Mineral County, Nevada, located in the west-central part of the state along the California border, is a sparsely populated region with a population of 4,554 as of the 2020 census, making it Nevada’s fifth-least populous county. Established in 1911 from Esmeralda County, it derives its name from the region’s rich mineralization, part of the Walker Lane Structural Belt, known for producing gold, silver, and copper. The county seat, Hawthorne, dubbed “America’s Patriotic Home,” is marked by its red, white, and blue streets and strong community pride, partly due to the Hawthorne Army Depot, the world’s largest ammunition storage facility, spanning over 147,000 acres. The county covers 3,813 square miles, with 1.6% water, including Walker Lake, a remnant of the prehistoric Glacial Lake Lahontan, fed by the Walker River. Surrounded by arid mountains like the Wassuk Range and Excelsior Mountains, with Mount Grant as the highest point at 11,285 feet, the area enjoys mild temperatures and nearly year-round sunshine, ideal for outdoor activities.
Mineral County has no incorporated communities and features a low population density of 1.3 people per square mile. The economy, employing about 1,580 people, is driven by public administration, education, and manufacturing, with mining remaining a key industry. The median household income is approximately $35,446, with a per capita income of $23,226, and about 19.1% of the population lives below the poverty line. The racial makeup is 72.5% white, 15.5% Native American, 4.1% Black, 1.1% Asian, and 9.1% Hispanic or Latino. The county offers over 1,000 miles of unfenced trails for OHV and ATV enthusiasts, and attractions like the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum and Mineral County Museum, which showcases mining history and artifacts. Politically, the county has trended Republican since the Reagan era, with a notable Democratic win by Bill Clinton in 1992. Visitors can explore historic mining towns like Aurora, Candelaria, and Rawhide, alongside natural beauty and recreational opportunities at Walker Lake State Recreation Area
Nevada State Historic Marker 16
Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. These roadside markers bring attention to the places, people, and events that make up Nevada’s heritage. They are as diverse as the counties they are located within and range from the typical mining boom and bust town to the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in Northern Nevada Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost or damaged.
Marker Text
Nevada’s earliest maps show Walker Lake. Jedediah Smith, the first American into Nevada, passed near here in 1828 during his remarkable trip across the state. Peter Skene Ogden was here in 1829, then Fremont in 1845 with his guide, Joseph Walker for whom the lake is named.
Until it’s creation in 1911, Mineral County was part of Esmeralda. The first county seat was at Aurora but it was moved to Hawthorne in 1883, the year after the Carson and Colorado RR was built. The county had many well-known mining towns—Aurora, Bellville, Candelaria, Rawhide and others.
Nevada State Historic Marker Map
Nevada State Historic Marker Summary
| Name | Mineral County |
| Location | Mineral County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 38.6839, -118.7726 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 16 |