The site that became Hunter was at the crossroads of the California Emigrant Trail and the Hastings Cut-Off, where the ill-fated Donner Party rejoined the trail. Over 200,000 emigrants passed through, leaving ruts that are still visible today.
Thomas and William Hunter, of Elko, started the ranch in the 1870s. Their ranch expanded, growing to include twenty-six brands and thousands of head of cattle. The winter of 1889-90 was especially bad. They lost the majority of their stock. The Hunters purchased hay to feed the herd, but then had to sell the surviving cattle to pay the hay bill.
It took ten years to rebuild, and when Thomas’s son, George, took over operations, along with partner George Banks.
The Western Pacific Railroad operated a siding at Hunter Banks to ship livestock. In 1917, George Hunter died. Banks sold the other properties but retained the home ranch until he declared bankruptcy in 1925. The Hunter ranch changed hands several times and remains privately owned.
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