San Juan County, New Mexico

For counties with a similar name, see San Juan County (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with San Juan, New Mexico.

San Juan County
County
San Juan County Administration Building in Aztec
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°31′N108°19′W / 36.51°N 108.32°W / 36.51; -108.32
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	February 24, 1887
Named for	San Juan River
Seat	Aztec
Largest city	Farmington
Area
• Total	5,538 sq mi (14,340 km2)
• Land	5,513 sq mi (14,280 km2)
• Water	25 sq mi (60 km2)  0.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	121,661
• Density	24/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.sjcounty.net

San Juan County includes the New Mexico section of the Four Corners Monument.

Shiprock

San Juan County (Spanish : Condado de San Juan) is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 121,661 ^[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in New Mexico. Its county seat is Aztec. ^[2] The county was created in 1887. ^[3]

San Juan County is part of the Farmington, New Mexico, Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is in the state's northwest corner and includes the New Mexico portion of the Four Corners.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,538 square miles (14,340 km²), of which 5,513 square miles (14,280 km²) is land and 25 square miles (65 km²) (0.5%) is water. ^[4] Indian reservations (and off-reservation trust lands) comprise 63.4 percent of the county's land area: The Navajo Nation takes up 60.45% and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation another 2.93%.

The physical features include three rivers: the San Juan, Animas, and La Plata rivers; also, the Chuska Mountains and Shiprock Pinnacle to the west, volcanic structures, buttes, mesas, badlands, and fertile river valleys.

Adjacent counties

• Rio Arriba County - east
• Sandoval County - southeast
• McKinley County - south
• Apache County, Arizona - west
• San Juan County, Utah - northwest
• Montezuma County, Colorado - north
• La Plata County, Colorado - north
• Archuleta County, Colorado - northeast

National protected areas

• Aztec Ruins National Monument
• Chaco Culture National Historical Park (part)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 64
• U.S. Route 491 (formerly U.S. Route 666)
• U.S. Route 550
• New Mexico State Road 170
• New Mexico State Road 371
• New Mexico State Road 511
• New Mexico State Road 597(connector to Four Corners Monument)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,890		—
1900	4,828		155.4%
1910	8,504		76.1%
1920	8,333		−2.0%
1930	14,701		76.4%
1940	17,115		16.4%
1950	18,292		6.9%
1960	53,306		191.4%
1970	52,517		−1.5%
1980	81,433		55.1%
1990	91,605		12.5%
2000	113,801		24.2%
2010	130,044		14.3%
2020	121,661		−6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7] 1990-2000 [8] 2010-2016 [1]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 113,801 people, 37,711 households, and 28,924 families living in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8.1 people/km²). There were 43,221 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.83% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 36.88% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.77% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 14.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[9] There were 37,712 households, 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female head of household with no husband present, and 23.30% were non-families. 19.30% of households were one person and 6.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.43.

The age distribution was 32.60% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median household income was $33,762 and the median family income was $37,382. Males had a median income of $35,066 versus $21,299 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,282. About 18.00% of families and 21.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.60% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 130,044 people, 44,404 households, and 32,457 families living in the county. ^[10] The population density was 23.6 inhabitants per square mile (9.1/km²). There were 49,341 housing units at an average density of 8.9 units per square mile (3.4 units/km²). ^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 51.6% white, 36.6% American Indian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 7.3% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 19.1% of the population. ^[10] The largest ancestry groups were: ^[12]

• 34.8% Navajo
• 15.0% English
• 10.7% Mexican
• 9.1% German
• 5.9% Irish
• 4.4% Spanish
• 2.8% American
• 1.8% French
• 1.4% Italian
• 1.2% Scottish
• 1.1% Scotch-Irish
• 1.1% Swedish

Of the 44,404 households, 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.9% were non-families, and 21.9% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.38. The median age was 33.0 years. ^[10]

The median household income was $46,189 and the median family income was $53,540. Males had a median income of $44,984 versus $30,245 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,725. About 15.9% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Communities

Cities

• Aztec
• Bloomfield
• Kirtland
• Farmington

Census-designated places

• Angustura
• Beclabito
• Blanco
• Cedar Hill
• Center Point
• Crystal‡
• Flora Vista
• Huerfano (former)
• La Boca
• La Plata
• Lake Valley
• Lee Acres
• Nageezi
• Napi Headquarters
• Naschitti
• Navajo Dam
• Nenahnezad
• Newcomb
• North Light Plant
• Ojo Amarillo
• Sanostee
• Sheep Springs
• Shiprock
• Spencerville
• Totah Vista
• Turley
• Upper Fruitland
• Waterflow
• West Hammond
• White Rock
• Young Place

Other communities

• Fruitland
• Riverside

Politics

The county has consistently voted for the Republican Party, though Democrats have usually gotten at least 30% of the vote. The only Democratic presidential candidate to win the county since 1936 was Lyndon B. Johnson in his 1964 landslide, who only narrowly won the county by just 93 votes and a margin of victory of less than 1%.

United States presidential election results for San Juan County, New Mexico ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	34,232	64.93%	17,429	33.06%	1,058	2.01%
2020	32,874	62.86%	18,083	34.58%	1,337	2.56%
2016	27,946	60.61%	12,865	27.90%	5,299	11.49%
2012	28,849	62.39%	15,855	34.29%	1,533	3.32%
2008	27,869	59.92%	18,028	38.76%	614	1.32%
2004	29,525	65.60%	14,843	32.98%	638	1.42%
2000	21,434	61.85%	11,980	34.57%	1,243	3.59%
1996	17,478	53.69%	12,070	37.08%	3,005	9.23%
1992	13,415	44.30%	11,302	37.32%	5,564	18.37%
1988	16,202	58.39%	11,094	39.98%	454	1.64%
1984	18,690	66.97%	8,963	32.11%	257	0.92%
1980	15,579	66.30%	6,705	28.53%	1,215	5.17%
1976	10,852	55.13%	8,615	43.77%	216	1.10%
1972	10,788	67.55%	4,296	26.90%	886	5.55%
1968	7,664	54.03%	4,036	28.45%	2,485	17.52%
1964	6,808	49.01%	6,901	49.68%	183	1.32%
1960	7,521	57.04%	5,370	40.73%	294	2.23%
1956	5,194	67.54%	2,425	31.53%	71	0.92%
1952	3,864	69.73%	1,659	29.94%	18	0.32%
1948	2,407	60.71%	1,544	38.94%	14	0.35%
1944	1,438	56.61%	1,093	43.03%	9	0.35%
1940	1,757	54.79%	1,445	45.06%	5	0.16%
1936	1,345	45.69%	1,530	51.97%	69	2.34%
1932	925	35.10%	1,506	57.15%	204	7.74%
1928	1,436	66.36%	724	33.46%	4	0.18%
1924	889	44.88%	819	41.34%	273	13.78%
1920	985	53.42%	831	45.07%	28	1.52%
1916	385	36.05%	637	59.64%	46	4.31%
1912	203	19.04%	493	46.25%	370	34.71%

Education

School districts include: ^[15]

• Aztec Municipal Schools
• Bloomfield Municipal Schools
• Central Consolidated Schools
• Farmington Municipal Schools

See also

• Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
• National Register of Historic Places listings in San Juan County, New Mexico

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "New Mexico: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". New Mexico Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
8. "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.
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. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Juan County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2022. - Text list

36°31′N108°19′W / 36.51°N 108.32°W / 36.51; -108.32