Lincoln County, New Mexico

History

Prior to the creation of Lincoln County, the Mescalero Apache occupied this region. They were confined to a reservation near Fort Stanton in 1873 and to their present reservation, only partly in Lincoln County, in 1883. Much of the commerce of late-19th century Lincoln County consisted of government contracts to provide food and other commodities to the Mescalero and to the soldiers at Fort Stanton. Hispanics from northern New Mexico began moving into the region in the 1850s.

Lincoln County was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln. The country was created in 1869 when Soccoro County was divided into two with Lincoln county in the east. At the time, it was the largest county in area in the United States. The country boundaries were often modified and reduced until 1909 when the present-day boundaries were established.

In the late 1870s, the Lincoln County War began between ranchers and the owners of the county's largest general store. William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, became involved on the side of the ranchers after his friend and employer was killed. In the end, Bonney killed the county sheriff, a deputy, and the deputy that killed his friend. Several other people were slain in the conflict, which included the other leader of the rancher faction. His death ended the conflict. In 1878, the new territorial governor, retired Union General Lew Wallace, offered amnesty to the combatants to bring a long-lasting truce between the factions.

Most of the population is in the Greater Ruidoso Area. The town of Carrizozo serves as the county seat and is in the Tularosa Basin northwest of Ruidoso. Ruidoso boasts several small suburbs and neighbor communities including Ruidoso Downs, Hollywood, Mescalero, and Alto which contribute to the Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area's population of 21,224. Ruidoso serves as the second largest city in south central New Mexico behind Alamogordo which is 46 miles southwest of the village. Ruidoso Downs on the southern end of the county and southeast of Ruidoso operates the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino. The track hosts both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, notably the All American Futurity, the richest in quarter horse racing. Historical figures from Lincoln County include Billy the Kid and Smokey Bear, whose names help drive the tourism trade that is heavily popularized within the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4831 sqmi, virtually all of which is land.

Adjacent counties

• Torrance County – north
• Guadalupe County – north
• De Baca County – northeast
• Chaves County – east
• Otero County – south
• Sierra County – southwest
• Socorro County – west

National protected areas

• Cibola National Forest (part)
• Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area
• 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 20,269. The median age was 53.0 years, 17.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 29.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 70.4% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 2.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.7% from some other race, and 15.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 32.0% of the population.

54.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 45.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 9,148 households in the county, of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 17,624 housing units, of which 48.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.1% were owner-occupied and 23.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 25.2%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 20,497 people, 9,219 households, and 5,859 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013053/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213234412/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033113/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 9,219 households, 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.4% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 49.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,750 and the median income for a family was $53,871. Males had a median income of $34,306 versus $29,836 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,290. About 8.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020831/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 19,411 people, 8,202 households, and 5,634 families living in the county. The population density was 4 /mi2. There were 15,298 housing units at an average density of 3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 83.60% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 1.95% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 11.28% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. 25.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,202 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% 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 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 30.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,886, and the median income for a family was $40,035. Males had a median income of $27,323 versus $19,923 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,338. About 10.80% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Ruidoso Downs

Town

• Carrizozo (county seat)

Villages

• Capitan
• Corona
• Ruidoso

Census-designated place

• Bluewater
• Nogal

Other communities

• Alto
• Arabela
• Coyote
• Glencoe
• Hondo
• Lincoln
• Oscuro
• Picacho
• Riverside
• San Patricio
• Tinnie

Ghost towns

• Jicarilla
• Placitas
• White Oaks

Politics

Lincoln County is overwhelmingly Republican, voting Democratic in just three elections since New Mexico's founding (1912, 1932, 1936). It was one of only three counties in the state to support Barry Goldwater of neighboring Arizona in 1964, which is also the last time a Democrat managed even 40 percent of the county's vote.

Education

School districts include:

• Capitan Municipal Schools
• Carrizozo Municipal Schools
• Corona Municipal Schools
• Hondo Valley Public Schools
• Ruidoso Municipal Schools

References

References

1. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office.
2. "Lincoln County, New Mexico". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "Bent and Mescalero--Home of the Mescalero Apache".
5. "New Mexico Individual County Chronologies".
6. "Lincoln".
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "Ruidoso-NM.gov | Municipal Website of the Village of Ruidoso, NM".
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lincoln County, NM". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].