When Desert County, Utah Territory was created March 3, 1852 it extended into present-day Nevada from the shore of the Great Salt Lake on the east to the western edge of the Great Basin in California between Weber and Tooele counties in Utah Territory. On January 5, 1856 Desert County was reduced significantly, and former Desert County land in present-day Nevada was used to form part of three new Utah Territory counties: Carson, Humboldt, and Saint Mary's. Desert County was extinguished on January 17, 1862 and her remaining land was split between Box Elder and Tooele counties.