Roosevelt County, New Mexico

Roosevelt County
County
Roosevelt County Courthouse in Portales
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°01′N103°29′W / 34.02°N 103.48°W / 34.02; -103.48
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	February 28, 1903
Named for	Theodore Roosevelt
Seat	Portales
Largest city	Portales
Area
• Total	2,455 sq mi (6,360 km2)
• Land	2,447 sq mi (6,340 km2)
• Water	7.2 sq mi (19 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,191
• Density	7.8/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts	2nd, 3rd
Website	www.rooseveltcounty.com

Roosevelt County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,191. ^[1] Its county seat is Portales. ^[2] The county was created in 1903 from Chaves and Guadalupe counties and named for the then-current President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The county's eastern border is the Texas state line. Roosevelt County comprises the Portales, NM Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Clovis–Portales, NM Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,455 square miles (6,360 km²), of which 2,447 square miles (6,340 km²) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[3]

Adjacent counties

• Curry County - north
• Quay County - north
• De Baca County - west
• Chaves County - west
• Lea County - south
• Cochran County, Texas - southeast
• Bailey County, Texas - east

National protected area

• Grulla National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	12,064		—
1920	6,548		−45.7%
1930	11,109		69.7%
1940	14,549		31.0%
1950	16,409		12.8%
1960	16,198		−1.3%
1970	16,479		1.7%
1980	15,695		−4.8%
1990	16,702		6.4%
2000	18,018		7.9%
2010	19,846		10.1%
2020	19,191		−3.3%
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 18,018 people, 6,639 households, and 4,541 families living in the county. The population density was 7 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km²). There were 7,746 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.14% White, 1.65% Black or African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 19.76% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. 33.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,639 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.10% under the age of 18, 16.00% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 18.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,586, and the median income for a family was $31,813. Males had a median income of $26,170 versus $20,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,185. About 17.30% of families and 22.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.10% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 19,846 people, 7,299 households, and 4,671 families living in the county. ^[10] The population density was 8.1 inhabitants per square mile (3.1/km²). There were 8,163 housing units at an average density of 3.3 per square mile (1.3/km²). ^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 76.9% white, 1.8% black or African American, 1.3% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 15.9% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 39.9% of the population. ^[10] In terms of ancestry, 12.7% were German, 10.0% were American, 9.8% were English, and 9.3% were Irish. ^[12]

Of the 7,299 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.0% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 29.7 years. ^[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,762 and the median income for a family was $43,536. Males had a median income of $37,719 versus $21,916 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,933. About 16.0% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Government and politics

The Roosevelt County clerk and deputy clerk resigned in late 2013 after the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that all counties in the state must license same-sex marriages. County Manager Bill Cathey said they had resolved to quit "rather than be associated with that," according to the Associated Press. ^[14]

Roosevelt County is heavily Republican. It has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. However, the county is located in the New Mexico's 3rd congressional district, represented by Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez. ^[15]

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,634	70.13%	1,802	27.27%	172	2.60%
2016	3,884	65.28%	1,454	24.44%	612	10.29%
2012	4,043	67.73%	1,727	28.93%	199	3.33%
2008	4,311	64.15%	2,303	34.27%	106	1.58%
2004	4,997	69.95%	2,082	29.14%	65	0.91%
2000	3,762	66.57%	1,762	31.18%	127	2.25%
1996	3,245	55.29%	2,097	35.73%	527	8.98%
1992	3,215	49.36%	2,172	33.35%	1,126	17.29%
1988	3,589	63.18%	2,033	35.79%	59	1.04%
1984	4,598	72.26%	1,696	26.65%	69	1.08%
1980	3,950	60.92%	2,240	34.55%	294	4.53%
1976	3,269	50.85%	3,111	48.39%	49	0.76%
1972	4,727	73.03%	1,612	24.90%	134	2.07%
1968	3,256	58.11%	1,547	27.61%	800	14.28%
1964	2,732	48.49%	2,875	51.03%	27	0.48%
1960	4,039	69.59%	1,761	30.34%	4	0.07%
1956	2,708	54.56%	2,247	45.28%	8	0.16%
1952	3,030	56.74%	2,298	43.03%	12	0.22%
1948	956	23.46%	3,087	75.75%	32	0.79%
1944	1,610	40.56%	2,359	59.44%	0	0.00%
1940	1,384	30.15%	3,190	69.50%	16	0.35%
1936	677	17.56%	2,951	76.55%	227	5.89%
1932	475	13.95%	2,826	83.02%	103	3.03%
1928	1,157	51.10%	1,098	48.50%	9	0.40%
1924	398	19.54%	1,340	65.78%	299	14.68%
1920	571	31.43%	1,178	64.83%	68	3.74%
1916	230	15.55%	1,088	73.56%	161	10.89%
1912	107	8.81%	599	49.34%	508	41.85%

Communities

City

• Portales (county seat)

Town

• Elida

Villages

• Causey
• Dora
• Floyd

Unincorporated communities

• Cameo
• Kenna
• Milnesand
• Pep
• Rogers

Education

School districts include: ^[17]

• Dora Consolidated Schools
• Elida Municipal Schools
• Floyd Municipal Schools
• House Municipal Schools
• Melrose Public Schools
• Portales Municipal Schools
• Texico Municipal Schools

See also

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

References

1. "Roosevelt County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 3, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. 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 2, 2015.
4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 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 2, 2015.
8. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 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. "New Mexico: Officials Quit Over Marriage Ruling". The New York Times. November 20, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
15. "New Mexico Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps". GovTrack.us. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
17. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Roosevelt County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022. - Text list

External links

• Roosevelt County information on High Plains Historical Foundation
• Roosevelt County Official Website
• A resource for the Clovis/ Portales/ Curry/ Roosevelt and Cannon Air Force Base Community

34°01′N103°29′W / 34.02°N 103.48°W / 34.02; -103.48