Basques of Nevada

An indigenous ethnic group deriving from either Spain or France. In Nevada, Basques led an important influence in sheepherding and ranching throughout the state, particularly in the Humboldt River and Carson River regions. Several Basque communities in the United States remain around Boise, Idaho, home to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, host to an annual Basque festival. In Reno, the Center for Basque Studies and the Basque Studies Library are located at the University of Nevada, another significant nucleus of Basque population. Other profound Basque communities are Winnemucca, Gardnerville, and Elko, all of which sponsor annual Basque festivals that celebrate the dance, cuisine, and cultures of the Basque peoples of Spanish, French and Mexican nationalities who have arrived in Nevada since the late 19th century.