Editing Sierra County, New Mexico

{{Short description|County in New Mexico, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Sierra County
 | state                = New Mexico
 | seal                 = Sierra County NM seal.jpg
 | founded year         = 1884
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Truth or Consequences
 | largest city wl      = Truth or Consequences
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 4236
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 4179
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 57
 | area percentage      = 1.4%
 | density_sq_mi        = 2.9
 | web                  = http://www.sierracountynm.gov/
 | ex image             = Sierra County New Mexico Court House.jpg|
 | ex image cap         = Sierra County Courthouse in Truth or Consequences
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | named for            = the [[Black Range]] (Spanish: ''Sierra Diablo'')
 | population_total     = 11576 | population_as_of     = 2020
}}

'''Sierra County''' ({{langx|es|Condado de Sierra|link=}}) is a [[List of counties in New Mexico|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Mexico]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]], the population was 11,576.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/35051.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 30, 2013|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606230450/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/35051.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Truth or Consequences, New Mexico|Truth or Consequences]].<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}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|4236|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4179|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|57|sqmi}} (1.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 2, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195546/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt|archive-date=January 1, 2015}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Catron County, New Mexico|Catron County]] - northwest
* [[Socorro County, New Mexico|Socorro County]] - north
* [[Lincoln County, New Mexico|Lincoln County]] - northeast
* [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]] - east
* [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana County]] - south
* [[Luna County, New Mexico|Luna County]] - south
* [[Grant County, New Mexico|Grant County]] - west

===National protected areas===
* [[Cibola National Forest]] (part)
* [[El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail]] (part)
* [[Gila National Forest]] (part)

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NM|I|25}}
* {{Jct|state=NM|US|85}}
* {{Jct|state=NM|NM|152|nolink=y}}
* {{Jct|state=NM|NM|181|nolink=y}}
* {{Jct|state=NM|NM|179|nolink=y}}
* {{Jct|state=NM|NM|187|nolink=y}}
* {{Jct|state=NM|NM|195|nolink=y}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 3630
| 1900 = 3158
| 1910 = 3536
| 1920 = 4619
| 1930 = 5184
| 1940 = 6962
| 1950 = 7186
| 1960 = 6409
| 1970 = 7189
| 1980 = 8454
| 1990 = 9912
| 2000 = 13270
| 2010 = 11988
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=December 24, 2019}}</ref>
| 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 2, 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 2, 2015}}</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 2, 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 2, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2016<ref name="QF"/>
| 2020 = 11576
}}

===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 13,270 people, 6,113 households, and 3,618 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 8,727 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 86.97% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.48% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.48% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 8.27% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.54% from two or more races. 26.28% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 6,113 households, out of which 20.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.80% were non-families. 35.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.10% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 19.50% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 27.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,152, and the median income for a family was $29,787. Males had a median income of $24,570 versus $19,839 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,023. About 13.80% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 11,988&nbsp;people, 5,917&nbsp;households, and 3,126&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/DPDP1/0500000US35051
  |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/20200213023514/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35051
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|2.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 8,356 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.0|/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.CY07/0500000US35051
  |access-date=January 24, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192847/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35051
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 8.6% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 28.0% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 14.0% were [[Germans|German]], 9.4% were [[Americans|American]], 8.4% were [[English people|English]], and 8.0% were [[Irish people|Irish]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35051
  |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/20200213010915/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35051
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 5,917&nbsp;households, 17.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 47.2% were non-families, and 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.64. The median age was 54.5 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $25,583, the lowest of any county in New Mexico.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://247wallst.com/special-report/2015/01/07/the-poorest-county-in-each-state/8/ | title=The Poorest County in Each State – Page 8 – 24/7 Wall St }}</ref> The median income for a family was $38,641. Males had a median income of $32,059 versus $26,213 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,667. About 15.6% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 12.9% 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/DP03/0500000US35051
  |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/20200213021618/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35051
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Spaceport America==
[[Spaceport America]] is located in Sierra County, {{convert|45|mi|km|abbr=off|sp=us}} north of Las Cruces and {{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=off|sp=us}} east of Truth or Consequences. Sierra County voters approved the creation of a spaceport tax district in April 2008, freeing up funding for its construction.<ref name="WP200805">{{cite news | last = Kaufman| first = Marc| title = New Mexico Moves Ahead on Spaceport| newspaper = [[Washington Post]]| date = May 10, 2008| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/09/AR2008050902508.html| access-date=July 24, 2008}}</ref> The first launch from Spaceport America occurred on September 25, 2006, since which over 300 launches have occurred. On May 22, 2021, [[Virgin Galactic]]'s [[VSS Unity]] launched from the spaceport with three people aboard becoming the first crewed launch from both Spaceport America and New Mexico and making New Mexico the third U.S. state, after [[California]] and [[Florida]], to [[Human spaceflight|send humans into space]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NM 'has finally reached the stars' - Albuquerque Journal|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2393160/lift-off-virgin-galactic-spaceship-is-in-the-air.html|access-date=January 16, 2022|website=www.abqjournal.com|date=May 22, 2021 }}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Elephant Butte, New Mexico|Elephant Butte]]
* [[Truth or Consequences, New Mexico|Truth or Consequences]] (county seat)

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

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
* [[Arrey, New Mexico|Arrey]]
* [[Caballo, New Mexico|Caballo]]
* [[Hillsboro, New Mexico|Hillsboro]]
* [[Hot Springs Landing, New Mexico|Hot Springs Landing]]
* [[Kingston, New Mexico|Kingston]]
* [[Las Palomas, New Mexico|Las Palomas]]
* [[Oasis, New Mexico|Oasis]]
* [[Winston, New Mexico|Winston]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Chloride, New Mexico|Chloride]]
* [[Cuchillo, New Mexico|Cuchillo]]
* [[Derry, New Mexico|Derry]]
* [[Engle, New Mexico|Engle]]
* [[Monticello, New Mexico|Monticello]]
* [[Placitas, Sierra County, New Mexico|Placitas]]
* [[Upham, New Mexico|Upham]]
{{div col end}}

=== Ghost towns ===
* [[Alamocita, New Mexico|Alamocita]]
* [[Aleman, New Mexico|Aleman]]
* Chise
* [[Elephant Butte, Sierra County, New Mexico|Elephant Butte]]
* [[Hermosa, New Mexico|Hermosa]]
* [[Lake Valley, Sierra County, New Mexico|Lake Valley]]
* San Albino
* San José
* [[San Ygnacio de la Alamosa, New Mexico|San Ygnacio de la Alamosa]]
* [[Zapata, New Mexico|Zapata]]
* San Navarro  (Est: 1836 Abandoned: 1952)

==Politics==
Sierra County was a swing county up until the 1950's, and since then it has largely voted Republican. The only Democrat since then to carry the county with a full majority was [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Lyndon Johnson]] in 1964. [[Bill Clinton]] carried the county with pluralities in 1992 and 1996, but this was largely due to unusually strong third-party performance by [[Ross Perot]] in both elections.
{{PresHead|place=Sierra County, New Mexico|source=<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 2, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,473|2,332|148|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,542|2,265|138|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,010|1,612|559|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,928|1,964|210|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,017|2,352|116|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,162|1,926|69|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,721|1,689|176|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,140|2,154|511|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,562|1,771|1,085|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,507|1,595|63|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,663|1,335|37|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,222|1,169|164|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,665|1,564|33|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,074|934|66|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,624|930|292|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,501|1,633|15|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,890|1,220|7|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,954|1,035|17|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,033|1,158|5|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,274|1,389|17|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,112|1,008|8|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,372|1,534|4|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|951|1,587|24|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|667|1,515|28|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|766|657|1|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|632|546|134|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|862|642|14|New Mexico}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|460|493|23|New Mexico}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|176|352|97|New Mexico}}

==Education==
[[Truth or Consequences Schools]] is the school district for all of the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35051_sierra/DC20SD_C35051.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712042000/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35051_sierra/DC20SD_C35051.pdf |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sierra County, NM|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 12, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35051_sierra/DC20SD_C35051_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Sierra County, New Mexico]]
* [[South Central Regional Transit District]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sierra County, New Mexico}}
* [http://www.sierraco.org/ Sierra County Government]
* [http://www.sierracountynewmexico.info/ Sierra County Tourism / Visitor Information]
* [http://www.ebcocnm.com/ Elephant Butte Chamber of Commerce] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801090006/http://ebcocnm.com/ |date=August 1, 2015 }}
* [http://www.sierracountyevents.com/ Events for Truth or Consequences, Elephant Butte, and all of Sierra County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213091824/http://www.blackrange.org/The_Black_Range_Rag/Who_We_Were_files/Between%20the%20River%20and%20the%20Mountains.pdf Wilson, John P., Between the River and the Mountains: A History of Early Settlement in Sierra County, New Mexico, Report #40, John P. Wilson, Las Cruces, New Mexico, August 1985]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Sierra County, New Mexico
|North     = [[Socorro County, New Mexico|Socorro County]]
|Northeast = [[Lincoln County, New Mexico|Lincoln County]]
|East      = [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana County]] and [[Luna County, New Mexico|Luna County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Grant County, New Mexico|Grant County]]
|Northwest = [[Catron County, New Mexico|Catron County]]
}}
{{Sierra County, New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|33.14|-107.19|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NM_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Sierra County, New Mexico| ]]
[[Category:1884 establishments in New Mexico Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1884]]