39°55'38.42"N 114°52'50.88"W

Despite its presence on maps and in a few archival mentions, no contemporary document explains why this was called “Niptown.” Niptown and the nearby "Uppertown" locations most likely came into being to support the Star Mine and Star Mill located here. It may have been a miners’ nickname (for example, “nip” can mean a small drink of liquor or a small piece taken from something), but there is no evidence linking such meanings to this site. No alternate spelling (e.g. “Nip Town”) is recorded in the archives or maps. In sum, Niptown’s name origin is undocumented. It remains simply a historical footnote in the Cherry Creek mining district – noted on USGS maps and in one birth record, but with its etymology lost to time.

Oddly, there is nothing in Stanley Paher’s  Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps; nothing in Shawn Hall’s Ghost Towns and Historic Sites of Eureka, Lander, and White Pine Counties; nothing in Carlson’s Nevada Place Names referencing Niptown. It apparently never had a post office. It’s listed with the USGS Domestic Names database, it’s shown on the USGS topo map (along with “Uppertown”)

The Star Mine and mill were the reason for Niptown's existence.

The Star Mine is located at Cherry Creek, White Pine County. The mill was started on the 25th of November, 1877.
-Nevada State Journal, February 9, 1878

There are some 65 men employed at the Star Mine in Cherry Creek
-Nevada State Journal, February17, 1878

On February account to date $20,655 has been received from the Star mine, a new bullion producing claim at Cherry Creek, in White Pine county. A telegram on Saturday announced a further shipment of $5,000. In consequence of the breaking of the counter shaft, the mill was stopped for eight days in the early part of the month. Since then the shaft has been replaced, and everything is now working well.
-Nevada State Journal, February 28, 1878

We know you're busy mining, but you could take the time to read our newspaper now and then.

The residents of Niptown should not forget that they too are expected to be enrolled on the NEWS' subscriptions book. Send in your orders, boys.
-White Pine News, January 22, 1881

This appears to be Niptown's heyday; new buiding being constructed, social gathers, and next year even a school.

The residents of Niptown will dedicate the new Star ore-house with a grand ball on the evening of the Fourth.
-White Pine News, July 2, 1881

Niptown is getting to be the "hub" around which all the social festivities in these parts gather nowadays. The newly-married people up that way evidently believe life is a dream of mirth and gayety [sic]. Pity such a delusion should even vanish.
-White Pine News, November 19, 1881

The boys don't take kindly to thievery.

STRUNG HIM UP
The boys up at Niptown had a half-way lynching party Tuesday last. The victim was a petty larceny thief who had helped himself to several small sums of money belonging to others. We learn the offender was hung up till he grew black and blue. His next offense will be the signal for Judge Lynch's death warrant. It is said an examination of his cabin disclosed more bar-room spoons than Butler is credited with getting away with at New Orleans.
-White Pine News, December 31, 1881

Don't know what this was about.

A domestic squall took place at Niptown the latter part of last week. The irate husband went around with a Winchester rifle, hunting up the imaginary destroyers of his domestic happiness. He didn't find them.
-White Pine News, April 29, 1882

Civilization has arrived at Niptown.

School for Niptown.
Superintendent Benedict informs us he has succeeded in establishing a separate school district for Niptown. It now devolves on the residents of that burg to provide a suitable building and furniture, as no appropriation for that purpose can be taken from the school fund. At the July semi-annual apportionment of State moneys, the new district will be entitled to its pro rata, and the Superintendent hopes that the proper facilities will be provided in time to operate the school in August or the 1st of September at the latest.
-The White Pine News, July 1, 1882

Residents of Niptown have nicely cultivated gardens attached to their residences, in which they raise such garden truck as lettuce, radishes, potatoes, etc.. In this regard they are far ahead of their Cherry Creek neighbors.
-White Pine News, July 29, 1882

Years pass with little or no mention in the newspapers, but the inevitiable running out of ore had to come eventually.

Now referred to as the Nelson Mill, the name change occurred when the Nelson Consolidated Mill and Mining Company was organized (around 1905–1906) to consolidate several properties in the district, including the old Star and Exchequer mines.

UNDER AND BY VIRTUE OF AN EXECUTION issued out of the District Court of the State of Nevada, County of White Pine, dated the 12th day of April, 1892, for a judgment rendered in said Court on the 9th day February, 1892, in a certain action wherein P. H. Cannon as plaintiff recovered judgment against The Nelson Consolidated Mill and Mining Company as defendant for the sum of Eight hundred and sixty-eight and twenty-four one-hundredths ($868.24) dollars, lawful money of the United States, with interest thereon at the rate of 7 cent. per annum until paid, together with his costs and disbursements at the date of said judgment, amounting to the sum of Six hundred and twenty and sixty-five one-hundredths ($620.65) dollars, and all accruing costs, I have on this 7th day of May, 1892, levied upon the following real property, to wit:

One Quartz Mill and appliances.
One Assay Office and appliances.
One Lodging House.
2 Platform Scales.
One Dry Kiln.

All of said property is situated at Niptown, about 2½ miles north of the town of Cherry Creek, in the County of White Pine, State of Nevada. Public Notice is hereby given that on Monday, the Thirtieth Day of May, A. D. 1892.
-White Pine News, May 7, 1892

There must have been some mining activity after the mill was sold for debts, as the school remained open. According to TICUP - FILLMORE and STAR MINES, CHERRY CREEK MINING DISTRICT WHITE PINE COUNTY December 15, 1985 by Michael Tognoni, "the Star mine operated almost continually from 1872 until World War II when all precious metal mines were closed by Federal order."Statement of the receipts and disbursements of White Pine County published in the White Pine News show entries for Niptown and the Niptown School District as late as 1911.

It seems a relative of his was a teacher here.

Miss Tognini, after a successful term of teaching the Niptown School, returned to her home in South Ruby Valley.
-White Pine News, May 7, 1903

Several large ore chutes in the area, some pretty old looking, and some contemporary, eg. welded steel pipe. Several ruins scattered about.