Chaves County, New Mexico

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6075 sqmi, of which 6065 sqmi is land and 9.8 sqmi (0.2%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in New Mexico by area.

Adjacent counties

• De Baca County - north
• Roosevelt County - northeast
• Lea County - east
• Eddy County - south
• Otero County - southwest
• Lincoln County - west

National protected areas

• Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Lincoln National Forest (part)

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 65,157. The median age was 36.1 years, with 26.4% of residents under the age of 18 and 15.9% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 56.2% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 20.6% from some other race, and 18.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 56.9% of the population.

74.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 23,521 households in the county, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 26,658 housing units, of which 11.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.8% were owner-occupied and 32.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 65,645 people, 23,691 households, and 16,646 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035141/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35005 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213234124/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35005 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012727/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35005 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 23,691 households, 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.7% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.22. The median age was 34.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,524 and the median income for a family was $43,464. Males had a median income of $37,573 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,504. About 15.9% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022220/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35005 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 61,382 people, 22,561 households, and 16,085 families living in the county. The population density was 10 /mi2. There were 25,647 housing units at an average density of 4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 71.95% White, 1.97% Black or African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 21.25% from other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. 43.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,561 households, out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,513, and the median income for a family was $32,532. Males had a median income of $26,896 versus $21,205 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,990. About 17.60% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.10% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Chaves County is a Republican stronghold. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Chaves County since Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory of 1964. Even in that election, Johnson took Chaves County by only 1.3 percent.

Communities

City

• Roswell (county seat)

Towns

• Dexter
• Hagerman
• Lake Arthur

Census-designated place

• Midway
• Mountain View

Unincorporated communities

• Dunken
• Elk
• Elkins
• Greenfield
• Mesa

Education

School districts include:

• Artesia Public Schools
• Dexter Consolidated Schools
• Elida Municipal Schools
• Hagerman Municipal Schools
• Lake Arthur Municipal Schools
• Roswell Independent Schools
• Tatum Municipal Schools

Notable people

• Jacqueline Wonsetler (1918–1974), American meteorologist

References

References

1. "Chaves County, New Mexico". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
8. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
9. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
11. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
12. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
13. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chaves County, NM". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].