Rio Arriba County, New Mexico | |
|---|---|
 Rio Arriba County Courthouse,Isaac Rapp, architect, 1916-17 | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNew Mexico | |
| Coordinates:36°31′N106°42′W / 36.51°N 106.7°W /36.51; -106.7 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Mexico |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Named after | location on the upperRio Grande (río arriba means "upriver" in Spanish) |
| Seat | Tierra Amarilla |
| Largest city | Española |
| Government | |
| • County Manager | Jeremy G. Maestas |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,896 sq mi (15,270 km2) |
| • Land | 5,861 sq mi (15,180 km2) |
| • Water | 35 sq mi (91 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 40,363 |
| • Density | 6.887/sq mi (2.659/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Rio Arriba County (Spanish:Condado de Río Arriba) is acounty in theU.S. state ofNew Mexico. As of the2020 census, the population was 40,363.[1] Itscounty seat isTierra Amarilla.[2] Its northern border is theColorado state line.
Rio Arriba County comprises theEspañola, New Mexico,micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in theAlbuquerque–Santa Fe–Los Alamos combined statistical area.
The county was one of nine originally created for theTerritory of New Mexico in 1852. Originally extending west to the California line, it included the site of present-day Las Vegas, Nevada.[3] Thecounty seat was initially sited atSan Pedro de Chamita, and shortly afterwards atLos Luceros. In 1860 the seat was moved toPlaza del Alcalde. Since 1880Tierra Amarilla has been the county seat.[4]
TheBattle of Embudo Pass took place in the southern part of the county during the Mexican–American War in January 1847.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,896 square miles (15,270 km2), of which 5,861 square miles (15,180 km2) are land and 35 square miles (91 km2) (0.6%) are water.[5] It is the fifth-largest county in New Mexico by area. The highest point in the county is thesummit of Truchas Peak at 13,102 feet (3,993 m).
The county acquired its present proportions after the creation ofSan Juan County and other adjustments.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 10,668 | — | |
| 1860 | 9,849 | −7.7% | |
| 1870 | 9,294 | −5.6% | |
| 1880 | 11,023 | 18.6% | |
| 1890 | 11,534 | 4.6% | |
| 1900 | 13,777 | 19.4% | |
| 1910 | 16,624 | 20.7% | |
| 1920 | 19,552 | 17.6% | |
| 1930 | 21,381 | 9.4% | |
| 1940 | 25,352 | 18.6% | |
| 1950 | 24,997 | −1.4% | |
| 1960 | 24,193 | −3.2% | |
| 1970 | 25,170 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 29,282 | 16.3% | |
| 1990 | 34,365 | 17.4% | |
| 2000 | 41,190 | 19.9% | |
| 2010 | 40,246 | −2.3% | |
| 2020 | 40,363 | 0.3% | |
| 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 40,363. The median age was 43.5 years, with 21.2% of residents under the age of 18 and 21.0% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and among those age 18 and over there were 95.6 males per 100 females.[11]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 5,619 | 5,148 | 5,945 | 13.64% | 12.79% | 14.73% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 85 | 103 | 160 | 0.21% | 0.26% | 0.40% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 5,002 | 5,651 | 6,135 | 12.14% | 14.04% | 15.20% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 47 | 138 | 233 | 0.11% | 0.34% | 0.58% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 25 | 7 | 5 | 0.06% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 43 | 209 | 184 | 0.10% | 0.52% | 0.46% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 344 | 287 | 542 | 0.84% | 0.71% | 1.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 30,025 | 28,703 | 27,159 | 72.89% | 71.32% | 67.29% |
| Total | 41,190 | 40,246 | 40,363 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The racial makeup of the county was 34.4% White, 0.5%Black or African American, 17.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 21.2% from some other race, and 26.1% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 67.3% of the population.[15]
43.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.4% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 16,122 households in the county, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 19,545 housing units, of which 17.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.9% were owner-occupied and 21.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.[11]
As of the2010 census, there were 40,246 people, 15,768 households, and 10,477 families living in the county.[17] The population density was 6.9 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km2). There were 19,638 housing units at an average density of 3.4 units per square mile (1.3 units/km2).[18] The racial makeup of the county was 51.6% white, 16.0% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 28.0% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 71.3% of the population.[17]
The largest ancestry groups were:[19]
Of the 15,768 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.0 years.[17]
The median income for a household in the county was $41,437 and the median income for a family was $47,840. Males had a median income of $39,757 versus $31,657 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,913. About 15.7% of families and 19.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.[20]
As of the2000 census,[21] there were 41,190 people, 15,044 households, and 10,816 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 18,016 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.62%White, 0.35%Black orAfrican American, 13.88%Native American, 0.14%Asian, 0.11%Pacific Islander, 25.62% fromother races, and 3.28% from two or more races. 72.89% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 15,044 households, out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% weremarried couples living together, 15.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,429, and the median income for a family was $32,901. Males had a median income of $26,897 versus $22,223 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,263. About 16.60% of families and 20.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.30% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.
From New Mexico's statehood to the early 1930s Rio Arriba was a traditional Republican county. The county became a Democratic stronghold from the 1930s onwards. The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the county wasDwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.[22] No Republican candidate for governor has won the county since at least 1966.[23]In the 2024 election, the county saw a Republican shift of over 7 percentage points. WhileDonald Trump still lost the county by almost 20 points, his performance was the best by a Republican since Nixon's landslide in 1972. In this election the Tierra Amarilla and Chama corridor flipped to a Republican majority. Española also saw a heavy Republican trend, as did all other major population centers in the county. Rio Arriba showed, along withMcKinley,Mora, andGuadalupe Counties, the strongest Republican shift in the state of New Mexico in 2024.[24]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,549 | 58.25% | 1,004 | 37.76% | 106 | 3.99% |
| 1916 | 1,992 | 56.57% | 1,528 | 43.40% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1920 | 3,986 | 65.97% | 2,056 | 34.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 3,707 | 56.24% | 2,734 | 41.48% | 150 | 2.28% |
| 1928 | 4,109 | 62.67% | 2,444 | 37.27% | 4 | 0.06% |
| 1932 | 2,880 | 35.00% | 5,337 | 64.86% | 12 | 0.15% |
| 1936 | 4,093 | 46.50% | 4,691 | 53.29% | 18 | 0.20% |
| 1940 | 4,289 | 46.38% | 4,952 | 53.55% | 6 | 0.06% |
| 1944 | 3,532 | 48.21% | 3,792 | 51.75% | 3 | 0.04% |
| 1948 | 4,273 | 47.25% | 4,753 | 52.56% | 17 | 0.19% |
| 1952 | 4,336 | 48.69% | 4,564 | 51.25% | 5 | 0.06% |
| 1956 | 4,566 | 51.53% | 4,291 | 48.43% | 3 | 0.03% |
| 1960 | 3,716 | 37.28% | 6,250 | 62.69% | 3 | 0.03% |
| 1964 | 2,906 | 29.78% | 6,787 | 69.56% | 64 | 0.66% |
| 1968 | 3,935 | 43.23% | 4,799 | 52.72% | 368 | 4.04% |
| 1972 | 4,351 | 42.68% | 5,642 | 55.34% | 202 | 1.98% |
| 1976 | 3,213 | 30.75% | 7,125 | 68.19% | 111 | 1.06% |
| 1980 | 3,794 | 35.82% | 6,245 | 58.97% | 552 | 5.21% |
| 1984 | 4,116 | 36.93% | 6,938 | 62.25% | 92 | 0.83% |
| 1988 | 3,024 | 28.46% | 7,503 | 70.61% | 99 | 0.93% |
| 1992 | 2,680 | 23.22% | 7,832 | 67.86% | 1,030 | 8.92% |
| 1996 | 2,551 | 22.57% | 7,965 | 70.46% | 789 | 6.98% |
| 2000 | 3,495 | 28.89% | 8,169 | 67.53% | 433 | 3.58% |
| 2004 | 5,149 | 34.33% | 9,753 | 65.02% | 97 | 0.65% |
| 2008 | 4,086 | 24.12% | 12,703 | 74.99% | 151 | 0.89% |
| 2012 | 3,397 | 22.14% | 11,465 | 74.72% | 481 | 3.13% |
| 2016 | 3,599 | 24.19% | 9,592 | 64.47% | 1,687 | 11.34% |
| 2020 | 5,408 | 32.52% | 10,990 | 66.09% | 230 | 1.38% |
| 2024 | 6,268 | 39.20% | 9,373 | 58.62% | 348 | 2.18% |
It is located inNew Mexico's 3rd congressional district, which has aCook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+7 and is represented by DemocratTeresa Leger Fernandez. In the New Mexico legislature it is represented by Representatives Christine Chandler (District 43), Susan Herrera (District 41), Derrick Lente (District 65), Joseph Sanchez (District 40), Senator Leo Jaramillo (District 5), and Benny Shendo Jr. (District 22).[26]
Current commissioners are:
| District | Name | Party | First elected | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Brandon M. Bustos | Democratic | 2023 | 2026 |
| District 2 | Alex M. Naranjo | Democratic | 2023 | 2026 |
| District 3 | Moises A. Morales Jr. | Democratic | 2024 | 2028 |
Rio Arriba County has six public school districts.[27]
Española Public Schools is the largest school district.[citation needed]
Additionally, there is aBureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated tribal elementary school,[28]Kha'p'o Community School, in Santa Clara Pueblo (the school's postal address states "Espanola").[29]
Kha'p'o Community School 625 Kee Street Espanola, NM 87532- While the address says "Espanola", the school is in Santa Clara Pueblo (see US Census Bureau map for 2020)
36°31′N106°42′W / 36.51°N 106.70°W /36.51; -106.70
Places adjacent to Rio Arriba County, New Mexico | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofRio Arriba County, New Mexico,United States | ||
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| Ghost towns and former settlements | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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