city, seat (1873) of Humboldt county, in northwestern Nevada, U.S., on the Humboldt River. Originally known as French Ford for the first settler, the Frenchman Joseph Ginacca, who operated a ferry across the Humboldt, Winnemucca served as a supply centre for the Central Pacific Railroad, whose officials renamed the town Winnemucca in 1868 to honour a famous leader of the neighbouring Paiute Indians. Winnemucca is an important regional transportation centre along Interstate 80 and U.S. highways 93 and 40, serving the ranching and mining industries in the surrounding region. Inc. 1917. Pop. (1990) 6,134; (2000) 7,174.