Guadalupe County, New Mexico

Guadalupe County
County
Guadalupe County Courthouse in Santa Rosa
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°52′N104°47′W / 34.86°N 104.78°W / 34.86; -104.78
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	February 26, 1891
Named for	Our Lady of Guadalupe
Seat	Santa Rosa
Largest city	Santa Rosa
Area
• Total	3,032 sq mi (7,850 km2)
• Land	3,030 sq mi (7,800 km2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.04%
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,452
• Density	1.5/sq mi (0.57/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd

The older section of Guadalupe County Courthouse, which was built in 1909, adjoins the newer section.

Guadalupe County (Spanish : Condado de Guadalupe) is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,452. ^[1] Its county seat is Santa Rosa. ^[2]

History

Guadalupe County was named after Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) or after the Mesita de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Plain). The county was created from the southern portion of San Miguel County February 26, 1891, by an act of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature. The original county seat was Puerto De Luna, but was moved north to Santa Rosa in 1903. That same year, after the popular Spanish–American War of 1898, the county's name was changed to Leonard Wood County after the Presidential physician, Major-General in the Rough Riders, and recipient of the Medal of Honor. The name was later changed back to Guadalupe County. ^[3] The County contains whole, or parts of, several previous Spanish land grants to include the Aqua Negra, the Jose Perea, the Anton Chico, and the Preston Beck land grants. ^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,032 square miles (7,850 km²), of which 3,030 square miles (7,800 km²) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) (0.04%) is water. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• San Miguel County – north
• Quay County – east
• De Baca County – south
• Lincoln County – south
• Torrance County – west

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	5,429		—
1910	10,927		101.3%
1920	8,015		−26.6%
1930	7,027		−12.3%
1940	8,646		23.0%
1950	6,772		−21.7%
1960	5,610		−17.2%
1970	4,969		−11.4%
1980	4,496		−9.5%
1990	4,156		−7.6%
2000	4,680		12.6%
2010	4,687		0.1%
2020	4,452		−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010 [10]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[11] there were 4,680 people, 1,655 households, and 1,145 families living in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km²). There were 2,160 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 54.1% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, nil% Pacific Islander, 39.1% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. 81.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,655 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 121.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,783, and the median income for a family was $28,279. Males had a median income of $22,463 versus $18,500 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,241. About 18.1% of families and 21.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 4,687 people, 1,766 households, and 1,114 families living in the county. ^[12] The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58 inhabitants/km²). There were 2,393 housing units at an average density of 0.8 units per square mile (0.31 units/km²). ^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 70.4% white, 1.9% American Indian, 1.7% black or African American, 1.3% Asian, 21.4% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 79.6% of the population. ^[12] In terms of ancestry, 8.3% were German, and 2.4% were American. ^[14]

Of the 1,766 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.9% were non-families, and 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 40.1 years. ^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $28,488 and the median income for a family was $37,535. Males had a median income of $36,494 versus $23,984 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,710. About 21.7% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.7% of those under age 18 and 27.4% of those age 65 or over. ^[15]

Communities

City

• Santa Rosa (county seat)

Town

• Vaughn

Census-designated places

• Anton Chico
• Llano del Medio
• Newkirk
• Pastura
• Puerto de Luna

Politics

Guadalupe County leans Democratic, and has voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1988. In 2024, however, Guadalupe County saw a trend toward the Republican Party in line with majority-Hispanic counties nationally when Donald Trump came within less than 1% of flipping it, with Kamala Harris holding it by a plurality and winning by only 14 votes. This was the best performance for a Republican in the county since Reagan won it in 1984.

United States presidential election results for Guadalupe County, New Mexico ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	945	48.76%	959	49.48%	34	1.75%
2020	917	41.89%	1,234	56.37%	38	1.74%
2016	595	32.57%	970	53.09%	262	14.34%
2012	557	26.09%	1,488	69.70%	90	4.22%
2008	620	28.23%	1,557	70.90%	19	0.87%
2004	914	40.32%	1,340	59.11%	13	0.57%
2000	548	33.19%	1,076	65.17%	27	1.64%
1996	436	25.12%	1,208	69.59%	92	5.30%
1992	691	32.87%	1,225	58.28%	186	8.85%
1988	861	40.63%	1,243	58.66%	15	0.71%
1984	990	50.36%	946	48.12%	30	1.53%
1980	1,065	49.65%	980	45.69%	100	4.66%
1976	1,047	42.68%	1,379	56.22%	27	1.10%
1972	1,297	51.37%	1,202	47.60%	26	1.03%
1968	1,176	51.42%	1,027	44.91%	84	3.67%
1964	1,058	39.00%	1,649	60.78%	6	0.22%
1960	1,242	43.82%	1,589	56.07%	3	0.11%
1956	1,529	56.15%	1,191	43.74%	3	0.11%
1952	1,575	53.90%	1,347	46.10%	0	0.00%
1948	1,565	50.24%	1,550	49.76%	0	0.00%
1944	1,649	51.73%	1,539	48.27%	0	0.00%
1940	1,807	46.46%	2,082	53.54%	0	0.00%
1936	1,775	44.76%	2,187	55.14%	4	0.10%
1932	1,621	45.77%	1,909	53.90%	12	0.34%
1928	1,718	61.12%	1,093	38.88%	0	0.00%
1924	1,329	51.83%	1,056	41.19%	179	6.98%
1920	1,599	56.30%	1,224	43.10%	17	0.60%
1916	1,067	46.90%	1,172	51.52%	36	1.58%
1912	651	39.17%	761	45.79%	250	15.04%

Education

The county has two school districts serving sections: Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools and Vaughn Municipal Schools. ^[17]

See also

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

References

1. "Guadalupe County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 3, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Bowden, J. J. "Guadalupe County". Office of the State Historian. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
4. "Guadalupe Co. History". The New Mexico GenWeb Project. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
9. "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 2, 2015.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. "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.
13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
14. "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.
15. "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.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
17. "2020 Census – School District Reference Map:" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022. - Text list

External links

• Profile from the National Association of Counties

34°52′N104°47′W / 34.86°N 104.78°W / 34.86; -104.78