The purpose of this survey is to attempt to identify the location of unmarked graves in the Hawthorne Chinese Cemetery and to assist in delineating an adequate boundary for the cemetery grounds to be set aside from other potential uses.

The location of this cemetery was "lost" over time. Only recently was the general vicinity of its location identified. The Mineral County Fair & Recreation Commission and the Horseman’s Association are in the process of designing a new fairgrounds and equestrian center. A portion of the land received from the County Commissioners for this purpose contains the Hawthorne Chinese Cemetery.

Historical Background

The town of Hawthorne was established as the terminus of the Carson and Colorado Railroad in 1881. The railroad originated at Mound House, near Carson City, with the rail line surveyed to run southeasterly to the southern end of prehistoric Walker Lake. Town lots and blocks were sold in April 1881 as part of an excursion train trip to the new town site held by the C&CRR promoters.

It was typical of the time to utilize Chinese labor in the construction of the railways and by March of 1883, when Hawthorne became the new seat of Esmeralda County, Hawthorne’s "Chinatown" contained "some half a dozen buildings." [Reno Evening Gazette, 3/24/1883] In the late 1880s, a somewhat larger Chinese community had established itself from the main area of the town and included all of Block 68 of the town. Whereas typical town blocks were subdivided into 20 lots per block (a lot being 50 ft by 90 ft), the Chinese block of the town was divided into 80 lots in the block, those lots being 25 feet wide by 45 feet deep.

Most of the Chinese population in Hawthorne was comprised of single men or married men whose wives had remained in China. Only a small percentage of the population included married couples with children.