Lincoln County, New Mexico | |
|---|---|
 Old Lincoln County courthouse in Lincoln | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNew Mexico | |
 New Mexico's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:33°44′N105°28′W / 33.74°N 105.46°W /33.74; -105.46 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Mexico |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Named after | Abraham Lincoln[1] |
| Seat | Carrizozo |
| Largest village | Ruidoso |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,831 sq mi (12,510 km2) |
| • Land | 4,831 sq mi (12,510 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km2) 0.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 20,269 |
| • Density | 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Lincoln County is acounty in theU.S. state ofNew Mexico. As of the2020 census, the population was 20,269.[2] Itscounty seat isCarrizozo,[3] while its largest community isRuidoso.
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Prior to the creation of Lincoln County, theMescalero Apache occupied this region. They were confined to a reservation nearFort Stanton in 1873 and to their present reservation, only partly in Lincoln County, in 1883. Much of the commerce of late-19th century Lincoln County consisted of government contracts to provide food and other commodities to the Mescalero and to the soldiers at Fort Stanton. Hispanics from northern New Mexico began moving into the region in the 1850s.[4]
Lincoln County was named in honor of PresidentAbraham Lincoln. The country was created in 1869 whenSoccoro County was divided into two with Lincoln county in the east. At the time, it was the largest county in area in the United States. The country boundaries were often modified and reduced until 1909 when the present-day boundaries were established.[5][6]
In the late 1870s, theLincoln County War began betweenranchers and the owners of the county's largest general store. William Bonney, better known asBilly the Kid, became involved on the side of the ranchers after his friend and employer was killed. In the end, Bonney killed the county sheriff, a deputy, and the deputy that killed his friend. Several other people were slain in the conflict, which included the other leader of the rancher faction. His death ended the conflict. In 1878, the new territorial governor, retired Union GeneralLew Wallace, offered amnesty to the combatants to bring a long-lasting truce between the factions.
Most of the population is in the Greater Ruidoso Area. The town of Carrizozo serves as the county seat and is in the Tularosa Basin northwest of Ruidoso. Ruidoso boasts several small suburbs and neighbor communities includingRuidoso Downs,Hollywood,Mescalero, andAlto which contribute to the RuidosoMicropolitan Statistical Area's population of 21,224. Ruidoso serves as the second largest city in south central New Mexico behindAlamogordo which is 46 miles southwest of the village. Ruidoso Downs on the southern end of the county and southeast of Ruidoso operates the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino. The track hosts boththoroughbred andquarter horse racing, notably theAll American Futurity, the richest in quarter horse racing. Historical figures from Lincoln County includeBilly the Kid andSmokey Bear, whose names help drive the tourism trade that is heavily popularized within the county.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,831 square miles (12,510 km2), virtually all of which is land.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1,803 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,513 | 39.4% | |
| 1890 | 7,081 | 181.8% | |
| 1900 | 4,958 | −30.0% | |
| 1910 | 7,822 | 57.8% | |
| 1920 | 7,823 | 0.0% | |
| 1930 | 7,198 | −8.0% | |
| 1940 | 8,557 | 18.9% | |
| 1950 | 7,409 | −13.4% | |
| 1960 | 7,744 | 4.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,560 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 10,997 | 45.5% | |
| 1990 | 12,219 | 11.1% | |
| 2000 | 19,411 | 58.9% | |
| 2010 | 20,497 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 20,269 | −1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010[12] | |||
As of the2000 census,[13] there were 19,411 people, 8,202 households, and 5,634 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 15,298 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.60%White, 0.35%Black orAfrican American, 1.95%Native American, 0.27%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 11.28% fromother races, and 2.48% from two or more races. 25.63% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 8,202 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% weremarried couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% 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 2.80.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 30.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,886, and the median income for a family was $40,035. Males had a median income of $27,323 versus $19,923 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,338. About 10.80% of families and 14.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 census, there were 20,497 people, 9,219 households, and 5,859 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 4.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km2). There were 17,519 housing units at an average density of 3.6 units per square mile (1.4 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 85.1% white, 2.4% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 9.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 29.8% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 17.0% wereIrish, 15.6% wereGerman, 12.3% wereEnglish, and 4.8% wereAmerican.[16]
Of the 9,219 households, 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.4% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 49.4 years.[14]
The median income for a household in the county was $43,750 and the median income for a family was $53,871. Males had a median income of $34,306 versus $29,836 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,290. About 8.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[17]
Lincoln County is overwhelmingly Republican, voting Democratic in just three elections since New Mexico's founding (1912, 1932, 1936). It was one of only three counties in the state to supportBarry Goldwater of neighboringArizona in 1964, which is also the last time a Democrat managed even 40 percent of the county's vote.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 452 | 40.11% | 461 | 40.91% | 214 | 18.99% |
| 1916 | 889 | 49.50% | 863 | 48.05% | 44 | 2.45% |
| 1920 | 1,456 | 57.32% | 1,047 | 41.22% | 37 | 1.46% |
| 1924 | 1,087 | 49.05% | 837 | 37.77% | 292 | 13.18% |
| 1928 | 1,489 | 64.32% | 821 | 35.46% | 5 | 0.22% |
| 1932 | 1,172 | 34.29% | 2,225 | 65.10% | 21 | 0.61% |
| 1936 | 1,579 | 43.37% | 2,021 | 55.51% | 41 | 1.13% |
| 1940 | 1,794 | 50.25% | 1,763 | 49.38% | 13 | 0.36% |
| 1944 | 1,455 | 51.95% | 1,342 | 47.91% | 4 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 1,575 | 52.41% | 1,406 | 46.79% | 24 | 0.80% |
| 1952 | 2,004 | 64.52% | 1,095 | 35.25% | 7 | 0.23% |
| 1956 | 1,956 | 64.77% | 1,059 | 35.07% | 5 | 0.17% |
| 1960 | 2,042 | 58.29% | 1,459 | 41.65% | 2 | 0.06% |
| 1964 | 1,761 | 52.55% | 1,565 | 46.70% | 25 | 0.75% |
| 1968 | 2,004 | 64.52% | 802 | 25.82% | 300 | 9.66% |
| 1972 | 2,528 | 77.07% | 696 | 21.22% | 56 | 1.71% |
| 1976 | 2,320 | 61.64% | 1,415 | 37.59% | 29 | 0.77% |
| 1980 | 3,009 | 68.79% | 1,127 | 25.77% | 238 | 5.44% |
| 1984 | 3,992 | 77.04% | 1,134 | 21.88% | 56 | 1.08% |
| 1988 | 3,511 | 66.40% | 1,690 | 31.96% | 87 | 1.65% |
| 1992 | 2,669 | 45.57% | 1,730 | 29.54% | 1,458 | 24.89% |
| 1996 | 3,396 | 52.97% | 2,209 | 34.46% | 806 | 12.57% |
| 2000 | 4,458 | 65.83% | 2,027 | 29.93% | 287 | 4.24% |
| 2004 | 6,070 | 67.34% | 2,822 | 31.31% | 122 | 1.35% |
| 2008 | 6,001 | 61.89% | 3,535 | 36.46% | 160 | 1.65% |
| 2012 | 5,961 | 64.50% | 2,942 | 31.83% | 339 | 3.67% |
| 2016 | 5,896 | 66.23% | 2,331 | 26.19% | 675 | 7.58% |
| 2020 | 6,942 | 67.36% | 3,194 | 30.99% | 170 | 1.65% |
| 2024 | 6,942 | 68.29% | 3,033 | 29.84% | 190 | 1.87% |
School districts include:[20]
Places adjacent to Lincoln County, New Mexico | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofLincoln County, New Mexico,United States | ||
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