Originally called Nippeno Camp after a nearby gold discovery, the town came to be in February, 1905 with the coming of the the first train on the newly built San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. The name was changed to Nipton when the SP, LA & SL merged with the Union Pacific about 1910. For many years the depot served mainly as a cattle-loading station for several local ranches including the Yates Ranch, Clara Bow's Walking Box, and Rocks Springs Land and Cattle Co. The town also supplied numerous mines in the area, becoming a social center for the sparsely populated region. Community facilities included a school, post office, and several small businesses.