Mineral County, Nevada

County in Nevada, United States

County in Nevada

Mineral County

County

Historic 1883 Esmeralda County and Mineral County Courthouse.

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Nevada

Nevada's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°32′N 118°26′W﻿ / ﻿38.54°N 118.43°W﻿ / 38.54; -118.43
Country|  United States
State|  Nevada
Founded| 1911; 114 years ago (1911)
Named after| Mineral
Seat| Hawthorne
Largest community| Hawthorne
Area

• Total

| 3,813 sq mi (9,880 km2)
• Land| 3,753 sq mi (9,720 km2)
• Water| 60 sq mi (200 km2)  1.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 4,554
• Density| 1.2/sq mi (0.46/km2)
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| mineralcountynv.us
Walker Lake Recreation Area, a popular scenic attraction

Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,554,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Nevada. Its county seat is Hawthorne.[2]

## History

[edit]

Mineral County was carved out of Esmeralda County in 1911 shortly after the county seat of Esmeralda was moved to Goldfield in 1907. Its name came from the surrounding area, which is heavily mineralized. Hawthorne has always been its county seat. The county is listed as Nevada Historical Marker 16\. The marker is located on U.S. Highway 95 at Walker Lake.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,813 square miles (9,880 km2), of which 3,753 square miles (9,720 km2) is land and 60 square miles (160 km2) (1.6%) is water.[4] The highest point in Mineral County is Mount Grant at 11,285 ft (3,440 m).

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 11 (Future)
* U.S. Route 6
* U.S. Route 95

U.S. Route 95 Alternate

U.S. Route 95 Truck (Hawthorne)
* State Route 359
* State Route 360
* State Route 361

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Lyon County \- northwest
* Churchill County \- north
* Nye County \- northeast
* Esmeralda County \- southeast
* Mono County, California \- southwest

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Inyo National Forest (part)
* Toiyabe National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1920| 1,848| | —
1930| 1,863| | 0.8%
1940| 2,342| | 25.7%
1950| 5,560| | 137.4%
1960| 6,329| | 13.8%
1970| 7,051| | 11.4%
1980| 6,217| | −11.8%
1990| 6,475| | 4.1%
2000| 5,071| | −21.7%
2010| 4,772| | −5.9%
2020| 4,554| | −4.6%
2024 (est.)| 4,475| [5]| −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

### 2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census there were 5,071 people, 2,197 households, and 1,379 families living in the county. The population density was 1 person per square mile (0.39 person/km2). There were 2,866 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.9% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 15.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. 8.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] Of the 2,197 households 25.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.20% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.20% were non-families. 31.60% of households were one person and 15.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.78.

The age distribution was 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median household income was $32,891 and the median family income was $39,477. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $25,262 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,952. About 11.00% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

[edit]

At the 2010 census, there were 4,772 people, 2,240 households, and 1,258 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 1.3 inhabitants per square mile (0.50/km2). There were 2,830 housing units at an average density of 0.8 per square mile (0.31/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 72.5% white, 15.5% Native American, 4.1% black or African American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.1% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.1% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 23.8% were English, 18.5% were German, 13.8% were Irish, 9.3% were Scottish, 5.2% were Portuguese, and 3.7% were American.[13]

Of the 2,240 households, 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 43.8% were non-families, and 36.7% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 49.2 years.[11]

The median household income was $35,446 and the median family income was $57,064. Males had a median income of $48,281 versus $33,830 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,226. About 11.4% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.[14]

## Communities

[edit]

Main Street, Aurora, Nevada 1934 Sodaville, a ghost town near Mina, 2011

There are no incorporated communities in Mineral County.

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Hawthorne (county seat)
* Mina
* Schurz
* Walker Lake

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Luning

### Other places

[edit]

* Aurora
* Babbitt
* Basalt
* Belleville
* Broken Hills
* Candelaria
* Eagleville
* Kinkaid
* Lucky Boy
* Marietta
* Montgomery Pass
* Omco
* Rand
* Rawhide
* Rhodes
* Sodaville
* Thorne

## Politics

[edit]

For much of the 20th Century, Mineral County leaned Democratic and only voted Republican in national landslides. During the Reagan era, the county flipped decisively into the Republican column. The only Democrat to carry the county after 1976 was Bill Clinton in 1996 as a result of high third-party performance, although Barack Obama came within just over 2 points of winning it in 2008. Since this year, the county's Republican tilt has increased in every election.

United States presidential election results for Mineral County, Nevada[15][16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,528  | 66.58% | 711  | 30.98%  | 56  | 2.44%
2020 | 1,423  | 60.94% | 829  | 35.50%  | 83  | 3.55%
2016 | 1,179  | 59.04% | 637  | 31.90%  | 181  | 9.06%
2012 | 1,080  | 53.07% | 863  | 42.41%  | 92  | 4.52%
2008 | 1,131  | 49.02% | 1,082  | 46.90%  | 94  | 4.07%
2004 | 1,336  | 57.41% | 931  | 40.01%  | 60  | 2.58%
2000 | 1,227  | 53.51% | 916  | 39.95%  | 150  | 6.54%
1996 | 814  | 35.12%  | 1,068  | 46.07% | 436  | 18.81%
1992 | 918  | 34.76% | 909  | 34.42%  | 814  | 30.82%
1988 | 1,480  | 56.88% | 978  | 37.59%  | 144  | 5.53%
1984 | 1,645  | 65.69% | 766  | 30.59%  | 93  | 3.71%
1980 | 1,628  | 63.94% | 631  | 24.78%  | 287  | 11.27%
1976 | 1,104  | 42.56%  | 1,361  | 52.47% | 129  | 4.97%
1972 | 2,111  | 73.32% | 768  | 26.68%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 927  | 32.31%  | 1,242  | 43.29% | 700  | 24.40%
1964 | 927  | 39.16%  | 1,440  | 60.84% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 930  | 36.67%  | 1,606  | 63.33% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 1,433  | 50.32% | 1,415  | 49.68%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 1,297  | 48.65%  | 1,369  | 51.35% | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 706  | 36.62%  | 1,194  | 61.93% | 28  | 1.45%
1944 | 751  | 35.85%  | 1,344  | 64.15% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 406  | 36.94%  | 693  | 63.06% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 236  | 23.27%  | 778  | 76.73% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 238  | 26.89%  | 647  | 73.11% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 275  | 45.76%  | 326  | 54.24% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 191  | 37.90%  | 84  | 16.67%  | 229  | 45.44%
1920 | 374  | 59.46% | 209  | 33.23%  | 46  | 7.31%
1916 | 385  | 34.75%  | 617  | 55.69% | 106  | 9.57%
1912 | 59  | 10.63%  | 219  | 39.46% | 277  | 49.91%
United States Senate election results for Mineral County, Nevada1[17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,326  | 57.98% | 737  | 32.23%  | 224  | 9.79%

## See also

[edit]

* Nevada portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Mineral County, Nevada

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
2. ^ "County Explorer". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Nevada Historical Markers". Nevada State Historic Preservation Office. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
5. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
12. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
13. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
14. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
16. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 146 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 131 votes.
17. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Nevada by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Mineral County
* Mineral County Chamber of Commerce
* Walker Lake Recreation Area

Places adjacent to Mineral County, Nevada

| Lyon County | Churchill County | Nye County

|
|

|  |

Mineral County, Nevada

|  |
Mono County, California |  | Esmeralda County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Mineral County, Nevada, United States

County seat: Hawthorne

CDPs|

* Hawthorne
* Mina
* Schurz
* Walker Lake

Mineral County map

Unincorporated
community|

* Luning

Indian reservation|

* Walker River Indian Reservation

Ghost towns|

* Aurora
* Babbitt
* Basalt
* Belleville
* Broken Hills
* Candelaria
* Eagleville
* Kinkaid
* Lucky Boy
* Marietta
* Montgomery Pass
* Omco
* Rand
* Rawhide
* Rhodes
* Sodaville
* Thorne

* Nevada portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Nevada

Carson City (capital)

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Former counties|

* Bullfrog
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Nevada portal

38°32′N 118°26′W﻿ / ﻿38.54°N 118.43°W﻿ / 38.54; -118.43

Authority control databases

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