Mineral County, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Nevada
. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,071. In 2009, it was estimated to have dropped to 4,662. Its county seat
is Hawthorne
.
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 has a total area of 3,813 square miles (9,876 km²), of which 3,756 square miles (9,729 km²) is land and 57 square miles (146 km²) (1.48%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,071 people, 2,197 households, and 1,379 families residing in the county. The population density
was 1 person per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,866 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.89% White
, 4.77% Black
or African American
, 15.36% Native American
, 0.81% Asian
, 0.10% Pacific Islander
, 2.68% from other races
, and 2.39% from two or more races. 8.44% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 2,197 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $32,891, and the median income for a family 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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,071. In 2009, it was estimated to have dropped to 4,662. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Hawthorne
Hawthorne, Nevada
Hawthorne is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 3,311 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mineral County...
.
History
Mineral County was carved out of Esmeralda CountyEsmeralda County, Nevada
Esmeralda County is a county in the west of U.S. state of Nevada. Its county seat is Goldfield. Its 2000 census population was officially 971, making its population density 0.1045 inhabitants/km² , the second-lowest of any county-equivalent outside of Alaska. As of 2010, the population had...
in 1911 shortly after the county seat of Esmeralda was moved to Goldfield
Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States, with a resident population of 440 at the 2000 census. It is located about southeast of Carson City, along U.S...
in 1907. Its name came from the surrounding area, which is heavily mineralized. Hawthorne has always been its county seat.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 3,813 square miles (9,876 km²), of which 3,756 square miles (9,729 km²) is land and 57 square miles (146 km²) (1.48%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Lyon County, NevadaLyon County, NevadaLyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
- northwest - Churchill County, NevadaChurchill County, NevadaChurchill County is a county located in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,982. As of July 1, 2007, the population of Churchill County was estimated at 27,190. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill,...
- north - Nye County, NevadaNye County, Nevada-National protected areas:* Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Death Valley National Park * Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest * Spring Mountains National Recreation Area -Demographics:...
- northeast - Esmeralda County, NevadaEsmeralda County, NevadaEsmeralda County is a county in the west of U.S. state of Nevada. Its county seat is Goldfield. Its 2000 census population was officially 971, making its population density 0.1045 inhabitants/km² , the second-lowest of any county-equivalent outside of Alaska. As of 2010, the population had...
- southeast - Mono County, CaliforniaMono County, CaliforniaMono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
- southwest
National protected areas
- Inyo National ForestInyo National ForestInyo National Forest is a federally administered forest in the United States. The forest covers parts of the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, and the White Mountains of California and Nevada. It contains two wilderness areas: the John Muir Wilderness and the Ansel Adams Wilderness...
(part) - Toiyabe National Forest (part)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,071 people, 2,197 households, and 1,379 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1 person per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,866 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.89% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.77% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 15.36% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.81% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.68% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.39% from two or more races. 8.44% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 2,197 households out of which 25.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.20% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.20% were non-families. 31.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $32,891, and the median income for a family was $39,477. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $25,262 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Cities and towns
- AuroraAurora, NevadaAurora is a ghost town in Mineral County in the western central part of the U.S. state of Nevada, approximately southwest of the town of Hawthorne and three miles from the California border....
- HawthorneHawthorne, NevadaHawthorne is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 3,311 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mineral County...
- LuningLuning, NevadaLuning is an Unincorporated Town in Mineral County, Nevada, in the United States. It is often listed as a ghost town, but it is not. The population of Luning, Nevada, as of 2005 is 87. The town ZIP Code of Luning is 89420....
- MinaMina, NevadaMina is a small community in Mineral County in west-central Nevada on U.S. Route 95 at an elevation of . The 2010 population was 155.-History:...
- SchurzSchurz, NevadaSchurz is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. It is located on the Walker River Indian Reservation. It is the burial place of Wovoka, the Paiute messiah who originated the Ghost Dance movement...
- Walker LakeWalker Lake, NevadaWalker Lake, Nevada is an unincorporated town in Mineral County, Nevada. As of 2006, the population of Walker Lake is 319....
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Mineral County, Nevada