Luna County, New Mexico

History

Luna County was formed from parts of Grant County and Doña Ana County by the New Mexico Legislature on March 16, 1901. It was named for Solomon Luna, a politician who advocated for independence of the county, following a strong rivalry between the cities of Deming and Silver City, both of which were at the time in Grant County.

Before dawn on March 16, 1916, Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa led several hundred of his rebel soldiers across the Mexican border into the village of Columbus in the southern part of the county. The invaders raided and burned much of the town, causing many residents to flee to the desert. Although the raid took the town by surprise, it also awakened 350 United States Army soldiers stationed at Camp Furlong at the edge of town. These soldiers defended Columbus with two machine guns. The fighting continued until dawn, when Villa fled back across the Mexican border, five hours after the initial invasion and approximately ninety minutes after attacking the town. Despite the U.S. Army's subsequent "Mexican Expedition" into Mexico, Villa was never captured. The United States' involvement in World War I soon diverted attention away from the pursuit of Villa. He was assassinated seven years later. The raid resulted in the deaths of eighteen Columbus residents and U.S. soldiers, while approximately seventy-five of Villa's soldiers were killed.

In 1917 striking copper miners from Bisbee, Arizona were forcibly deported to this county.

Construction of an improved barrier on the border with Mexico was expedited in 2019 with waivers of environmental and other laws. The waivers are for 27 laws including protection of endangered species, archaeological sites, and historic places.

Today, Pancho Villa State Park is located in the village of Columbus. It features cacti and the ruins of "the U.S. Army's first greaserack".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2965 sqmi, virtually all of which is land. The bulk of the county is flat lowland, either grassland or desert scrub, but it also contains three mountain ranges: Cooke's Range in the north, the Florida Mountains on the southeastern side of Deming near the center of the county, and the Tres Hermanas Mountains in the southern part of the county near Columbus.

Adjacent counties and municipality

• Sierra County – northeast
• Doña Ana County – east
• Grant County – west
• Hidalgo County – west
• Ascensión, Chihuahua, Mexico – south

Major highways

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,427. The median age was 39.8 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 50.3% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race, and 24.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 65.6% of the population.

58.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 9,822 households in the county, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 11,508 housing units, of which 14.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.5% were owner-occupied and 32.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 25,095 people, 9,593 households, and 6,484 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014133/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35029 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191014/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35029 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012854/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35029 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 9,593 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 39.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,997 and the median income for a family was $33,312. Males had a median income of $31,905 versus $19,865 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,687. About 26.2% of families and 32.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.2% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023955/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35029 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 25,016 people, 9,397 households, and 6,596 families living in the county. The population density was 8 /mi2. There were 11,291 housing units at an average density of 4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 74.30% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 1.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 20.23% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 57.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,397 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $20,784, and the median income for a family was $24,252. Males had a median income of $25,008 versus $16,883 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,218. About 27.20% of families and 32.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.80% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Residents in all parts of the county are zoned to Deming Public Schools.

Communities

City

• Deming (county seat)

Village

• Columbus

Census-designated places

• City of the Sun
• Keeler Farm
• La Hacienda
• Mountain View
• Old Town
• Pecan Park
• Pulpotio Bareas
• Sunshine
• Ventura

Ghost towns

• Gage
• Mimbres
• Mowry City
• Myndus
• Nutt
• Ojo de Vaca Station

Politics

Luna County is a Republican-leaning county in presidential elections. However, it has voted for Democrats 3 times since 1964.

References

References

1. "Luna County, New Mexico". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "History".
4. Kocherga, Angela. (April 28, 2019). "Homeland Security expedites border wall project".
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
14. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Luna County, NM". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".