Lander, county, central Nevada, U.S. It is drained by the Humboldt and Reese rivers. The county is arid and is covered by the Shoshone and Toiyabe mountains, which include large segments of Toiyabe National Forest in the south. The county seat, Battle Mountain, is in the far north. The county was formed in 1862. It is named for explorer Frederick W. Lander, who in 1860 surveyed the region for a proposed national wagon road. The major economic activity is mining, most notably of turquoise and gold. Area 5,494 square miles (14,229 square km). Pop. (2000) 5,794; (2010) 5,775.