Ely via US-6/50 and the town of Baker.
• Cave Lake State Park: about five miles southeast of Ely at 7,300 feet, with a 32-acre trout reservoir, ice fishing, camping and four hiking trails.
• Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park: about 20 miles south, where six 30-foot beehive ovens built in 1876 for silver smelting still stand.

Schools and health care

Public schools are run by the White Pine County School District, which is headquartered in Ely. William Bee Ririe Hospital on Avenue H is a critical access hospital with 24-hour emergency care.

Buying in Ely right now

There are currently 32 homes for sale in Ely, with a median list price of $299,250. In the last 12 months, 63 homes sold. In a market this size a handful of listings can move the numbers, so check the Ely market stats page for the latest figures.