Luna County, New Mexico

Luna County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,095.[1] Its county seat is Deming.[2] This county abuts the Mexican border. Luna County comprises the Deming, NM Micropolitan Statistical Area.

This article is about Luna County. For the community, see Luna, New Mexico.

Luna County
U.S. county
Luna County Courthouse in Deming
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°11′N 107°45′W
Country United States
State New Mexico
FoundedMarch 16, 1901
SeatDeming
Largest cityDeming
Area
 • Total2,965 sq mi (7,680 km2)
 • Land2,965 sq mi (7,680 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.0%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
23,709
 • Density8.5/sq mi (3.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitelunacountynm.us

History

Before dawn on March 16, 1916, Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa led several hundred of his rebel soldiers across the Mexican border into the southern county village of Columbus. The invaders raided and burned much of the town, causing many residents to flee to the desert. Although the raid completely surprised everyone in the town, it also awakened 350 United States Army soldiers at Camp Furlong at the edge of town, who defended the town with two machine guns. The fighting continued until dawn, when Villa fled back across the Mexican border, five hours after invading and approximately ninety minutes after attacking the town. Despite the U.S. Army's counter "Mexican Expedition" into Mexico, Villa was never caught; United States forces began engagement into The Great War and was unable to commit to Pancho Villas capture; he died seven years later at the hands of an assassin. Eighteen Columbus residents and U.S. soldiers were killed in the raid, while approximately seventy-five of Villa's soldiers were killed.

In 1917 striking copper miners from Bisbee, Arizona were deported to this county.

Construction of an improved barrier on the border with Mexico was expedited in 2019 with waivers of environmental and other laws. The waivers are for 27 laws including protection of endangered species, archaeological sites, and historic places.[3]

Today, Pancho Villa State Park is located in the village of Columbus. It features beautiful cacti and the ruins of "the U.S. Army's first greaserack".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,965 square miles (7,680 km2), virtually all of which is land.[4] 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, the Florida 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.

Adjacent counties and municipality

Major Highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19103,913—
192012,270213.6%
19306,247−49.1%
19406,4573.4%
19508,75335.6%
19609,83912.4%
197011,70619.0%
198015,58533.1%
199018,11016.2%
200025,01638.1%
201025,0950.3%
2019 (est.)23,709[5]−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2016[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 25,016 people, 9,397 households, and 6,596 families living in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 11,291 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.30% White, 0.94% Black or African American, 1.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 20.23% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 57.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $11,218. About 27.20% of families and 32.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.80% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 25,095 people, 9,593 households, and 6,484 families living in the county.[11] 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 per square mile (1.4/km2).[12] 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.[11] In terms of ancestry, 9.7% were German, 7.4% were English, 7.3% were Irish, and 2.4% were American.[13]

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.[11]

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 the poverty line, including 50.2% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Education

Residents are zoned to Deming Public Schools.

Communities

City

Village

Census-designated places

Ghost towns

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 54.4% 4,408 44.0% 3,563 1.6% 132
2016 47.7% 3,478 43.8% 3,195 8.5% 622
2012 48.9% 3,670 47.8% 3,583 3.3% 247
2008 46.4% 3,870 51.7% 4,311 1.9% 159
2004 54.8% 4,164 44.0% 3,340 1.2% 89
2000 51.4% 3,395 45.0% 2,975 3.7% 242
1996 41.4% 2,616 47.4% 3,001 11.2% 709
1992 34.5% 2,166 42.0% 2,637 23.4% 1,469
1988 51.5% 3,415 46.2% 3,066 2.3% 155
1984 58.3% 4,145 40.6% 2,887 1.1% 74
1980 57.3% 3,636 38.5% 2,443 4.2% 267
1976 50.3% 2,966 48.7% 2,872 1.1% 65
1972 63.3% 2,958 33.4% 1,560 3.4% 159
1968 50.1% 1,952 36.9% 1,438 13.0% 506
1964 42.0% 1,665 57.6% 2,286 0.5% 18
1960 47.9% 1,583 51.7% 1,708 0.5% 15
1956 49.8% 1,526 49.1% 1,506 1.1% 35
1952 55.9% 1,729 43.0% 1,332 1.1% 34
1948 36.4% 941 63.0% 1,629 0.5% 14
1944 43.7% 1,074 56.2% 1,383 0.1% 2
1940 43.3% 1,066 56.4% 1,388 0.2% 6
1936 34.1% 806 63.4% 1,500 2.6% 61
1932 28.0% 641 70.2% 1,605 1.8% 40
1928 56.8% 860 42.7% 647 0.5% 7
1924 43.3% 709 36.4% 596 20.3% 333
1920 44.7% 834 53.5% 1,000 1.8% 34
1916 33.1% 418 63.0% 796 3.9% 49
1912 9.9% 81 56.3% 461 33.8% 277

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Kocherga, Angela (April 28, 2019). "Homeland Security expedites border wall project". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. "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.
  12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  13. "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.
  14. "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.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.

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