Mineral County

Mineral County, Nevada – key demographics

Population size

• 4,554 (2020 Census). Down from 4,772 in 2010.

Age

• Median age: about 51 years (ACS 2018–2022).
• Under 18: ~19%
• 18 to 64: ~52%
• 65 and over: ~29% Insight: Significantly older age profile than the U.S. overall.

Gender

• Male: ~55%
• Female: ~45% Insight: Male-skewed, reflecting local industry/military presence.

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• Race (alone unless noted): White 72–73%; American Indian/Alaska Native ~11%; Black ~4%; Asian ~2%; Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander ~1%; Two or more races ~10%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~19%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~62% Insight: Notable American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino populations.

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~2,150
• Average household size: ~2.06 persons
• Household type: ~56% family households; ~44% nonfamily; ~41% 1‑person households
• Households with own children under 18: ~20%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~69% Insight: Small household sizes and a high share of single-person and owner-occupied households.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (DP02/DP05/DP04).

• Population and density: Mineral County has 4,554 residents (2020 Census) across ~3,813 sq mi, about 1.2 people per sq mi. Most residents live in Hawthorne along US‑95.
• Estimated email users: ~3,500 adult users. Method: ~3,800 adults in-county times 92% U.S. adult email adoption (Pew Research), rounded.
• Age distribution of email users (estimate, reflecting Mineral’s older profile): 18–29: 12%; 30–49: 26%; 50–64: 30%; 65+: 32%.
• Gender split of email users (mirroring county demographics): male ~54%, female ~46%.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~75% (rural Nevada ACS benchmarks), concentrated in Hawthorne; lower in outlying census blocks.
  • Access modes: limited fiber/cable outside Hawthorne; fixed‑wireless, mobile, and satellite are common beyond the US‑95 corridor.
  • Mobile coverage is strongest along US‑95; coverage and speeds drop in basins and mountain areas, affecting always‑on access.
• Insight: Email is nearly universal among adults, with the largest share of users age 50+, but usage outside Hawthorne is more dependent on mobile/fixed‑wireless links due to sparse infrastructure and very low population density.

Sources for estimates: 2020 Census (population/area), Pew Research (email adoption), rural Nevada ACS S2801 patterns (broadband).

Mobile phone usage in Mineral County, Nevada (2025 snapshot)

Context and population

• Population: roughly 4,600 residents, dispersed across Hawthorne, Schurz, Walker Lake, Mina, and Luning, with most activity along the US‑95 corridor.
• Demographics differ notably from Nevada overall: a substantially older age profile (roughly 28% age 65+ vs ~16% statewide), lower median household income, and a larger American Indian/Alaska Native share due to the Walker River Paiute community centered near Schurz.

User estimates (unique people with service)

• Residents with any mobile phone: ~3,600–3,800 (about 80–85% of the population).
• Smartphone users: ~3,100–3,300 (≈70% of residents; ≈85–90% of mobile users).
• Feature phone users: ~450–550.
• By age cohort (estimated):
  • Ages 12–17: ~300 mobile users, ~290 smartphone users.
  • Ages 18–64: ~2,300 mobile users, ~2,100 smartphone users.
  • Ages 65+: ~1,000–1,100 mobile users, ~700–800 smartphone users.
• Service type and spend patterns (estimated, reflecting income and rural profile):
  • Prepaid/MVNO share: ~35–45% of lines in Mineral County vs ~25–30% statewide.
  • Mobile-only/home-internet substitution: ~25–35% of households rely primarily on mobile data for home connectivity (vs ~15–20% statewide), driven by patchy fixed broadband.

Demographic breakdown and usage implications

• Older population: smartphone adoption among seniors lags the state; voice/SMS remains more prevalent among 65+ than in urban Nevada. Accessibility features and larger-screen Android devices are common accommodations.
• Income: lower median income translates to higher prepaid use, longer device replacement cycles (3–4+ years), and sensitivity to data caps; hotspot use for home connectivity is more frequent than in Clark/Washoe counties.
• Race/ethnicity: a higher share of American Indian/Alaska Native residents than the state average; coverage and affordability programs on and near tribal lands are important adoption drivers.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Radio access
  • Coverage is concentrated along US‑95 and in towns; off‑corridor basins and canyons see significant dead zones.
  • 5G low-band is present along the highway and in Hawthorne/Schurz for AT&T and T‑Mobile; Verizon provides broad LTE with spotty 5G DSS/low‑band. Mid-band 5G (higher capacity) is limited compared with urban Nevada and drops to LTE quickly outside town centers.
  • Indoor coverage challenges are common in metal-roof structures; Wi‑Fi calling is a key reliability tool for residents.
• Carriers and market mix
  • Verizon has the most consistent highway/town coverage footprint; AT&T coverage is strong on the corridor and provides FirstNet for public safety; T‑Mobile performs well where it has low-band deployments but has more gaps off‑corridor. MVNOs riding these networks are widely used to reduce costs.
• Backhaul and middle mile
  • Many macro sites rely on microwave backhaul; fiber backhaul is limited outside Hawthorne and the US‑95 route, constraining capacity and peak speeds.
  • Ongoing state/NTIA middle‑mile investments along key corridors are slated to improve fiber reach through Mineral County over the next 2–3 years, which should lift mobile capacity where carriers can tap new backhaul.
• Public and anchor connectivity
  • Libraries, schools, and county facilities in Hawthorne function as critical Wi‑Fi/charging hubs; E‑Rate and tribal connectivity programs supplement individual mobile data limits.

How Mineral County trends differ from Nevada statewide

• Adoption and device mix
  • Lower overall smartphone penetration (≈70% of residents vs ~80–85% statewide) tied to older age structure and income.
  • Higher prepaid/MVNO share and longer device lifecycles than in Las Vegas/Reno metros.
• Network experience
  • Larger coverage variability: reliable service along US‑95 and in towns; more no‑service areas off‑highway than typical for Nevada overall.
  • Lower availability of mid‑band 5G and heavier LTE reliance, especially indoors and off‑corridor, resulting in lower median speeds and more frequent congestion at peaks.
• Use patterns
  • Greater reliance on mobile data as a primary home internet solution due to limited fixed broadband choices; hotspot use and data-capped plans shape behavior more than in urban counties.
  • Higher persistence of voice/SMS among seniors relative to metro Nevada; app-based video and cloud services adoption grows more slowly.

Actionable insights

• Extending fiber backhaul to existing corridor towers and adding small-cell or repeater coverage in Schurz, Walker Lake, and the Mina–Luning stretch would yield outsized reliability gains.
• Targeted affordability plans, generous hotspot allowances, and Wi‑Fi calling optimization are especially impactful for Mineral County users.
• For public safety and tribal areas, continued FirstNet buildout and backup power on corridor sites materially improve resilience during outages and storms.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates are derived from recent rural smartphone adoption research, Nevada’s urban–rural differentials, and Mineral County’s age and income profile, applied to a population of roughly 4,600. Ranges are provided to reflect uncertainty while giving decision-ready order-of-magnitude figures.

Social media usage in Mineral County, Nevada (2025, modeled from latest ACS demographics, Pew platform adoption, and rural broadband data)

Headline user stats

• Adult population (18+): ~3,770 out of ~4,600 residents
• Social media users (any platform, adults): ~2,900 (≈78% of adults)

Age mix of social media users (share of users; approx. counts)

• 18–29: 20% (~580)
• 30–49: 38% (~1,100)
• 50–64: 24% (~700)
• 65+: 17% (~500)

Gender breakdown (share of users; approx. counts)

• Male: 51% (1,480)
• Female: 49% (1,420)

Most-used platforms among adults (monthly reach, share of all adults)

• YouTube: ~76%
• Facebook: ~64%
• Instagram: ~33%
• TikTok: ~24%
• Snapchat: ~18%
• X (Twitter): ~14%
• Reddit: ~10%
• LinkedIn: ~9%
• Nextdoor: ~5%

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Nevada communities and reflected locally

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups for local news, school updates, events, public safety, and county services; Facebook Marketplace is a primary buy/sell channel.
• YouTube is the default for how‑to content, automotive/DIY, outdoor recreation, and local history; watch time clusters in evenings and weekends.
• Visual-first habits among younger adults: Instagram Reels and TikTok see rising short‑video consumption; business discovery often starts on IG Stories/Reels with cross‑posts to Facebook.
• Messaging over posting: frequent use of Facebook Messenger and Snapchat; many users “lurk” more than they publish, with engagement spikes tied to weather incidents, road closures, and marquee local events.
• Mobile-first usage: the vast majority of sessions occur on phones; data caps and mixed broadband quality drive off‑peak scrolling (early morning, lunch, and 7–10 pm peaks).
• Content that performs: community service info, school sports, public safety alerts, local landscapes, and practical offers from small businesses (discounts, giveaways); plain-language posts with a clear call-to-action outperform polished but generic creative.
• Advertising notes: tight geofences (county or adjacent ZIPs) and interest targeting around outdoor, automotive, veterans/military, and community groups deliver better ROI than broad state-level targeting; boosting Facebook posts remains the most cost-effective tactic for small businesses.

Notes on method

• Figures are modeled for Mineral County using 2019–2023 ACS 5‑year demographics to weight age/sex, national 2024–2025 Pew Research platform adoption by age/sex, and rural adoption adjustments from NTIA/broadband data. Platform percentages denote share of all adults using each at least monthly. Due to the county’s small population, treat figures as best‑fit estimates rather than survey counts.