Doña Ana County | |
|---|---|
 Doña Ana County Government Center | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNew Mexico | |
 New Mexico's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:32°18′44″N106°46′42″W / 32.31222°N 106.77833°W /32.31222; -106.77833 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Mexico |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Seat | Las Cruces |
| Largest city | Las Cruces |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,814 sq mi (9,880 km2) |
| • Land | 3,808 sq mi (9,860 km2) |
| • Water | 6.9 sq mi (18 km2) 0.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 219,561 |
| • Density | 55/sq mi (21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Doña Ana County (Spanish:Condado de Doña Ana) is acounty located in the southern part of theNew Mexico, United States. As of the2020 U.S. Census, its population was 219,561,[1] which makes it the second-most populated county in New Mexico. Itscounty seat isLas Cruces,[2] the second-most populous municipality in New Mexico afterAlbuquerque, with 111,385 as of the 2020 U.S. Census.[3]
The county is named for Doña Ana Robledo, who died there in 1680 while fleeing thePueblo Revolt.[4] Doña Ana County is one of only two counties in the United States to have adiacritical mark in its name, the other beingCoös County, New Hampshire.[5] Notably, both Doña Ana County and Coös County lie on short international borders, the former withMexico and the latter withCanada.
Doña Ana County consists of the Las Cruces, NMMetropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theEl Paso–Las Cruces,TX–NMCombined Statistical Area.It bordersLuna,Sierra, andOtero counties in New Mexico, andEl Paso County, Texas to the east and southeast.
The state ofChihuahua, Mexico, borders the county to the south. Construction of an improvedbarrier on the border was expedited in 2019 withwaivers of environmental and other laws. The waivers applied to 27 laws, including protection ofendangered species,archeological sites, andhistoric places.[6]
Being 67.3% Hispanic in 2020, Doña Ana isNew Mexico's largest majority-Hispanic county.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,814 square miles (9,880 km2), of which 3,808 square miles (9,860 km2) is land and 6.9 square miles (18 km2), or 0.2%, is covered by water.[8]
The county contains a number of prominent geographical features, most notably theMesilla Valley (the flood plain of theRio Grande) going north to south through the center and theOrgan Mountains along the county's eastern edge. Other mountain ranges in the county are theRobledo Mountains,Doña Ana Mountains,Sierra de las Uvas, the southern end of theSan Andres Mountains,East Potrillo Mountains, andWest Potrillo Mountains, as well as two small, isolated mountains, Tortugas (or A) Mountain on the east and Picacho Peak on the west side of Las Cruces. The county also includes one of New Mexico's four largelava fields, the Aden Malpais, and one of the world's largestmaare volcanoes,Kilbourne Hole.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 6,239 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,864 | −6.0% | |
| 1880 | 7,612 | 29.8% | |
| 1890 | 9,191 | 20.7% | |
| 1900 | 10,187 | 10.8% | |
| 1910 | 12,893 | 26.6% | |
| 1920 | 16,548 | 28.3% | |
| 1930 | 27,455 | 65.9% | |
| 1940 | 30,411 | 10.8% | |
| 1950 | 39,557 | 30.1% | |
| 1960 | 59,948 | 51.5% | |
| 1970 | 69,773 | 16.4% | |
| 1980 | 96,340 | 38.1% | |
| 1990 | 135,510 | 40.7% | |
| 2000 | 174,682 | 28.9% | |
| 2010 | 209,233 | 19.8% | |
| 2020 | 219,561 | 4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2010 United States census, there were 209,233 people, 75,532 households, and 51,863 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 55.0 inhabitants per square mile (21.2/km2). There were 81,492 housing units at an average density of 21.4 per square mile (8.3/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 74.1% white, 1.7% black or African American, 1.5% American Indian, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 18.5% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 65.7% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 7.3% wereGerman, and 2.2% wereAmerican.[15]
Of the 75,532 households, 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.3% were non-families, and 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25. The median age was 32.4 years.[13]
The median income for a household in the county was $36,657 and the median income for a family was $43,184. Males had a median income of $33,510 versus $25,217 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,315. About 20.1% of families and 24.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 34.8% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.[16]
As of the2000 United States census,[17] there were 174,682 people, 59,556 households, and 42,939 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 inhabitants per square mile (18/km2). There were 65,210 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.8%White, 1.6%Black orAfrican American, 1.5%Native American, 0.8%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 24.7% fromother races, and 3.6% from two or more races. 63.4% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 59,556 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% weremarried couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,808, and the median income for a family was $33,576. Males had a median income of $27,215 versus $20,883 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $13,999. 25.4% of the population and 20.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 34.4% are under the age of 18 and 12.7% are 65 or older.
Doña Ana is a Democratic-leaning county inPresidential andCongressional elections. Since1920, Doña Ana has voted for the candidate who also won statewide, with the only exception being in2004 when DemocratJohn Kerry won Doña Ana 51–48%, while RepublicanGeorge W. Bush won statewide 50–49%. The last Republican to win a majority in the county wasGeorge H. W. Bush in1988.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 37,594 | 44.02% | 45,937 | 53.79% | 1,876 | 2.20% |
| 2020 | 32,802 | 39.69% | 47,957 | 58.03% | 1,882 | 2.28% |
| 2016 | 25,374 | 35.92% | 37,947 | 53.71% | 7,327 | 10.37% |
| 2012 | 27,322 | 41.13% | 37,139 | 55.91% | 1,962 | 2.95% |
| 2008 | 28,068 | 40.51% | 40,282 | 58.14% | 930 | 1.34% |
| 2004 | 29,548 | 47.69% | 31,762 | 51.26% | 650 | 1.05% |
| 2000 | 21,263 | 45.58% | 23,912 | 51.26% | 1,478 | 3.17% |
| 1996 | 17,541 | 40.26% | 22,766 | 52.26% | 3,257 | 7.48% |
| 1992 | 16,308 | 36.88% | 19,894 | 44.99% | 8,015 | 18.13% |
| 1988 | 21,582 | 51.70% | 19,608 | 46.97% | 557 | 1.33% |
| 1984 | 22,153 | 60.87% | 13,878 | 38.13% | 362 | 0.99% |
| 1980 | 15,539 | 53.92% | 10,839 | 37.61% | 2,442 | 8.47% |
| 1976 | 13,888 | 53.09% | 12,036 | 46.01% | 233 | 0.89% |
| 1972 | 14,562 | 59.76% | 9,416 | 38.64% | 388 | 1.59% |
| 1968 | 10,824 | 54.15% | 7,658 | 38.31% | 1,508 | 7.54% |
| 1964 | 7,280 | 40.25% | 10,748 | 59.43% | 57 | 0.32% |
| 1960 | 7,789 | 46.49% | 8,905 | 53.15% | 61 | 0.36% |
| 1956 | 7,025 | 58.59% | 4,918 | 41.01% | 48 | 0.40% |
| 1952 | 5,902 | 56.33% | 4,556 | 43.48% | 20 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 3,440 | 40.03% | 5,116 | 59.54% | 37 | 0.43% |
| 1944 | 3,149 | 42.98% | 4,172 | 56.94% | 6 | 0.08% |
| 1940 | 3,720 | 41.63% | 5,208 | 58.28% | 8 | 0.09% |
| 1936 | 2,494 | 30.78% | 5,544 | 68.43% | 64 | 0.79% |
| 1932 | 2,354 | 30.99% | 5,133 | 67.58% | 108 | 1.42% |
| 1928 | 3,141 | 59.06% | 2,169 | 40.79% | 8 | 0.15% |
| 1924 | 2,823 | 58.58% | 1,775 | 36.83% | 221 | 4.59% |
| 1920 | 2,627 | 66.27% | 1,318 | 33.25% | 19 | 0.48% |
| 1916 | 1,606 | 59.35% | 1,078 | 39.84% | 22 | 0.81% |
| 1912 | 912 | 44.19% | 895 | 43.36% | 257 | 12.45% |
Doña Ana is part ofNew Mexico's 2nd congressional district, which is currently held by DemocratGabe Vasquez.
In theState Senate, Doña Ana is part of the 31st, 35th, 36th, 37th, and 38th Senate districts, which currently held byJoe Cervantes,Crystal Brantley,Jeff Steinborn,William Soules andCarrie Hamblen, respectively.[19][20]
In theState House, Doña Ana is part of the 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 52nd and 53rd House districts. The current state representatives areJenifer Jones,Micaela Lara Cadena,Raymundo Lara,Angelica Rubio,Nathan Small,Joanne Ferrary,Tara Jaramillo,Doreen Gallegos andWillie Madrid, respectively.[21][22]
The current County Commissioners are as follows: Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez (District 1), Gloria Gameros (District 2), Shannon Reynolds (District 3), Susana Chaparro (District 4) and Manuel A. Sanchez (District 5).[23]
In January 2012, a federal court awarded former County prisoner Stephen Slevin a $22 million award[24] for inhumane treatment and for keeping him jailed for 2 years without a trial.[25][26] In a radio interview on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation programAs It Happens broadcast on February 7, 2012, Slevin's lawyer indicated that he was arrested for "DWI". During his incarceration, Slevin was placed in solitary confinement. When his health deteriorated, Slevin was removed to a hospital, but after two weeks in the hospital, he was returned to solitary confinement. The lawyer stated that pictures taken before and after Slevin's time in jail were key to the trial's outcome.[27] The District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District in Doña Ana County during the 2005 - 2007 indefinite detention without trial of Mr. Slevin wasSusana Martinez, who later became the Governor of New Mexico.[28]
In August 2013, County Clerk Lynn Ellins announced he would begin grantingmarriage licenses tosame-sex couples.[29] Several Republican state legislators vowed to file suit against Ellins in a bid to halt the licenses from being issued.[30] In the aftermath of the 2015Supreme Court caseObergefell v. Hodges, such controversies have not been raised.
School districts in the county include:[31]
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Municipalities and communities ofDoña Ana County, New Mexico,United States | ||
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32°18′44″N106°46′42″W / 32.31222°N 106.77833°W /32.31222; -106.77833
