In search of the naming origin of Searchlight
While the naming of Searchlight, Nevada, has never been officially confirmed, one Nevada historian believes researchers have come to the most logic...
While the naming of Searchlight, Nevada, has never been officially confirmed, one Nevada historian believes researchers have come to the most logical conclusion to solving the mystery. The town, just south of Las Vegas, was named by George Frederick Colton from Provo, Utah, who was in search of the Lost Dutchman gold mine. Colton ultimately ended up finding gold in 1897 in the town now called Searchlight, but when he died in 1918, the origin of the town's name died with him. Many believed the town was named after the Searchlight matches Colton used to light his pipe, but those matches wouldn't have existed when the town was named, according to Jeffrey Kintop, a Nevada historian and certified archivist.