Panaca, southern Nevada’s first permanent settlement and perhaps one of its most unique, was founded as a Mormon colony by Francis C. Lee and others in 1864. Poor in resources but rich in people, it changed only slowly through the years. Although mining at nearby Bullionville and Pioche had its effect, Panaca remained an agricultural community. Its post office was established in 1867, moved to Bullionville in 1874, and returned to Panaker in 1879. During the 1870s, coke ovens there produced charcoal for the smelters at Bullionville. Originally in Washington County, Utah, Panaca became part of Nevada by an act of Congress dated May 5, 1866. Because the boundary had not yet been surveyed, a dispute arose over taxes levied by Lincoln County, Nevada, and only after a long period of bitter litigation was the matter settled in favor of Panaca’s citizens on December 4, 1971. In this community, some people lived and died where they were born, while others became world travelers, and many in their unspectacular way helped create the great pioneer story.