Why are there so many Basque people in Nevada?

In the United States, Basques mostly settled in Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho and California. They came to work in the gold mines across the American West, but found that they had better income hunting or raising sheep to sell as meat to the miners—and that set the groundwork for the next influx of Basque immigrants.

When did the Basque come to Nevada?

Basque immigrants first came in the mid-1800s during the Gold rush. The Basques have also been closely-tied to sheep herding in Nevada and neighboring states. The Basque-American culture in especially prominent in the town of Winnemucca.

What are Basque sheep herders famous for in Nevada?

During the California gold rush in the mid-1800s, Basques came to try their hand at gold mining. They soon left the gold fields for a more profitable venture in sheepherding and supplying mining camps with mutton and shipping the wool back East. By the late 1800s, Basque sheepherders were in Nevada.

How many Basques live in Nevada?

5,390 Basques
Today, about 5,390 Basques live in Nevada, mostly in the central and northern parts. The National Basque Festival is in Elko each year, and the National Monument to the Basque Sheepherder is in a Reno park.

Where do Basque people live in the US?

The largest number of Basque-Americans lives in California, but a high concentration can also be found in Idaho and Nevada; the Basques have left an indelible imprint on the cultures of those two states (Fun fact: Although Chile and Argentina have the largest Basque diaspora in absolute numbers, Boise, Idaho, has the …

Where did the first Basque sheepherders in Nevada migrate from?

Many found themselves in Nevada via the California gold rush. Some came directly from Basque regions in Spain and France, while others who had fled to Argentina to escape civil war in Spain in the 1830s made the trek north when the news of the gold discovery reached them in 1848.

When did Basques come to America?

Chronicles of the period indicate that Basques first came to North America in 1517, only seventeen years before French explorer, Jacques Cartier; however, some historians suggest they made the journey before Christopher Columbus in 1492. Whatever the case, the sixteenth century marked the golden era of Basque fishing.

When did the Basques come to America?

Are Basques famous sheepherders?

Basque herders were some of the very best sheepherders in western range sheep operations. These men soon found out upon arriving in the American west, that they had entered one of the loneliest professions in the world.

In which US city do the largest number of Basque descendants reside?

The largest concentration of Basque Americans is in the Boise, Idaho, area, where approximately 15,000 Basque Americans live. Boise is home of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center and hosts a large Basque festival known as Jaialdi every five years.

What US states have the highest percentages of Basque population today?

The states with the largest Basque communities are:

California: 17,598.
Idaho: 8,196.
Nevada: 5,056.
Oregon: 3,162.
Washington: 2,579.
Texas: 2,389.
Colorado: 2,216.
Florida: 1,653.

Where are Basque immigrants from?

They are mostly descendants of settlers from Spain and Mexico, with a number from other parts of Hispanic America. Other significant Basque populations in the United States are located in Reno, Nevada, and the Central Valley region of California.