Taos County, New Mexico

Taos County
County
Taos Mountain from El Prado
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°34′N105°38′W / 36.57°N 105.63°W / 36.57; -105.63
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	January 9, 1852
Seat	Taos
Largest town	Taos
Area
• Total	2,204 sq mi (5,710 km2)
• Land	2,203 sq mi (5,710 km2)
• Water	1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.06%
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,489
• Density	16/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.taoscounty.org

Taos County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,489. ^[1] Its county seat is Taos. ^[2] The county was formed in 1852 as one of the original nine counties in New Mexico Territory. ^[3]

Taos County comprises the Taos, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,204 square miles (5,710 km²), of which 2,203 square miles (5,710 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) (0.06%) is water. ^[4]

The county's highest point is the summit of Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet (4,011 m). This summit is also the highest natural point in New Mexico. ^[5] The county has the highest mean elevation of any U.S. county outside of Colorado at 8,510 feet (2,590 m), even though it ranks only 22nd overall. ^[6] Taos County contains 17 of New Mexico's highest 25 peaks.

Adjacent counties

• Rio Arriba County - west
• Mora County - southeast
• Colfax County - east
• Costilla County, Colorado - north
• Conejos County, Colorado - northwest

National protected area

• Carson National Forest (part)
• Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	9,507		—
1860	14,103		48.3%
1870	12,079		−14.4%
1880	11,029		−8.7%
1890	9,868		−10.5%
1900	10,889		10.3%
1910	12,008		10.3%
1920	12,773		6.4%
1930	14,394		12.7%
1940	18,528		28.7%
1950	17,146		−7.5%
1960	15,934		−7.1%
1970	17,516		9.9%
1980	19,456		11.1%
1990	23,118		18.8%
2000	29,979		29.7%
2010	32,937		9.9%
2020	34,489		4.7%
2021 (est.)	34,623		0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010 [11]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[12] there were 29,979 people, 12,675 households, and 7,757 families living in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km²). ^[13] There were 17,404 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.77% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 6.59% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 24.84% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.94% of the population. ^[12]

There were 12,675 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.70% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 32.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 28.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,762, and the median income for a family was $33,995. Males had a median income of $27,310 versus $21,121 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,103. About 16.10% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 32,937 people, 14,806 households, and 8,437 families living in the county. ^[14] The population density was 15.0 inhabitants per square mile (5.8/km²). There were 20,265 housing units at an average density of 9.2 per square mile (3.6/km²). ^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% white, 6.2% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 19.1% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 55.8% of the population. ^[14] In terms of ancestry, 10.8% were English, 10.3% were German, 9.0% were Irish, and 1.2% were American. ^[16]

Of the 14,806 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 43.0% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 45.2 years. ^[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $35,441 and the median income for a family was $43,236. Males had a median income of $34,245 versus $28,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,145. About 14.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[17]

Communities

Towns

• Red River
• Taos (county seat)

Villages

• Questa
• Taos Ski Valley

Census-designated places

• Arroyo Hondo
• Arroyo Seco
• Chamisal
• Costilla
• Ojo Caliente (part)
• Peñasco
• Picuris Pueblo
• Ranchos de Taos
• Rio Lucio
• San Cristobal
• Talpa
• Taos Pueblo
• Vadito

Other communities

• Amalia
• Cañoncito
• Carson
• Cerro
• El Prado
• El Rito
• Las Trampas
• Llano
• Llano Quemado
• No Agua
• Pilar
• Tres Piedras
• Valdez

Politics

Taos County is heavily Democratic; the last Republican candidate to win the county was Richard Nixon in 1972 by just over 2%.

United States presidential election results for Taos County, New Mexico ^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,715	21.62%	13,121	76.37%	345	2.01%
2016	2,727	17.87%	10,668	69.91%	1,865	12.22%
2012	2,730	17.80%	11,978	78.09%	631	4.11%
2008	2,866	16.97%	13,816	81.82%	204	1.21%
2004	3,666	24.71%	10,987	74.06%	182	1.23%
2000	2,744	25.19%	7,039	64.61%	1,112	10.21%
1996	2,126	21.15%	6,635	66.00%	1,292	12.85%
1992	2,260	21.16%	7,051	66.01%	1,370	12.83%
1988	2,897	31.29%	6,271	67.73%	91	0.98%
1984	4,154	44.04%	5,144	54.54%	134	1.42%
1980	3,584	41.67%	4,346	50.53%	671	7.80%
1976	3,012	40.07%	4,414	58.72%	91	1.21%
1972	3,617	50.49%	3,472	48.46%	75	1.05%
1968	3,119	49.89%	2,993	47.87%	140	2.24%
1964	2,006	32.16%	4,204	67.39%	28	0.45%
1960	2,620	41.87%	3,631	58.03%	6	0.10%
1956	3,100	53.02%	2,743	46.91%	4	0.07%
1952	2,763	48.94%	2,877	50.96%	6	0.11%
1948	2,852	48.59%	2,977	50.72%	41	0.70%
1944	2,557	50.30%	2,525	49.67%	2	0.04%
1940	3,342	49.07%	3,463	50.85%	5	0.07%
1936	2,918	48.80%	3,051	51.03%	10	0.17%
1932	2,416	42.22%	3,277	57.26%	30	0.52%
1928	2,441	56.98%	1,842	43.00%	1	0.02%
1924	2,470	58.68%	1,655	39.32%	84	2.00%
1920	2,519	64.86%	1,359	34.99%	6	0.15%
1916	1,320	57.95%	910	39.95%	48	2.11%
1912	855	44.58%	765	39.89%	298	15.54%

Education

School districts for the county include: ^[19]

• Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools
• Peñasco Independent Schools
• Questa Independent Schools
• Taos Municipal Schools

In popular culture

Earthship home under construction, 2011

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is featured in the 1994 crime-drama film Natural Born Killers, ^[20] in the 2007 comedy Wild Hogs, ^[21] and in the 2009 film Terminator: Salvation . ^[22]

The 2007 film Garbage Warrior documents architect Mike Reynolds who builds Earthships in and around Taos County. ^[23]

See also

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

References

1. "Taos County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 3, 2023.
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. "Wheeler Peak Wilderness". United States Forest Service - USDA.
6. Carl Mills. "Mean County Elevation Lists" . Retrieved October 19, 2014.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
10. "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.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. Detailed Tables, U.S. Census Bureau
14. "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.
15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
16. "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.
17. "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.
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Taos County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022. - Text list
20. "Rio Grande Gorge Bridge". New York Times. 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
21. "Goofs for Wild Hogs (2007)". IMDb. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
22. "Terminator Salvation: Set Locations Revisited". TheTerminatorFans.com. January 28, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
23. "Garbage Warrior". HESO Magazine. October 7, 2009.

External links

• Official website
• TaosCounty.net

36°34′N105°38′W / 36.57°N 105.63°W / 36.57; -105.63