Santa Fe County, New Mexico

Santa Fe County (; meaning "County of the Holy faith" in Spanish) is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, its population was 154,823, making it New Mexico's third-most populous county, after Bernalillo County and Doña Ana County. Its county seat is Santa Fe, the state capital.

Santa Fe County includes the Santa Fe metropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Las Vegas combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which (0.08%) is covered by water. It is the fifth-smallest county in New Mexico by area. The highest point in the county is the summit of Santa Fe Baldy at . It is drained by the Rio Grande and several of its small tributaries.

Adjacent counties

* Rio Arriba County - north
* Mora County - northeast
* San Miguel County - east
* Torrance County - south
* Bernalillo County - southwest
* Sandoval County - west
* Los Alamos County - northwest

National protected areas

* El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail (part)
* Pecos National Historical Park (part)
* Santa Fe National Forest (part)

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 129,292 people, 52,482 households, and 32,801 families resided in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26/km²). The 57,701 housing units had an average density of 30/sq mi (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.52% White, 0.64% Black or African American, 3.08% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 17.74% from other races, and 4.07% from two or more races. About 49.04% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 52,482 households, 30.4% had children under 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were not families. Aboout 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.1% under 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,207, and for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $33,287 versus $27,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,594. About 9.4% of families and 12% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under 18 and 9.7% of those 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 144,170 people, 61,963 households, and 36,183 families were residing in the county. The population density was . There were 71,267 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 67.2% White, 3.1% American Indian, 1.2% Asian, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 15.1% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 50.6% of the population.

The largest ancestry groups were:

* 22.4% Mexican
* 11.2% German
* 11.1% Spanish
* 10.0% English
* 8.4% Irish
* 3.6% French
* 3.2% Italian
* 2.5% Scottish
* 2.3% American
* 2.1% Scotch-Irish
* 1.8% Polish
* 1.3% Swedish
* 1.3% Russian
* 1.2% Dutch
* 1.1% Norwegian

Of the 61,963 households, 26.9% had children under 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.6% were not families, and 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 43.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,696 and for a family was $64,041. Males had a median income of $41,703 versus $39,215 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,188. About 10.0% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county is governed by a five-member county commission, whose members are elected from single-member districts
see map
. Elections are partisan and all five seats are currently held by Democrats. County commissioners serve four-year terms, with term limits preventing them from serving more than two full terms.

Current commissioners are:

As well, five elected officials take on the roles of assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff, and treasurer:

The New Mexico Corrections Department and the Penitentiary of New Mexico are located in an unincorporated area in the county.

Santa Fe County is a Democratic Party stronghold, rivaling Taos County as the most Democratic county in New Mexico. The last Republican to carry the county in a presidential election was Richard Nixon in 1972, although Ronald Reagan nearly carried it in 1980. In 1984, Democrat Walter Mondale won Santa Fe County by a solid margin over the incumbent president Reagan. Since 1988, Democrats Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris all carried Santa Fe County by significant margins.

Education

Currently, four school districts serve Santa Fe County:
* Española Public Schools
* Moriarty Municipal Schools
* Pojoaque Valley Public Schools
* Santa Fe Public Schools

State-operated school:
* New Mexico School for the Deaf

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated schools:
* Santa Fe Indian School (tribal)
* San Ildefonso Day School (BIE-operated) - San Ildefonso Pueblo
* Te Tsu Geh Oweenge Day School a.k.a. Tesuque Day School (tribal) - Tesuque Pueblo)

Communities

Cities

* Española
* Santa Fe (county seat)

Town

* Edgewood

Census-designated places

* Agua Fria
* Arroyo Hondo
* Barton (part)
* Cañada de los Alamos
* Cañoncito
* Cedar Grove
* Chimayo (part)
* Chupadero
* Conejo
* Cuartelez
* Cundiyo
* Cuyamungue
* Cuyamungue Grant
* El Rancho
* El Valle de Arroyo Seco
* Eldorado at Santa Fe
* Encantado
* Galisteo
* Glorieta
* Golden
* Hyde Park
* Jacona
* Jaconita
* La Bajada
* La Cienega
* La Cueva
* La Puebla
* La Tierra
* Lamy
* Las Campanas
* Los Cerrillos
* Madrid
* Nambe
* Peak Place
* Pojoaque
* Rio Chiquito (part)
* Rio en Medio
* San Ildefonso Pueblo
* San Pedro
* Santa Cruz
* Santa Fe Foothills
* Seton Village
* Sombrillo
* Stanley
* Sunlit Hills
* Tano Road
* Tesuque
* Tesuque Pueblo
* Thunder Mountain
* Tres Arroyos
* Valencia
* Valle Vista

Other unincorporated communities

* Totavi
* Waldo

See also

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Fe County, New Mexico

References

External links

Santa Fe County Website

Santa Fe County Tourism Website
*

{{Coord, 35.51, -105.98, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-NM_source:UScensus1990

1852 establishments in New Mexico Territory
Populated places established in 1852
Hispanic and Latino American culture in New Mexico