Chaves County, New Mexico

Chaves County
County
Chaves County Courthouse in Roswell
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°22′N104°28′W / 33.36°N 104.47°W / 33.36; -104.47
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	February 25, 1889
Named for	José Francisco Chaves
Seat	Roswell
Largest city	Roswell
Area
• Total	6,075 sq mi (15,730 km2)
• Land	6,065 sq mi (15,710 km2)
• Water	9.8 sq mi (25 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	65,157
• Density	11/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 2nd, 3rd
Website	co.chaves.nm.us

Chaves County is a county in New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,157. ^[1] Its county seat is Roswell. ^[2] Chaves County was named for Colonel Jose Francisco Chaves, a military leader there during the Civil War and later in Navajo campaigns. The county was created by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature on February 25, 1889, out of land from Lincoln County.

Chaves County comprises the Roswell, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,075 square miles (15,730 km²), of which 6,065 square miles (15,710 km²) is land and 9.8 square miles (25 km²) (0.2%) is water. ^[3] It is the fourth-largest county in New Mexico by area.

Adjacent counties

• De Baca County - north
• Roosevelt County - northeast
• Lea County - east
• Eddy County - south
• Otero County - southwest
• Lincoln County - west

National protected areas

• Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Lincoln National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	16,850		—
1920	12,075		−28.3%
1930	19,549		61.9%
1940	23,980		22.7%
1950	40,605		69.3%
1960	57,649		42.0%
1970	43,335		−24.8%
1980	51,103		17.9%
1990	57,849		13.2%
2000	61,382		6.1%
2010	65,645		6.9%
2020	65,157		−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [4] 1790-1960 [5] 1900-1990 [6] 1990-2000 [7] 2010 [8]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[9] there were 61,382 people, 22,561 households, and 16,085 families living in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km²). There were 25,647 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.95% White, 1.97% Black or African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 21.25% from other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. 43.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,561 households, out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,513, and the median income for a family was $32,532. Males had a median income of $26,896 versus $21,205 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,990. About 17.60% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.10% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 65,645 people, 23,691 households, and 16,646 families living in the county. ^[10] The population density was 10.8 inhabitants per square mile (4.2 inhabitants/km²). There were 26,697 housing units at an average density of 4.4 units per square mile (1.7 units/km²). ^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 70.9% white, 2.0% black or African American, 1.2% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 21.9% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 52.0% of the population. ^[10] In terms of ancestry, 10.1% were German, 9.3% were Irish, 8.5% were English, and 4.6% were American. ^[12]

Of the 23,691 households, 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.7% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.22. The median age was 34.7 years. ^[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,524 and the median income for a family was $43,464. Males had a median income of $37,573 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,504. About 15.9% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Politics

Chaves County is a Republican stronghold. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Chaves County since Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory of 1964. Even in that election, Johnson took Chaves County by only 1.3 percent. ^[14]

United States presidential election results for Chaves County, New Mexico ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	15,656	69.76%	6,381	28.43%	406	1.81%
2016	12,872	63.50%	5,534	27.30%	1,865	9.20%
2012	13,088	64.50%	6,604	32.54%	600	2.96%
2008	13,651	61.74%	8,197	37.07%	264	1.19%
2004	14,773	68.06%	6,726	30.99%	206	0.95%
2000	11,378	62.69%	6,340	34.93%	431	2.37%
1996	9,991	53.95%	7,014	37.87%	1,514	8.18%
1992	8,872	46.95%	6,360	33.65%	3,666	19.40%
1988	13,367	65.84%	6,730	33.15%	206	1.01%
1984	15,248	73.37%	5,332	25.66%	202	0.97%
1980	12,502	67.24%	5,350	28.77%	742	3.99%
1976	10,631	59.26%	7,139	39.79%	170	0.95%
1972	11,493	70.87%	4,296	26.49%	427	2.63%
1968	8,866	63.61%	3,612	25.91%	1,460	10.47%
1964	8,419	49.20%	8,650	50.55%	43	0.25%
1960	9,089	59.05%	6,212	40.36%	91	0.59%
1956	7,538	63.37%	4,270	35.89%	88	0.74%
1952	7,018	63.92%	3,880	35.34%	81	0.74%
1948	3,123	40.43%	4,569	59.15%	33	0.43%
1944	3,149	48.33%	3,350	51.41%	17	0.26%
1940	2,981	40.84%	4,304	58.97%	14	0.19%
1936	2,505	35.70%	4,394	62.62%	118	1.68%
1932	1,830	28.95%	4,257	67.34%	235	3.72%
1928	3,124	69.48%	1,364	30.34%	8	0.18%
1924	1,519	39.40%	2,168	56.24%	168	4.36%
1920	1,765	45.54%	2,080	53.66%	31	0.80%
1916	862	25.90%	2,275	68.36%	191	5.74%
1912	465	18.24%	1,339	52.53%	745	29.23%

Communities

City

• Roswell (county seat)

Towns

• Dexter
• Hagerman
• Lake Arthur

Census-designated place

• Midway

Unincorporated communities

• Dunken
• Elk
• Elkins
• Greenfield
• Mesa

Education

School districts include: ^[16]

• Artesia Public Schools
• Dexter Consolidated Schools
• Elida Municipal Schools
• Hagerman Municipal Schools
• Lake Arthur Municipal Schools
• Roswell Independent Schools
• Tatum Municipal Schools

Notable people

• Jacqueline Wonsetler (1918–1974), American meteorologist

See also

• New Mexico portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Chaves County, New Mexico

References

1. "Chaves County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 1, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
7. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
8. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
12. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
13. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chaves County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. - Text list

External links

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33°22′N104°28′W / 33.36°N 104.47°W / 33.36; -104.47