San Miguel County, New Mexico

Not to be confused with San Miguel, New Mexico.

San Miguel County
County
San Miguel County Courthouse in Las Vegas
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°28′N104°50′W / 35.47°N 104.83°W / 35.47; -104.83
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	January 9, 1852
Named for	San Miguel del Vado
Seat	Las Vegas
Largest city	Las Vegas
Area
• Total	4,736 sq mi (12,270 km2)
• Land	4,716 sq mi (12,210 km2)
• Water	20 sq mi (50 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,201
• Density	5.7/sq mi (2.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	co.sanmiguel.nm.us

San Miguel County (Spanish : Condado de San Miguel) is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,201. ^[1] Its county seat is Las Vegas. ^[2]

San Miguel County comprises the Las Vegas Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Las Vegas combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,736 square miles (12,270 km²), of which 4,716 square miles (12,210 km²) is land and 20 square miles (52 km²) (0.4%) is water. ^[3]

Adjacent counties

• Mora County – north
• Harding County – east
• Quay County – southeast
• Guadalupe County – south
• Torrance County – southwest
• Santa Fe County – west

National protected areas

• Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
• Pecos National Historical Park (part)
• Santa Fe National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	7,074		—
1860	13,714		93.9%
1870	16,058		17.1%
1880	20,638		28.5%
1890	24,204		17.3%
1900	22,053		−8.9%
1910	22,930		4.0%
1920	22,867		−0.3%
1930	23,636		3.4%
1940	27,910		18.1%
1950	26,512		−5.0%
1960	23,468		−11.5%
1970	21,951		−6.5%
1980	22,751		3.6%
1990	25,743		13.2%
2000	30,126		17.0%
2010	29,393		−2.4%
2020	27,201		−7.5%
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 30,126 people, 11,134 households, and 7,537 families living in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). There were 14,254 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.22% White, 0.78% Black or African American, 1.82% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 36.21% from other races, and 4.33% from two or more races. 77.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,134 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.50% were married couples living together, 16.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,524, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $27,307 versus $22,588 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,268. About 19.90% of families and 24.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.80% of those under age 18 and 25.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 29,393 people, 11,978 households, and 7,275 families living in the county. ^[10] The population density was 6.2 inhabitants per square mile (2.4/km²). There were 15,595 housing units at an average density of 3.3 units per square mile (1.3 units/km²). ^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 66.6% white, 1.7% American Indian, 1.4% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 25.4% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 76.8% of the population. ^[10] In terms of ancestry, 6.3% were German, 5.3% were English, and 1.6% were American. ^[12]

Of the 11,978 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 40.7 years. ^[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,213 and the median income for a family was $42,888. Males had a median income of $35,176 versus $28,351 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,508. About 15.7% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Communities

City

• Las Vegas (county seat)

Villages

• Mosquero (part)
• Pecos

Census-designated places

• Conchas Dam
• East Pecos
• North San Ysidro
• Pueblo
• Ribera
• Rowe
• San Jose
• Sena
• Soham
• Tecolote
• Tecolotito
• Villanueva

Other communities

• Bernal
• El Cerrito
• El Porvenir
• Garita
• Holy Ghost
• Ilfeld
• Montezuma
• Rociada
• San Miguel del Vado
• Sapello
• Serafina
• South San Ysidro
• Tererro
• Trementina
• Valles de San Geronimo

Ghost town

• Las Ruedas

Education

Montezuma Castle is on the campus of the United World College of the American West

Public school districts include: ^[14]

• Las Vegas City Public Schools
• Pecos Independent Schools
• Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools
• West Las Vegas Public Schools

Tertiary education institutions in San Miguel County include:

• Armand Hammer United World College of the American West
• Luna Community College
• New Mexico Highlands University

Native American Preparatory School, a private school, was in operation in the county until 2002. ^[15]

Notable people

• Antonia Apodaca (1923–2020) born in Rociada, folk musician and composer
• Margaret Larkin (1899–1967), born in Las Vegas, writer and musician
• María Dolores Gonzáles (1917–1975), leader in bilingual education in New Mexico

Politics

San Miguel County has traditionally been heavily Democratic. The last time it voted Republican for president was 1956, and from 1992-2020 no Republican cracked 30% of the vote. Donald Trump broke through this particular record in 2024, when he carried 35% of the vote; his performance in the county was the best by a Republican presidential candidate since Reagan in 1984.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,887	34.99%	6,985	62.88%	236	2.12%
2020	3,421	29.67%	7,888	68.41%	222	1.93%
2016	2,313	21.51%	7,285	67.76%	1,153	10.72%
2012	2,303	20.01%	8,850	76.90%	356	3.09%
2008	2,478	19.15%	10,320	79.75%	143	1.11%
2004	3,313	27.34%	8,683	71.67%	120	0.99%
2000	2,215	24.18%	6,540	71.39%	406	4.43%
1996	1,938	20.09%	6,995	72.51%	714	7.40%
1992	2,183	23.26%	6,186	65.90%	1,018	10.84%
1988	2,763	30.62%	6,131	67.95%	129	1.43%
1984	3,485	39.38%	5,227	59.06%	138	1.56%
1980	3,292	39.34%	4,514	53.94%	563	6.73%
1976	3,162	37.17%	5,204	61.17%	141	1.66%
1972	4,434	47.71%	4,663	50.18%	196	2.11%
1968	4,027	48.12%	4,088	48.85%	253	3.02%
1964	2,714	31.91%	5,767	67.81%	24	0.28%
1960	3,988	41.92%	5,520	58.02%	6	0.06%
1956	5,083	55.86%	4,014	44.11%	3	0.03%
1952	5,360	54.59%	4,451	45.34%	7	0.07%
1948	4,655	48.34%	4,953	51.44%	21	0.22%
1944	4,014	46.13%	4,684	53.83%	4	0.05%
1940	4,882	44.61%	6,054	55.32%	7	0.06%
1936	4,697	43.07%	6,199	56.84%	10	0.09%
1932	5,364	51.28%	5,076	48.53%	20	0.19%
1928	5,184	59.26%	3,560	40.70%	4	0.05%
1924	3,894	50.56%	3,543	46.00%	265	3.44%
1920	5,535	58.11%	3,990	41.89%	0	0.00%
1916	2,932	56.37%	2,231	42.90%	38	0.73%
1912	2,479	55.67%	1,740	39.07%	234	5.25%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in San Miguel County, New Mexico
• San Miguel del Vado Land Grant

References

1. "San Miguel 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 July 28, 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. "2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Miguel County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022. – Text list
15. Boyle, Christina (May 26, 2002). "Native American Preparatory School Graduates its Last Class". The Santa Fe New Mexican . p. B-1, B-4. – Clipping of first page and of second page at Newspapers.com. reprinted in Canku Ota, June 1, 2002.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.

External links

• Official website

35°28′N104°50′W / 35.47°N 104.83°W / 35.47; -104.83