Representatives of the Central Pacific Railroad began laying out lots for the future town of Elko on December 29, 1868, and by 1870 the thriving town had 5,000 people. Elko became the railhead for immense freight and passenger traffic over stageline roads running north and south to the mining area. The University of Nevada was originally built in Elko in 1874 and remained there until 1885, when it was moved to Reno to its present location. By the early 1870’s, Elko had become the marketing and economic center for northeastern Nevada’s vast range livestock empire, and in the 1870’s and 1880’s great ranching principalities rose on Elko County’s vast rangelands under powerful cattle kings including L.R. “Broadhorns” Bradley, the French Garat family, the Spanish Altubes, and John Sparks. Elko remains the economic hub of Nevada’s greatest range area and has also become a recreation-tourism center in northeast Nevada.