Mina, Nevada

Mina is a small community in Mineral County in west-central Nevada on U.S. Route 95 (38° 23' 25" N 118° 06' 30" W) at an elevation of 4,560 feet (1,390 m). The 2000 Census shows Mina with a population of 261. The zip code is 89422, and the area code is 775. Mina was founded as a railroad town in 1905 and was named for the daughter of a railroad executive. The name "Mina" comes from Spanish for "mine" or "ore". The Nevada & California Railway, a division of Southern Pacific Railroad, had a station in the town. The railroad is long gone, but at one time a local shuttle called the "Slim Princess" allowed native Americans to ride for free on top of the railcars, and passengers and crew would shoot wild game such as jack rabbits, ducks and sage hens from the open windows. The train moved so slowly that hunters had time to retrieve their game and hop back on board. Mina started as a railroad junction, but today it’s known for the breadth of outdoor adventure available in the area. Roam the nearby ghost towns. Hunt for ancient relics and artifacts. Ride your ATV, go rockhounding or simply take in the dramatic beauty of the Nevada high desert. You might even catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep, deer, burros or wild horses. The town lies northeast of the Excelsior Mountains, and northwest of the Pilot Mountains which contain Pilot Peak, at 9,182 feet (2,799 m) above sea level. It is 8 miles (13 km) southeast of the community of Luning, and 9 miles (14 km) north of Tonopah Junction. The community lies a little more than 100 miles (200 km) southeast of the state capital, Carson City. Traveler’s services are available. An ATV-friendly RV park with full hookups and wireless Internet, US Post Office, gas station with a small general store; one restaurant and walkup Hamburger stand, one bar and VFW club. The diesel/gas station opens from around 7 a.m. to around 6 p.m. 7 days. Fuel is available after hours by calling telephone number located on store door. The next closest fuel station is in Hawthorne, Nevada 32 miles (50 km) north on Highway 95. Twenty-four-hour fuel is available in Hawthorne. No automotive repair service is available in the town. Tow service is available out of Hawthorne. Emergency medical and fire/rescue services are available by calling the county 911 dispatcher or by use of an alarm pull station located at the fire house. The fire house is on Highway 95 in the center of the town. Drivers should use due care and strictly observe posted speed limits as the highway speed drops to 35 mph (56 km/h) and the Mineral County Sheriff as well as Nevada Highway Patrol have been known to set RADAR speed check points in the town daily, of which can be verified by calling the Mineral County Sheriff's Hawthorne office at (775) 945-2434, the Mina substation at (775) 573-2244 or the Mineral County Road Department at (775) 945-2239. Average July high temperatures range from 61 °F (16 °C) to 96 °F (36 °C), with January averaging between 22 °F (−6 °C) and 47 °F (8 °C). The highest temperature ever recorded in Mina was 110 °F (43 °C) in 1933, with a low in 1990 of −23 °F (−30.6 °C). Mina receives very little rainfall, and in an average year gets about 6 inches (150 mm), with no month getting more than 1 inch (25 mm) in a normal year. The Mina Airport is at the southeastern end of town. Gee Jon and Hughie Sing were convicted of the August 27, 1921, Mina, Nevada murder of Tom Quong Kee and, as a result, Gee Jon, a 29-year-old member of the Hop Sing Tong, became the first person in the world executed by lethal gas. The execution was at the Nevada State Prison on February 8, 1924.