Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico

Ruidoso Downs is a city in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located within the Lincoln National Forest. As of the 2020 census, Ruidoso Downs had a population of 2,620. Originally incorporated as a village, it became a city in May 2002. Known locally as "the Downs", Ruidoso Downs is a suburb of adjacent Ruidoso and is a part of the Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city, located along U.S. Route 70, is named after the Ruidoso Downs Race Track, which is located in the city along with the Billy the Kid Casino.

History

According to a local Ruidoso Downs historian, early on Hispanos settlers called the area "San Juanito". The settlers began arriving in the early in the late 1840s, and introduced rodeo and horse racing to the area. Originally the area had scattered farms and ranches, with the Dowlin Mill constructed in 1868. A new wave of families arrived after the Lincoln County War.

By around 1907 the road between Roswell and Alamogordo, which passed through the area, was still primitive, though it was improved in the 1920s through the Federal Aid Project. The city is in the valley of the Rio Ruidoso, which rises to the west on Sierra Blanca Peak and flows east to form the Rio Hondo.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Ruidoso Downs had a population of 2,620. The median age was 36.4 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

84.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 15.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,030 households in Ruidoso Downs, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.8% were married-couple households, 20.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2000, there were 1,824 people, 680 households, and 490 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 921 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 67.32% White, 0.77% African American, 3.56% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 24.45% from other races, and 2.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.70% of the population.

There were 680 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $30,500. Males had a median income of $22,000 versus $17,623 for females. The per capita income for the village was $12,144. About 17.4% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Ruidoso Downs' economy is primarily driven by tourism with the industries that support it being major employers, with 27.1% of the employed population working in the "Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, and Accommodation and Food Services" industry.thumb|Road heading towards [[Capitan, New Mexico|Capitan]]

Transportation

Airports

Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, located about by road northeast of Ruidoso Downs.

Major highways

U.S. Route 70

Key facilities

thumb|Hubbard Museum of the American West

Ruidoso Downs Race Track
Billy the Kid Casino
Hubbard Museum of the American West

Events and culture

thumb|[[Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino, where the All American Futurity is held annually.]]

The city is the annual location of the All American Futurity, which claims to be the richest race in Quarter Horse racing.