Taos County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,937. Its county seat is Taos. The county was formed in 1852 as one of the original nine counties in New Mexico Territory.
Taos County comprises the Taos, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.06%) is water.
The county's highest point is the summit of Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet (4,011 m). This is also the highest natural point in New Mexico. The county has the highest mean elevation of any U.S. county outside of Colorado at , even though it ranks only 22nd overall. Taos County contains 17 of New Mexico's highest 25 peaks.
Adjacent counties
Rio Arriba County - west
Mora County - southeast
Colfax County - east
Costilla County, Colorado - north
Conejos County, Colorado - northwest
National protected area
Carson National Forest (part)
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 29,979 people, 12,675 households, and 7,757 families living in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.2537/km2). There were 17,404 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.0500/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 63.77% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 6.59% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 24.84% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.94% of the population.
There were 12,675 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.70% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 32.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% 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 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 28.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,762, and the median income for a family was $33,995. Males had a median income of $27,310 versus $21,121 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,103. About 16.10% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 32,937 people, 14,806 households, and 8,437 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 20,265 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% white, 6.2% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 19.1% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 55.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 10.8% were English, 10.3% were German, 9.0% were Irish, and 1.2% were American.
Of the 14,806 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 43.0% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 45.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,441 and the median income for a family was $43,236. Males had a median income of $34,245 versus $28,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,145. About 14.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Towns
Red River
Taos (county seat)
Villages
Questa
Taos Ski Valley
Census-designated places
Arroyo Hondo
Arroyo Seco
Chamisal
Costilla
Peñasco
Picuris Pueblo
Ranchos de Taos
Rio Lucio
San Cristobal
Talpa
Taos Pueblo
Vadito
Other communities
Amalia
Cañoncito
Carson
Cerro
El Prado
El Rito
Las Trampas
Llano
Llano Quemado
No Agua
Ojo Caliente
Pilar
Tres Piedras
Valdez
Politics
Taos County is heavily Democratic. The last Republican candidate to win the county was Richard Nixon in his 1972 landslide, although his margin of victory was just over 2%.
In popular culture
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is featured in the 1994 crime-drama film Natural Born Killers, in the 2007 comedy Wild Hogs, and in the 2009 film Terminator: Salvation.
The 2007 film Garbage Warrior documents architect Mike Reynolds who builds Earthships in and around Taos County.
