Luna County, New Mexico | |
|---|---|
 Luna County Courthouse in Deming | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNew Mexico | |
| Coordinates:32°11′N107°45′W / 32.18°N 107.75°W /32.18; -107.75 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Mexico |
| Founded | March 16, 1901 |
| Named after | Solomon Luna |
| Seat | Deming |
| Largest city | Deming |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,965 sq mi (7,680 km2) |
| • Land | 2,965 sq mi (7,680 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km2) 0.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,427 |
| • Density | 8.576/sq mi (3.311/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | lunacountynm |
Luna County (Spanish:Condado de Luna) is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNew Mexico. As of the2020 census, the population was 25,427.[1] Itscounty seat isDeming.[2] This county abuts theMexican border. Luna County comprises the Deming, NMMicropolitan Statistical Area.
Luna County was formed from parts ofGrant County andDoña Ana County by theNew Mexico Legislature on March 16, 1901. It was named forSolomon Luna, a politician who advocated for independence of the county, following a strong rivalry between the cities ofDeming andSilver City, both of which were at the time in Grant County.[3]
Before dawn on March 16, 1916,Mexican revolutionaryPancho Villa led several hundred of hisrebel soldiers across the Mexican border into the village ofColumbus in the southern part of the county. The invaders raided and burned much of the town, causing many residents to flee to the desert. Although the raid took the town by surprise, it also awakened 350United States Army soldiers stationed at Camp Furlong at the edge of town. These soldiers defended Columbus with twomachine guns. The fighting continued until dawn, when Villa fled back across the Mexican border, five hours after the initial invasion and approximately ninety minutes after attacking the town. Despite theU.S. Army's subsequent "Mexican Expedition" into Mexico, Villa was never captured. The United States' involvement in World War I soon diverted attention away from the pursuit of Villa. He was assassinated seven years later. The raid resulted in the deaths of eighteen Columbus residents and U.S. soldiers, while approximately seventy-five of Villa's soldiers were killed.
In 1917 striking copper miners fromBisbee, Arizona wereforcibly deported to this county.
Construction of an improvedbarrier on the border with Mexico was expedited in 2019 withwaivers of environmental and other laws. The waivers are for 27 laws including protection ofendangered species,archaeological sites, andhistoric places.[4]
Today, Pancho Villa State Park is located in the village of Columbus. It featurescacti and the ruins of "the U.S. Army's first greaserack".
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,965 square miles (7,680 km2), virtually all of which is land.[5] The bulk of the county is flat lowland, either grassland or desert scrub, but it also contains three mountain ranges:Cooke's Range in the north, theFlorida Mountains on the southeastern side of Deming near the center of the county, and the Tres Hermanas Mountains in the southern part of the county near Columbus.
I-10
I-10 BL
US 70
US 180
NM 9
NM 11
NM 26
NM 27
NM 61
NM 141
NM 143
NM 148
NM 198
NM 331
NM 332
NM 377
NM 394
NM 418
NM 495
NM 497
NM 517
NM 549| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 3,913 | — | |
| 1920 | 12,270 | 213.6% | |
| 1930 | 6,247 | −49.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,457 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 8,753 | 35.6% | |
| 1960 | 9,839 | 12.4% | |
| 1970 | 11,706 | 19.0% | |
| 1980 | 15,585 | 33.1% | |
| 1990 | 18,110 | 16.2% | |
| 2000 | 25,016 | 38.1% | |
| 2010 | 25,095 | 0.3% | |
| 2020 | 25,427 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010[10] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 25,427. The median age was 39.8 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males age 18 and over.[11]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 9,921 | 8,997 | 7,671 | 39.66% | 35.85% | 30.17% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 183 | 189 | 228 | 0.73% | 0.75% | 0.90% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 156 | 144 | 143 | 0.62% | 0.57% | 0.56% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 78 | 112 | 160 | 0.31% | 0.45% | 0.63% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 2 | 12 | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 29 | 33 | 50 | 0.12% | 0.13% | 0.20% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 213 | 195 | 493 | 0.85% | 0.78% | 1.94% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14,435 | 15,423 | 16,670 | 57.70% | 61.46% | 65.56% |
| Total | 25,016 | 25,095 | 25,427 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The racial makeup of the county was 50.3% White, 1.2%Black or African American, 1.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race, and 24.9% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 65.6% of the population.[15]
58.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.3% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 9,822 households in the county, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 11,508 housing units, of which 14.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.5% were owner-occupied and 32.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.[11]
As of the2010 census, there were 25,095 people, 9,593 households, and 6,484 families living in the county.[17] The population density was 8.5 inhabitants per square mile (3.3/km2). There were 10,999 housing units at an average density of 3.7 units per square mile (1.4 units/km2).[18] The racial makeup of the county was 77.7% white, 1.3% American Indian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 16.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 61.5% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 9.7% wereGerman, 7.4% wereEnglish, 7.3% wereIrish, and 2.4% wereAmerican.[19]
Of the 9,593 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 39.5 years.[17]
The median income for a household in the county was $27,997 and the median income for a family was $33,312. Males had a median income of $31,905 versus $19,865 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,687. About 26.2% of families and 32.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 50.2% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.[20]
As of the2000 census,[21] there were 25,016 people, 9,397 households, and 6,596 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 11,291 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.30%White, 0.94%Black orAfrican American, 1.11%Native American, 0.34%Asian, 20.23% fromother races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 57.70% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 9,397 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% weremarried couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $20,784, and the median income for a family was $24,252. Males had a median income of $25,008 versus $16,883 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $11,218. About 27.20% of families and 32.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 46.80% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.
Residents in all parts of the county are zoned toDeming Public Schools.[22]
Luna County is a Republican-leaning county in presidential elections. However, it has voted for Democrats 3 times since 1964.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 81 | 9.89% | 461 | 56.29% | 277 | 33.82% |
| 1916 | 418 | 33.10% | 796 | 63.02% | 49 | 3.88% |
| 1920 | 834 | 44.65% | 1,000 | 53.53% | 34 | 1.82% |
| 1924 | 709 | 43.28% | 596 | 36.39% | 333 | 20.33% |
| 1928 | 860 | 56.80% | 647 | 42.73% | 7 | 0.46% |
| 1932 | 641 | 28.04% | 1,605 | 70.21% | 40 | 1.75% |
| 1936 | 806 | 34.05% | 1,500 | 63.37% | 61 | 2.58% |
| 1940 | 1,066 | 43.33% | 1,388 | 56.42% | 6 | 0.24% |
| 1944 | 1,074 | 43.68% | 1,383 | 56.24% | 2 | 0.08% |
| 1948 | 941 | 36.42% | 1,629 | 63.04% | 14 | 0.54% |
| 1952 | 1,729 | 55.86% | 1,332 | 43.04% | 34 | 1.10% |
| 1956 | 1,526 | 49.76% | 1,506 | 49.10% | 35 | 1.14% |
| 1960 | 1,583 | 47.88% | 1,708 | 51.66% | 15 | 0.45% |
| 1964 | 1,665 | 41.95% | 2,286 | 57.60% | 18 | 0.45% |
| 1968 | 1,952 | 50.10% | 1,438 | 36.91% | 506 | 12.99% |
| 1972 | 2,958 | 63.25% | 1,560 | 33.35% | 159 | 3.40% |
| 1976 | 2,966 | 50.25% | 2,872 | 48.65% | 65 | 1.10% |
| 1980 | 3,636 | 57.30% | 2,443 | 38.50% | 267 | 4.21% |
| 1984 | 4,145 | 61.17% | 2,557 | 37.74% | 74 | 1.09% |
| 1988 | 3,415 | 51.46% | 3,066 | 46.20% | 155 | 2.34% |
| 1992 | 2,166 | 34.53% | 2,637 | 42.04% | 1,469 | 23.42% |
| 1996 | 2,616 | 41.35% | 3,001 | 47.44% | 709 | 11.21% |
| 2000 | 3,395 | 51.35% | 2,975 | 44.99% | 242 | 3.66% |
| 2004 | 4,164 | 54.84% | 3,340 | 43.99% | 89 | 1.17% |
| 2008 | 3,870 | 46.40% | 4,311 | 51.69% | 159 | 1.91% |
| 2012 | 3,670 | 48.93% | 3,583 | 47.77% | 247 | 3.29% |
| 2016 | 3,478 | 47.68% | 3,195 | 43.80% | 622 | 8.53% |
| 2020 | 4,408 | 54.40% | 3,563 | 43.97% | 132 | 1.63% |
| 2024 | 4,698 | 58.32% | 3,176 | 39.42% | 182 | 2.26% |
Places adjacent to Luna County, New Mexico | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofLuna County, New Mexico,United States | ||
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