Taos County, New Mexico

Taos County
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′N 105°38′W / 36.57°N 105.63°W
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 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

Demographics

Historical population
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%
2020	34,489	4.7%
2021 (est.)	34,623	0.4%
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 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).^[12] 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.^[11]

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.^[13] 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).^[14] 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.^[13] In terms of ancestry, 10.8% were English, 10.3% were German, 9.0% were Irish, and 1.2% were American.^[15]

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.^[13]

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.^[16]

Communities

Towns

Red River
Taos (county seat)

Villages

Census-designated places

Other communities

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^[17]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	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%