Taos County, New Mexico

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2204 sqmi, of which 2203 sqmi is land and 1.3 sqmi (0.06%) is water.

The county's highest point is the summit of Wheeler Peak at 13,161 ft. This summit 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 8510 ft, even though it ranks only 22nd overall. Taos County contains 17 of New Mexico's highest 25 peaks.

Adjacent counties

• Rio Arriba County - west
• Mora County - southeast
• Colfax County - east
• Costilla County, Colorado - north
• Conejos County, Colorado - northwest

National protected area

• Carson National Forest (part)
• Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 34,489. The median age was 50.0 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 55.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 6.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 14.9% from some other race, and 22.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 50.5% of the population.

45.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 54.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 15,747 households in the county, of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 31.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 20,904 housing units, of which 24.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.5% were owner-occupied and 28.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 32,937 people, 14,806 households, and 8,437 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021749/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183201/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030832/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

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.

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.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021501/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 29,979 people, 12,675 households, and 7,757 families living in the county. The population density was 14 /sqmi. There were 17,404 housing units at an average density of 8 /sqmi. 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.

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.

Communities

Towns

• Red River
• Taos (county seat)

Villages

• Questa
• Taos Ski Valley

Census-designated places

• Arroyo Hondo
• Arroyo Seco
• Chamisal
• Costilla
• Ojo Caliente
• Peñasco
• Picuris Pueblo
• Ranchos de Taos
• Rio Lucio
• San Cristobal
• Talpa
• Taos Pueblo
• Vadito

Other communities

• Amalia
• Cañoncito
• Carson
• Cerro
• El Prado
• El Rito
• Las Trampas
• Llano
• Llano Quemado
• No Agua
• Pilar
• Tres Piedras
• Valdez

Politics

Taos County is heavily Democratic; the last Republican candidate to win the county was Richard Nixon in 1972 by just over 2%. Taos County often rivals Santa Fe County as the most Democratic county in New Mexico. Taos itself, Ranchos de Taos, Taos Pueblo, Taos Ski Valley, Picuris Pueblo, the Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Hondo areas, and the rural southern and western parts of the county all vote strongly Democratic, while the Red River area votes strongly Republican. Questa and El Prado are also Democratic-leaning, though they saw heavy Republican trends in 2024.

Education

School districts for the county include:

• Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools
• Peñasco Independent Schools
• Questa Independent Schools
• Taos Municipal Schools

In popular culture

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is featured in the 1994 crime-drama film Natural Born Killers, in the 2007 comedy Wild Hogs, and in the 2009 film Terminator: Salvation.

The 2007 film Garbage Warrior documents architect Mike Reynolds who builds Earthships in and around Taos County.

References

References

1. "Taos County, New Mexico". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2007). "New Mexico: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". The Newberry Library.
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Wheeler Peak Wilderness".
6. Carl Mills. "Mean County Elevation Lists".
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. [https://www.census.gov Detailed Tables], U.S. Census Bureau
17. (January 15, 2025). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2024 Election". The New York Times.
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Taos County, NM". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
20. (2011). "Rio Grande Gorge Bridge". New York Times.
21. "Goofs for Wild Hogs (2007)".
22. (January 28, 2010). "Terminator Salvation: Set Locations Revisited". TheTerminatorFans.com.
23. (October 7, 2009). "Garbage Warrior". HESO Magazine.