Editing Cibola County, New Mexico

{{Short description|County in New Mexico, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Cibola County
 | state                = New Mexico
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1981
 | founded date         = June 19
 | seat wl              = Grants
 | largest city wl      = Grants
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 4542
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 4539
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.3
 | area percentage      = 0.05%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 27172
 | density_sq_mi        = 6.0
 | web                  = https://www.cibolacountynm.com/
 | ex image             = Cibola County New Mexico Court House.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Cibola County Courthouse in Grants
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | named for            = [[Quivira|Mythical Seven Cities of Cibola]]
}}

'''Cibola County''' is a [[List of counties in New Mexico|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Mexico]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 27,172.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cibola County, New Mexico|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Cibola_County,_New_Mexico?g=050XX00US35006|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 1, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Grants, New Mexico|Grants]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011  }}</ref> It is New Mexico's youngest county, and the third youngest county in the United States, created on June 19, 1981, from the westernmost four-fifths of the formerly much larger [[Valencia County, New Mexico|Valencia County]].

Cibola County comprises the Grants, New Mexico [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. The county is a rich mining area with numerous Uranium mines.

==Geography==
[[File:Malpais Natural Arch.jpg|thumb|Ventana Arch in [[El Malpais National Monument]]]]

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|4542|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4539|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.3|sqmi}} (0.05%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195546/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 1, 2015 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[McKinley County, New Mexico|McKinley County]] - north
* [[Sandoval County, New Mexico|Sandoval County]] - northeast
* [[Bernalillo County, New Mexico|Bernalillo County]] - east
* [[Valencia County, New Mexico|Valencia County]] - east
* [[Socorro County, New Mexico|Socorro County]] - southeast
* [[Catron County, New Mexico|Catron County]] - south
* [[Apache County, Arizona]] - west

===National protected areas===
* [[Cibola National Forest]] (part)
* [[El Malpais National Conservation Area]]
* [[El Malpais National Monument]]
* [[El Morro National Monument]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 23794
|2000= 25595
|2010= 27213
|2020= 27172
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 1, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 1, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nm190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 1, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 1, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/35006.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606225841/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/35006.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website  }}</ref> there were 25,595 people, 8,327 households, and 6,278 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 10,328 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 39.61% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.96% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 40.32% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.38% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 15.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.24% from two or more races. 33.42% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 8,327 households, out of which 38.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,774, and the median income for a family was $30,714. Males had a median income of $27,652 versus $20,078 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $11,731. About 21.50% of families and 24.80% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 32.00% of those under age 18 and 17.70% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 27,213&nbsp;people, 8,860&nbsp;households, and 6,274&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35006
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 24, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031606/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35006
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|6.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 11,101 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35006
  |access-date=January 24, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184231/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35006
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 41.8% white, 41.0% American Indian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 12.4% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 36.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 5.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 1.5% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35006
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 24, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025025/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35006
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 8,860&nbsp;households, 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.30. The median age was 36.6 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $37,361 and the median income for a family was $41,187. Males had a median income of $36,027 versus $25,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,712. About 20.1% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35006
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 24, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023032/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35006
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:MiningMuseumGrants.jpg|thumb|The Mining Museum in Grants]]
School districts serving portions of the county include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35006_cibola/DC20SD_C35006.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721010830/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35006_cibola/DC20SD_C35006.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cibola County, NM|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 12, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35006_cibola/DC20SD_C35006_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Grants-Cibola County Schools]]
* [[Quemado Independent Schools]]
* [[Zuni Public Schools]]

All public schools in the county are operated by Grants/Cibola County Schools; the Quemado and Zuni facilities are in other counties.

Due to an agreement between Cibola County and [[McKinley County, New Mexico|McKinley County]], residents of the [[Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation]] are bussed to schools in [[Ramah, New Mexico|Ramah]] in McKinley County (including [[Ramah Middle/High School]]) even though they are physically in Cibola County, due to the long distance to the nearest Cibola County schools from the reservation.<ref name=LinthicumLeslie>{{cite news|last=Linthicum|first=Leslie|title=Navajos Say County Is Stealing Students|newspaper=[[Albuquerque Journal]]|place=[[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]|date=March 6, 1995|pages=A1, A3}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81861504/for-ramah-navajo-res/ Clipping of first] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81862422/for-ramah-navajo-res/ of second page] at [[Newspapers.com]]. Page 2 text details: [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105588905/ A], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105588956/ B], and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105588997/ C]</ref>

==Corrections==
Cibola County is home to three prisons:
* the [[Cibola County Correctional Center]], operated by [[Corrections Corporation of America]], housing 1129 federal inmates under a contract with the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] and the [[United States Marshal Service]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cca.com/facilities/cibola-county-correctional-center|title=CoreCivic: Better the Public Good|last=CoreCivic|website=cca.com|language=en|access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cibola County Correctional Center|url=http://cca.com/facilities/cibola-county-correctional-center|website=Corrections Corporation of America|access-date=August 26, 2016}}</ref>
* the [[New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility]], run by CCA for the state of New Mexico, and
* [[Western New Mexico Correctional Facility]], owned and operated by the state, with about 440 male inmates<ref>{{cite web|title=Western New Mexico Correctional Facility|url=http://cd.nm.gov/apd/wnmcf.html|website=New Mexico Corrections Department|access-date=August 26, 2016}}</ref>

In November 2018, following a private autopsy, a unit of the Cibola County Correctional Center (CCCC) was named in the abuse and wrongful death on May 25, 2018, of [[Roxsana Hernández Rodríguez]]. Rodríguez was a 33-year-old [[transgender]] woman who immigrated from Honduras. The CCCC is operated under contract by [[CoreCivic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bixby |first1=Scott |author2=Betsy Woodruff |title=Trans Woman Was Beaten in ICE Custody Before Death, Autopsy Finds |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trans-woman-roxsana-hernandez-rodriguez-beaten-in-ice-custody-before-death-pathologist-finds |website=The Daily Beast |publisher=The Daily Beast Company |access-date=November 27, 2018 |date=November 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="TLC-Rodriguez">{{cite web |title=Justice for Roxsana: Announcing Legal Action To Hold Government Accountable for Transgender Asylum-Seeker's Death |date=November 26, 2018 |url=https://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/14407 |publisher=[[Transgender Law Center]] |access-date=November 27, 2018}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Cibola County, New Mexico|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|4,311|4,450|216|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|3,975|4,745|183|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|3,195|3,741|1,127|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|2,998|4,961|284|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|3,131|5,827|139|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|3,477|3,913|97|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,752|4,127|209|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,245|4,030|605|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,051|3,334|899|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,640|3,458|39|New Mexico}}
{{PresFoot|1984|Republican|3,578|3,140|22|New Mexico}}

Cibola County tends to support the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].  In the [[1984 United States presidential election in New Mexico|1984 presidential election]], a majority voted for the Republican presidential nominee, otherwise since that time (except 2016 and 2024) all other presidential elections had a Democrat majority. Democratic strength lies especially in the [[Acoma Pueblo|Acoma]], [[Laguna Pueblo|Laguna]], and [[Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation|Ramah Navajo]] Reservations. Republican strength lies in Milan, Grants, and surrounding rural areas, as well as the southwestern portion of the county.

In the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 election]], the county saw a strong trend toward the Republican Party. Kamala Harris was unable to gain a majority in the county, only winning through a narrow plurality of 49.57%. This was due in part to the cities of Grants and Milan, which trended more Republican than in 2020, with every precinct giving Trump the majority (unlike in 2020, when much of central Grants voted majority Democratic). With the exception of the rural areas to the northeast and the northwest of Grants, the rest of the county also saw Republican trends, including the areas with highly Native American populations. This was the closest that any Republican presidential candidate has come to flipping the county since Reagan's time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/elections/2024-election-map-precinct-results.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qk4.9CUE.eUcpg0mNRL9r&smid=url-share | title=An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2024 Election | work=The New York Times | date=January 15, 2025 | last1=Datar | first1=Saurabh | last2=Marcus | first2=Ilana | last3=Murray | first3=Eli | last4=Singer | first4=Ethan | last5=Lemonides | first5=Alex | last6=Zhang | first6=Christine }}</ref>

At the state level, the only time it has voted for a Republican nominee for Governor was [[2014 New Mexico gubernatorial election|2014]], when [[Susana Martinez]] carried all but five counties in her reelection bid.

==Communities==
[[File:Acoma Pueblo New Mexico.jpg|thumb|Acoma Pueblo, "Sky City", 2008]]
[[File:Timothy O'Sullivan, South side of Inscription Rock, New Mexico, 1873.jpg|thumb|South side of Inscription Rock, [[El Morro National Monument]]. Photo by [[Timothy H. O'Sullivan]], 1873.]]

===City===
* [[Grants, New Mexico|Grants]] (county seat)

===Village===
* [[Milan, New Mexico|Milan]]

=== Census-designated places ===
There are 32 [[Census Designated Place]]s contained within the county, largely designated in 1980.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Acomita Lake, New Mexico|Acomita Lake]]
* [[Anzac Village, New Mexico|Anzac Village]]
* [[Bibo, New Mexico|Bibo]]
* [[Bluewater Village, New Mexico|Bluewater Village]]
* [[Broadview, Cibola County, New Mexico|Broadview]]
* [[Candy Kitchen, New Mexico|Candy Kitchen]]
* [[Cubero, New Mexico|Cubero]]
* [[El Morro Valley, New Mexico|El Morro Valley]]
* [[Encinal, New Mexico|Encinal]]
* [[Fence Lake, New Mexico|Fence Lake]]
* [[Golden Acres, New Mexico|Golden Acres]]
* [[Laguna, New Mexico|Laguna]]
* [[Las Tusas, New Mexico|Las Tusas]]
* [[Lobo Canyon, New Mexico|Lobo Canyon]]
* [[McCartys Village, New Mexico|McCartys Village]]
* [[Mesita, New Mexico|Mesita]]
* [[Moquino, New Mexico|Moquino]]
* [[Mount Taylor, New Mexico|Mount Taylor]]
* [[Mountain View, Cibola County, New Mexico|Mountain View]]
* [[North Acomita Village, New Mexico|North Acomita Village]]
* [[Paguate, New Mexico|Paguate]]
* [[Paraje, New Mexico|Paraje]]
* [[Pinehill, New Mexico|Pinehill]]
* [[San Fidel, New Mexico|San Fidel]]
* [[San Mateo, New Mexico|San Mateo]]
* [[San Rafael, New Mexico|San Rafael]]
* [[Seama, New Mexico|Seama]]
* [[Seboyeta, New Mexico|Seboyeta]]
* [[Skyline-Ganipa, New Mexico|Skyline-Ganipa]]
* [[South Acomita Village, New Mexico|South Acomita Village]]
* [[Stoneridge, New Mexico|Stoneridge]]
* [[Timberlake, New Mexico|Timberlake]] (part)
{{div col end}}

=== Unincorporated communities ===
{{div col}}
* [[Alaska, New Mexico|Alaska]]
* [[Casa Blanca, New Mexico|Casa Blanca]]
* Cebolleta
* Cebolletita
* Cubero
* [[El Rito, Cibola County, New Mexico|El Rito]]
* [[Fence Lake, New Mexico (town)|Fence Lake]]
* [[New Laguna, New Mexico|New Laguna]]
{{div col end}}

=== [[Ghost town|Ghost Town]] ===
* [[Anaconda, New Mexico|Anaconda]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in New Mexico#Cibola County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Cibola County, New Mexico]]

==References==
;Specific
{{Reflist|30em}}

;General
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090506234535/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html County status and boundary changes] United States Census Bureau

==Further reading==
* Baldwin, J.A. and D.R. Rankin. (1995). ''Hydrogeology of Cibola County, New Mexico'' [Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4178]. Albuquerque: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
* Maxwell, C.H. (1989). ''Mineral resources of the Petaca Pinta wilderness study area, Cibola County, New Mexico'' [U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1734-H]. Denver: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Cibola County, New Mexico}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Cibola County, New Mexico
|North     = [[McKinley County, New Mexico|McKinley County]]
|Northeast = [[Sandoval County, New Mexico|Sandoval County]]
|East      = [[Bernalillo County, New Mexico|Bernalillo County]] and [[Valencia County, New Mexico|Valencia County]]
|Southeast = [[Socorro County, New Mexico|Socorro County]]
|South     = [[Catron County, New Mexico|Catron County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Apache County, Arizona]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Cibola County, New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|34.92|-107.99|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NM_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Cibola County, New Mexico| ]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1981]]