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Colfax County, New Mexico

Coordinates: 36°37′N 104°38′W / 36.61°N 104.64°W / 36.61; -104.64
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Colfax County
County
Colfax County
Colfax County Courthouse in Raton
Colfax County Courthouse in Raton
Flag of Colfax County
Flag
Map of New Mexico highlighting Colfax County
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
Map of the United States highlighting New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°37′N 104°38′W / 36.61°N 104.64°W / 36.61; -104.64
Country United States
State New Mexico
FoundedJanuary 25, 1869
Named forSchuyler Colfax
SeatRaton
Largest cityRaton
Area
 • Total3,768 sq mi (9,760 km2)
 • Land3,758 sq mi (9,730 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  0.3%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
11,941
 • Density3.7/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.colfax.nm.us
Veterans Monument at Colfax County Courthouse in Raton
Former Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad car displayed at Raton

Colfax County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,750.[1] Its county seat is Raton.[2] It is south from the Colorado state line. This county was named for Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885), seventeenth Vice President of the United States under U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.

Colfax County is the home of Philmont Scout Ranch and the NRA Whittington Center.[3]

History

Colfax County was originally part of Taos County, one of the original nine counties created by the New Mexico Territory in 1852. In 1859, the eastern part of Taos County, including all of the territory of Colfax County, was split off to form Mora County. Colfax County was established on January 25, 1869 from the northern part of Mora County. The original county seat was the gold mining town of Elizabethtown.[4]: 37–38 

By 1872, when the gold rush in Elizabethtown had died down, the county seat was moved to Cimarron. Cimarron was on the stage coach route along the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail, and was the headquarters of the Maxwell Land Grant. The Colfax County Courthouse in Cimarron is a contributing structure in the Cimarron Historic District, and is still in use as a Masonic lodge.

In 1881, the county seat moved from Cimarron to Springer, on the former Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, since 1996 part of the Burlington Northern Railroad. The Colfax County Courthouse in Springer was the site of one of the last important shoot-outs in the Colfax County War.[4]: 122–124  This former courthouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places is now a museum devoted to the Santa Fe Trail.

The eastern portions of Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel counties were severed to form Union County in 1893.

After a referendum and a bitter legislative fight, the county seat moved from Springer to Raton in 1897.[5]: 23–24  Raton was an important coal-mining town, and was also a railroad center. The citizens of Raton raised $8000 to pay one third of the costs of a new courthouse. That courthouse was replaced in 1932 by the current Colfax County Courthouse (Raton, New Mexico), an art-deco WPA structure that also is on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,768 square miles (9,759 km2), of which 3,758 square miles (9,733 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (0.3%) is water.[7]

A large portion of the County lies in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Geography ranges from prairies, to pinon forests, to alpine meadows.

The County contains numerous state parks, ski resorts, national forests, scenic vistas, and outdoor recreational activities.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191016,460—
192021,55030.9%
193019,157−11.1%
194018,718−2.3%
195016,761−10.5%
196013,806−17.6%
197012,170−11.8%
198013,66712.3%
199012,925−5.4%
200014,1899.8%
201013,750−3.1%
2019 (est.)11,941[8]−13.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2016[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 14,189 people, 5,821 households, and 3,975 families living in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 8,959 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.50% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 12.80% from other races, and 3.59% from two or more races. 47.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,821 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.80% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,744, and the median income for a family was $36,827. Males had a median income of $26,736 versus $19,644 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,418. About 12.00% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 13,750 people, 6,011 households, and 3,749 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 3.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.4/km2). There were 10,023 housing units at an average density of 2.7 per square mile (1.0/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 83.8% white, 1.5% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 10.3% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 47.2% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 14.1% were German, 9.7% were Irish, 9.3% were English, 6.1% were Italian, and 3.7% were American.[16]

Of the 6,011 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.6% were non-families, and 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 46.7 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,216 and the median income for a family was $48,450. Males had a median income of $35,849 versus $23,977 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,047. About 11.8% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Communities

City

Town

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 48.5% 2,585 39.9% 2,129 11.6% 618
2012 46.8% 2,699 49.1% 2,828 4.1% 237
2008 43.9% 2,805 54.7% 3,490 1.4% 89
2004 51.6% 3,082 47.3% 2,824 1.0% 62
2000 47.6% 2,600 48.6% 2,653 3.8% 208
1996 38.2% 1,975 51.5% 2,659 10.3% 532
1992 33.1% 1,730 49.9% 2,607 17.0% 891
1988 44.4% 2,256 54.8% 2,785 0.9% 44
1984 54.6% 2,994 44.4% 2,435 1.0% 56
1980 49.9% 2,537 44.6% 2,266 5.6% 283
1976 45.1% 2,259 54.3% 2,718 0.6% 29
1972 57.9% 2,663 40.3% 1,855 1.8% 83
1968 44.4% 2,212 49.7% 2,477 5.9% 294
1964 32.5% 1,636 67.0% 3,367 0.5% 26
1960 41.9% 2,316 57.7% 3,187 0.5% 25
1956 54.7% 2,959 45.3% 2,450
1952 51.6% 3,397 48.3% 3,184 0.1% 5
1948 39.7% 2,575 59.7% 3,871 0.5% 34
1944 46.8% 2,661 53.1% 3,017 0.1% 7
1940 44.9% 3,452 55.1% 4,234 0.1% 4
1936 36.8% 2,745 62.6% 4,661 0.6% 45
1932 42.6% 3,214 56.7% 4,282 0.7% 51
1928 56.3% 3,904 43.6% 3,022 0.1% 10
1924 48.1% 3,512 42.0% 3,067 10.0% 728
1920 54.9% 3,351 44.4% 2,709 0.8% 47
1916 47.3% 1,835 51.7% 2,006 1.0% 39
1912 36.2% 1,036 41.3% 1,182 22.4% 641

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "NRA Whittington Center". Raton, New Mexico. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Pike, David (2004). Roadside New Mexico: a guide to historic markers. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. pp. 434 p. ISBN 0-8263-3118-1.
  5. ^ Conway, Jay T. (1930). A brief community history of Raton, New Mexico. Raton: Gazette Print. pp. 17 p.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  8. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ a b c "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.
  15. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
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