Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

Rio Arriba County
Rio Arriba County
County
	Rio Arriba County Courthouse, Isaac Rapp, architect, 1916-17
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
	New Mexico's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 36°31′N 106°42′W / 36.51°N 106.7°W
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	1852
Named for	location on the upper Rio Grande (río arriba means "upriver" in Spanish)
Seat	Tierra Amarilla
Largest city	Española
Government
• County Manager	Jeremy G. Maestas
Area
• Total	5,896 sq mi (15,270 km2)
• Land	5,861 sq mi (15,180 km2)
• Water	35 sq mi (90 km2) 0.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	40,363
• Density	6.8/sq mi (2.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.rio-arriba.org

Rio Arriba County (Spanish: Condado de Río Arriba) is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,363.^[1] Its county seat is Tierra Amarilla.^[2] Its northern border is the Colorado state line.

Rio Arriba County comprises the Española, NM Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was one of nine originally created for the Territory of New Mexico in 1852. Originally extending west to the California line, it included the site of present-day Las Vegas, Nevada.^[3] The county seat was initially sited at San Pedro de Chamita, and shortly afterwards at Los Luceros. In 1860 the seat was moved to Plaza del Alcalde. Since 1880 Tierra Amarilla has been the county seat.^[4]

The Battle of Embudo Pass took place in the southern part of the county during the Mexican–American War in January 1847.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,896 square miles (15,270 km²), of which 5,861 square miles (15,180 km²) are land and 35 square miles (91 km²) (0.6%) are water.^[5] It is the fifth-largest county in New Mexico by area. The highest point in the county is the summit of Truchas Peak at 13,102 feet (3,993 m).

The county acquired its present proportions after the creation of San Juan County and other adjustments.^[4]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Carson National Forest (part)
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail (part)
Santa Fe National Forest (part)
Valles Caldera National Preserve (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	16,624	—
1920	19,552	17.6%
1930	21,381	9.4%
1940	25,352	18.6%
1950	24,997	−1.4%
1960	24,193	−3.2%
1970	25,170	4.0%
1980	29,282	16.3%
1990	34,365	17.4%
2000	41,190	19.9%
2010	40,246	−2.3%
2020	40,363	0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census^[6] 1790-1960^[7] 1900-1990^[8] 1990-2000^[9] 2010^[10]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[11] there were 41,190 people, 15,044 households, and 10,816 families living in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km²). There were 18,016 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.62% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 13.88% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 25.62% from other races, and 3.28% from two or more races. 72.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,044 households, out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 15.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,429, and the median income for a family was $32,901. Males had a median income of $26,897 versus $22,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,263. About 16.60% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.30% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 40,246 people, 15,768 households, and 10,477 families living in the county.^[12] The population density was 6.9 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km²). There were 19,638 housing units at an average density of 3.4 units per square mile (1.3 units/km²).^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 51.6% white, 16.0% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 28.0% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 71.3% of the population.^[12]

The largest ancestry groups were:^[14]

20.6% Mexican
15.5% Spanish
4.5% German
3.2% English
2.7% Irish
1.7% French
1.5% Navajo
1.2% Scottish

Of the 15,768 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.0 years.^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,437 and the median income for a family was $47,840. Males had a median income of $39,757 versus $31,657 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,913. About 15.7% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

Politics

From New Mexico's statehood to the early 1930s Rio Arriba was a traditional Republican county. The county became a Democratic stronghold from the 1930s onwards. The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the county was Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.^[16] No Republican candidate for governor has won the county since at least 1966.^[17]

United States presidential election results for Rio Arriba County, New Mexico^[18]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,408	32.52%	10,990	66.09%	230	1.38%
2016	3,599	24.19%	9,592	64.47%	1,687	11.34%
2012	3,397	22.14%	11,465	74.72%	481	3.13%
2008	4,086	24.12%	12,703	74.99%	151	0.89%
2004	5,149	34.33%	9,753	65.02%	97	0.65%
2000	3,495	28.89%	8,169	67.53%	433	3.58%
1996	2,551	22.57%	7,965	70.46%	789	6.98%
1992	2,680	23.22%	7,832	67.86%	1,030	8.92%
1988	3,024	28.46%	7,503	70.61%	99	0.93%
1984	4,116	36.93%	6,938	62.25%	92	0.83%
1980	3,794	35.82%	6,245	58.97%	552	5.21%
1976	3,213	30.75%	7,125	68.19%	111	1.06%
1972	4,351	42.68%	5,642	55.34%	202	1.98%
1968	3,935	43.23%	4,799	52.72%	368	4.04%
1964	2,906	29.78%	6,787	69.56%	64	0.66%
1960	3,716	37.28%	6,250	62.69%	3	0.03%
1956	4,566	51.53%	4,291	48.43%	3	0.03%
1952	4,336	48.69%	4,564	51.25%	5	0.06%
1948	4,273	47.25%	4,753	52.56%	17	0.19%
1944	3,532	48.21%	3,792	51.75%	3	0.04%
1940	4,289	46.38%	4,952	53.55%	6	0.06%
1936	4,093	46.50%	4,691	53.29%	18	0.20%
1932	2,880	35.00%	5,337	64.86%	12	0.15%
1928	4,109	62.67%	2,444	37.27%	4	0.06%
1924	3,707	56.24%	2,734	41.48%	150	2.28%
1920	3,986	65.97%	2,056	34.03%	0	0.00%
1916	1,992	56.57%	1,528	43.40%	1	0.03%
1912	1,549	58.25%	1,004	37.76%	106	3.99%

It is located in New Mexico's 3rd congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+7 and is represented by Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez. In the New Mexico legislature it is represented by Representatives Christine Chandler (District 43), Susan Herrera (District 41), Derrick Lente (District 65), and Joseph Sanchez (District 40), and by Senators Richard C. Martinez (District 5), Carlos Cisneros (District 6), and Benny Shendo, Jr. (District 22).^[19]

Current commissioners are:

District	Name	Party	First elected	Term ends
District 1	Brandon M. Bustos	Democratic	2023	2026
District 2	Alex M. Naranjo	Democratic	2023	2026
District 3	Moises A. Morales, Jr.	Democratic	2020	2024

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Rio Arriba County has six public school districts.^[20]

Española Public Schools is the largest school district.^{[citation needed]}

Additionally, there is a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated tribal elementary school,^[21] Kha'p'o Community School, in Santa Clara Pueblo (the school's postal address states "Espanola").^[22]