Cibola County, New Mexico

Cibola County
County
Cibola County Courthouse in Grants
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°55′N107°59′W / 34.92°N 107.99°W / 34.92; -107.99
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	June 19, 1981
Named for	Mythical Seven Cities of Cibola
Seat	Grants
Largest city	Grants
Area
• Total	4,542 sq mi (11,760 km2)
• Land	4,539 sq mi (11,760 km2)
• Water	2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  0.05%
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,172
• Density	6.0/sq mi (2.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.co.cibola.nm.us

Cibola County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,172. ^[1] Its county seat is Grants. ^[2] It is New Mexico's youngest county, and the third youngest county in the United States, created on June 19, 1981, from the westernmost four-fifths of the formerly much larger Valencia County.

Cibola County comprises the Grants, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is a rich mining area with numerous Uranium mines.

Geography

Ventana Arch in El Malpais National Monument

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 4,542 square miles (11,760 km²), of which 4,539 square miles (11,760 km²) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²) (0.05%) is water. ^[3]

Adjacent counties

• McKinley County - north
• Sandoval County - northeast
• Bernalillo County - east
• Valencia County - east
• Socorro County - southeast
• Catron County - south
• Apache County, Arizona - west

National protected areas

• Cibola National Forest (part)
• El Malpais National Conservation Area
• El Malpais National Monument
• El Morro National Monument

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	23,794		—
2000	25,595		7.6%
2010	27,213		6.3%
2020	27,172		−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [4] 1790-1960 [5] 1900-1990 [6] 1990-2000 [7] 2010 [8]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[9] there were 25,595 people, 8,327 households, and 6,278 families living in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). There were 10,328 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 39.61% White, 0.96% Black or African American, 40.32% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 15.44% from other races, and 3.24% from two or more races. 33.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,327 households, out of which 38.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,774, and the median income for a family was $30,714. Males had a median income of $27,652 versus $20,078 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,731. About 21.50% of families and 24.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.00% of those under age 18 and 17.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 27,213 people, 8,860 households, and 6,274 families living in the county. ^[10] The population density was 6.0 inhabitants per square mile (2.3 inhabitants/km²). There were 11,101 housing units at an average density of 2.4 units per square mile (0.93 units/km²). ^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 41.8% white, 41.0% American Indian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 12.4% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 36.5% of the population. ^[10] In terms of ancestry, 5.4% were Irish, and 1.5% were American. ^[12]

Of the 8,860 households, 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.30. The median age was 36.6 years. ^[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,361 and the median income for a family was $41,187. Males had a median income of $36,027 versus $25,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,712. About 20.1% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Education

The Mining Museum in Grants

School districts serving portions of the county include: ^[14]

• Grants-Cibola County Schools
• Quemado Independent Schools
• Zuni Public Schools

All public schools in the county are operated by Grants/Cibola County Schools; the Quemado and Zuni facilities are in other counties.

Due to an agreement between Cibola County and McKinley County, residents of the Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation are bussed to schools in Ramah in McKinley County (including Ramah Middle/High School) even though they are physically in Cibola County, due to the long distance to the nearest Cibola County schools from the reservation. ^[15]

Corrections

Cibola County is home to three prisons:

• the Cibola County Correctional Center, operated by Corrections Corporation of America, housing 1129 federal inmates under a contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the United States Marshal Service ^{[16] [17]}
• the New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility, run by CCA for the state of New Mexico, and
• Western New Mexico Correctional Facility, owned and operated by the state, with about 440 male inmates ^[18]

In November 2018, following a private autopsy, a unit of the Cibola County Correctional Center (CCCC) was named in the abuse and wrongful death on May 25, 2018, of Roxsana Hernández Rodríguez. Rodríguez was a 33-year-old transgender woman who immigrated from Honduras. The CCCC is operated under contract by CoreCivic. ^{[19] [20]}

Politics

United States presidential election results for Cibola County, New Mexico ^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,311	48.02%	4,450	49.57%	216	2.41%
2020	3,975	44.65%	4,745	53.30%	183	2.06%
2016	3,195	39.63%	3,741	46.40%	1,127	13.98%
2012	2,998	36.37%	4,961	60.18%	284	3.45%
2008	3,131	34.42%	5,827	64.05%	139	1.53%
2004	3,477	46.44%	3,913	52.26%	97	1.30%
2000	2,752	38.83%	4,127	58.23%	209	2.95%
1996	2,245	32.63%	4,030	58.58%	605	8.79%
1992	2,051	32.64%	3,334	53.06%	899	14.31%
1988	2,640	43.02%	3,458	56.35%	39	0.64%
1984	3,578	53.09%	3,140	46.59%	22	0.33%

Cibola County tends to support the Democratic Party. In the 1984 presidential election, a majority voted for the Republican presidential nominee, otherwise since that time all other presidential elections had a Democrat majority.

At the state level, the only time it has voted for a Republican nominee for Governor was 2014, when Susana Martinez carried all but five counties in her reelection bid.

Communities

Acoma Pueblo, "Sky City", 2008

South side of Inscription Rock, El Morro National Monument. Photo by Timothy H. O'Sullivan, 1873.

City

• Grants (county seat)

Village

• Milan

Census-designated places

There are 32 Census Designated Places contained within the county, largely designated in 1980.

• Acomita Lake
• Anzac Village
• Bibo
• Bluewater Village
• Broadview
• Candy Kitchen
• Cubero
• El Morro Valley
• Encinal
• Fence Lake
• Golden Acres
• Laguna
• Las Tusas
• Lobo Canyon
• McCartys Village
• Mesita
• Moquino
• Mount Taylor
• Mountain View
• North Acomita Village
• Paguate
• Paraje
• Pinehill
• San Fidel
• San Mateo
• San Rafael
• Seama
• Seboyeta
• Skyline-Ganipa
• South Acomita Village
• Stoneridge
• Timberlake (part)

Unincorporated communities

• Alaska
• Casa Blanca
• Cebolleta
• Cebolletita
• Cubero
• El Rito
• Fence Lake
• New Laguna

Ghost Town

• Anaconda

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cibola County, New Mexico

References

Specific

1. "Cibola County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 1, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
7. "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 January 1, 2015.
8. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. "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 24, 2016.
11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
12. "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 24, 2016.
13. "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 24, 2016.
14. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cibola County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2022. - Text list
15. Linthicum, Leslie (March 6, 1995). "Navajos Say County Is Stealing Students". Albuquerque Journal . Albuquerque, New Mexico. pp. A1, A3. - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com. Page 2 text details: A, B, and C
16. CoreCivic. "CoreCivic: Better the Public Good". cca.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
17. "Cibola County Correctional Center". Corrections Corporation of America. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
18. "Western New Mexico Correctional Facility". New Mexico Corrections Department. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
19. Bixby, Scott; Betsy Woodruff (November 26, 2018). "Trans Woman Was Beaten in ICE Custody Before Death, Autopsy Finds". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
20. "Justice for Roxsana: Announcing Legal Action To Hold Government Accountable for Transgender Asylum-Seeker's Death". Transgender Law Center. November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.

General

• County status and boundary changes United States Census Bureau

Further reading

• Baldwin, J.A. and D.R. Rankin. (1995). Hydrogeology of Cibola County, New Mexico [Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4178]. Albuquerque: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
• Maxwell, C.H. (1989). Mineral resources of the Petaca Pinta wilderness study area, Cibola County, New Mexico [U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1734-H]. Denver: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

External links

Media related to Cibola County, New Mexico at Wikimedia Commons

34°55′N107°59′W / 34.92°N 107.99°W / 34.92; -107.99