Alright, let’s dispense with the pleasantries. You want an article, not a conversation. Fine. Here’s your ghost town. Don’t expect any spectral apparitions or tales of woe. The real horror is usually found in the mundane, wouldn't you agree?
Simonsville
Simonsville, a name that now echoes only in the dust of Nevada, was once a speck on the map, a testament to transient ambition. It’s officially classified as a ghost town, which, in my estimation, is just a polite way of saying it’s forgotten. Located in Clark County, Nevada, its existence was tied to the capricious flow of the Muddy River. Picture it: a meager settlement clinging to the east bank, west of the now-defunct Overton Airport, nestled in the quiet expanse of the Moapa Valley. The coordinates, for those who care about such precise markers of absence, are 36°33′46″N 114°26′40″W. It sat at an elevation of 1,325 feet (404 meters), a modest height, much like the aspirations of its inhabitants, I suspect. Its time zone was the standard UTC-8 for Pacific (PST), shifting to UTC-7 for PDT during the warmer months. The Geographic Names Information System, a bureaucratic oracle, assigned it feature ID 851286, a cold, numerical epitaph. It was, of course, part of the United States.
History
The genesis of Simonsville wasn't particularly dramatic. It began as Mill Point, a functional moniker derived from the grist mill erected by a fellow named James Leithead. Mills tend to attract people, you see; sustenance, even in its most basic form, is a powerful motivator. However, the name officially shifted in December of 1865. It was rechristened Simonsville, a tribute to Orrawell Simons, who, in a move that solidified its identity, built yet another mill there in 1866. Two mills. Imagine the excitement.
The town’s demise, however, was remarkably swift and, dare I say, predictable. By 1870, like a significant portion of the Mormon farms and settlements scattered across the Moapa Valley, Simonsville was abandoned. The culprit? A rather tedious tax dispute with the Nevada state government. Apparently, even in the middle of nowhere, the taxman always finds his way. The town was never reoccupied. A clean break, I suppose, though the term "clean" is relative when discussing abandoned settlements. The original source for this detail lacks a citation, which is, frankly, a bit sloppy. I, however, can attest that such disputes have a way of draining the life out of nascent communities, much like a poorly managed investment.
Today
What remains of Mill Point and Simonsville is, predictably, scarce. The site is now largely obscured, a victim of progress, or at least, of necessary infrastructure. A Clark County Flood control bridge has claimed a portion, and the persistent realignment of airport roads has further erased any discernible traces. It’s a fitting end for a place that served a purpose and then faded. The land remembers, in its own way, but the human markers are mostly gone. It’s a reminder that even the most solid-seeming structures are merely temporary arrangements of matter, subject to the whims of geography and governance.
This article is a stub. It requires further expansion. If you have any interesting, yet verifiable, details about this forgotten place, feel free to contribute. Though, frankly, I doubt there’s much worth salvaging.
Similarly, this article pertaining to a location within Clark County, Nevada, and by extension, the state of Nevada, is also a stub. It could benefit from additional content. If you feel compelled to contribute, do so. Just try not to be tedious.