The Pony Express Trail runs through Edwards Creek Valley in the western part of Nevada in Churchill County, one of the least populated parts of the whole continental U.S. The latest U.S. Census population figures for Churchill County were just over 24,000 people with a geographic area of 5,023 square miles, the county has 5 people per square mile. On April 3, 1860 the Leavenworth and Pike’s Peak Express Company, later named the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company started a mail service based on individual riders. The riders rode from one staged relay station to another, changing horses at each station and by trading riders, riding day and night across the country. The service only lasted until October of 1861 when it was replaced by the telegraph. In 1860, there were 157 Pony Express stations about 10 miles apart. This desolate part of the U.S. was one of the obstacles faced by the riders.