Taos County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,489. Its county seat is Taos. The county was formed in 1852 as one of the original nine counties in New Mexico Territory.

Taos County comprises the Taos, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.06%) is water.

The county's highest point is the summit of Wheeler Peak at . This summit is also the highest natural point in New Mexico. The county has the highest mean elevation of any U.S. county outside of Colorado at , even though it ranks only 22nd overall. Taos County contains 17 of New Mexico's 25 highest peaks.

Adjacent counties

  • Rio Arriba County - west
  • Mora County - southeast
  • Colfax County - east
  • Costilla County, Colorado - north
  • Conejos County, Colorado - northwest

National protected area

  • Carson National Forest (part)
  • Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 34,489. The median age was 50.0 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.0 males age 18 and over.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Taos County, New Mexico – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>

!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!

!% 2000

!% 2010

!

|-

|White alone (NH)

|10,122

|11,958

|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,706

|33.76%

|36.31%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |39.74%

|-

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|81

|104

|style='background: #ffffe6; |130

|0.27%

|0.32%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.38%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|1,768

|1,747

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,830

|5.90%

|5.30%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.31%

|-

|Asian alone (NH)

|98

|201

|style='background: #ffffe6; |196

|0.33%

|0.61%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.57%

|-

|Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|10

|5

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4

|0.03%

|0.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%

|-

|Other race alone (NH)

|104

|85

|style='background: #ffffe6; |274

|0.35%

|0.26%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.79%

|-

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|426

|456

|style='background: #ffffe6; |919

|1.42%

|1.38%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.66%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|17,370

|18,381

|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,430

|57.94%

|55.81%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |50.54%

|-

|Total

|29,979

|32,937

|style='background: #ffffe6; |34,489

|100.00%

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

|}

The racial makeup of the county was 55.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 6.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 14.9% from some other race, and 22.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 50.5% of the population.

There were 15,747 households in the county, of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 31.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 20,265 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% white, 6.2% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 19.1% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 55.8% of the population.

Of the 14,806&nbsp;households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 43.0% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 45.2 years.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 29,979 people, 12,675 households, and 7,757 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 17,404 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 63.77% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 6.59% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 24.84% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.94% of the population.

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Education

School districts for the county include:

  • Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools
  • Peñasco Independent Schools
  • Questa Independent Schools
  • Taos Municipal Schools

thumb|Earthship home under construction, 2011

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is featured in the 1994 crime-drama film Natural Born Killers, in the 2007 comedy Wild Hogs, and in the 2009 film Terminator: Salvation.

The 2007 film Garbage Warrior documents architect Mike Reynolds who builds Earthships in and around Taos County.

See also

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

References

  • TaosCounty.net