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Taos County, New Mexico
Taos Mtn from El Prado
Taos Mountain from El Prado
Seal of Taos County, New Mexico
Seal
Map of New Mexico highlighting Taos County
Location in the state of New Mexico
Map of the U.S
New Mexico's location in the U.S.
Founded January 9, 1852
Seat Taos
Largest town Taos
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

2,204 sq mi (5,708 km²)
2,203 sq mi (5,706 km²)
1.3 sq mi (3 km²), 0.06%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

34,489
15/sq mi (6/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
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 is also the highest natural point in New Mexico. 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.[5] Taos County contains 17 of New Mexico's highest 25 peaks.

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

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

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1910 12,008
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%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census,[10] 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 (5.2537/km2).[11] There were 17,404 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.0500/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.[10]

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.[12] 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).[13] 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.[12] In terms of ancestry, 10.8% were English, 10.3% were German, 9.0% were Irish, and 1.2% were American.[14]

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.[12]

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.[15]

Communities[]

Towns[]

  • Red River
  • Taos (county seat)

Villages[]

  • Questa
  • Taos Ski Valley

Census-designated places[]

  • Arroyo Hondo
  • Arroyo Seco
  • Chamisal
  • Costilla
  • 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
  • Ojo Caliente
  • Pilar
  • Tres Piedras
  • Valdez

Politics[]

Taos County is heavily Democratic. The last Republican candidate to win the county was Richard Nixon in his 1972 landslide, although his margin of victory was just over 2%.

United States presidential election results for Taos County, New Mexico[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
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:[17]

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

In popular culture[]

A329, Earthship home under construction, Taos, New Mexico, USA, 2011

Earthship home under construction, 2011

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is featured in the 1994 crime-drama film Natural Born Killers,[18] in the 2007 comedy Wild Hogs,[19] and in the 2009 film Terminator: Salvation.[20]

The 2007 film Garbage Warrior documents architect Mike Reynolds who builds Earthships in and around Taos County.[21]

See also[]

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


References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/35055.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "New Mexico: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". New Mexico Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NM_Consolidated_Chronology.htm. 
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt. 
  5. ^ Carl Mills. "Mean County Elevation Lists". http://cohp.org/records/mean_elevation/mean_elevations.html. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nm190090.txt. 
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  10. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  11. ^ Detailed Tables , U.S. Census Bureau
  12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35055. 
  13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35055. 
  14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35055. 
  15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35055. 
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Taos County, NM". U.S. Census Bureau. https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35055_taos/DC20SD_C35055.pdf. Retrieved 2022-07-12.  - Text list
  18. ^ (2011) "Rio Grande Gorge Bridge". New York Times. 
  19. ^ "Goofs for Wild Hogs (2007)". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486946/goofs. 
  20. ^ "Terminator Salvation: Set Locations Revisited". TheTerminatorFans.com. 2010-01-28. http://www.theterminatorfans.com/SetReports/salvationfuturewar.html. 
  21. ^ "Garbage Warrior". HESO Magazine. October 7, 2009. http://hesomagazine.com/featured/garbage-warrior/. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 36°34′N 105°38′W / 36.57, -105.63


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Taos County, New Mexico. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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