Lincoln County, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lincoln County
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Old Lincoln County courthouse in Lincoln
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Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
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 New Mexico's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Mexico |
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| Founded | 1869 | |
| Named for | Abraham Lincoln | |
| Seat | Carrizozo | |
| Largest village | Ruidoso | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4,831 sq mi (12,510 km2) | |
| • Land | 4,831 sq mi (12,510 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.0%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,269  |
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| • Density | 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Lincoln County is a special area in the state of New Mexico, USA. It's called a county. In 2020, about 20,269 people lived here. The main town where the county government is located is Carrizozo. The biggest community in the county is Ruidoso.
Contents
History of Lincoln County
Lincoln County got its name from President Abraham Lincoln. A long time ago, it was one of the biggest counties in the entire United States!
The Lincoln County War
In the late 1870s, a big conflict called the Lincoln County War happened here. It was a fight between local ranchers and the owners of the biggest store in the county. A famous person named William Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid, joined the ranchers' side. This happened after his friend and boss was killed.
During the conflict, Billy the Kid was involved in several shootings. He killed the county sheriff and a deputy. Another deputy who had killed his friend was also killed. Other people died in this war too. The fighting finally stopped when the other leader of the rancher group was killed. In 1878, the new governor of the area, Lew Wallace, offered to forgive everyone involved. This helped bring a lasting peace to the county.
Modern Lincoln County
Today, most people in Lincoln County live around the Ruidoso area. The town of Carrizozo is the county seat. It is located to the northwest of Ruidoso.
Ruidoso has several smaller towns and neighborhoods nearby. These include Ruidoso Downs, Hollywood, Mescalero, and Alto. Together, these communities make up a larger population area. Ruidoso is the second largest town in south-central New Mexico.
Ruidoso Downs is known for its racetrack and casino. Here, you can watch both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races. One very famous race held here is the All American Futurity. It's the richest Quarter Horse race in the world!
Lincoln County is also famous for two historical figures: Billy the Kid and Smokey Bear. Their stories help bring many tourists to the area.
Geography of Lincoln County
Lincoln County covers a large area of land. It is about 4,831 square miles big. Most of this area is land, with very little water.
Neighboring Counties
Lincoln County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Torrance County – to the north
- Guadalupe County – to the north
- De Baca County – to the northeast
- Chaves County – to the east
- Otero County – to the south
- Sierra County – to the southwest
- Socorro County – to the west
Protected Natural Areas
Lincoln County is home to parts of important natural areas:
- Cibola National Forest (part)
- Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area
- Lincoln National Forest (part)
Population in Lincoln County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,803 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,513 | 39.4% | |
| 1890 | 7,081 | 181.8% | |
| 1900 | 4,958 | −30.0% | |
| 1910 | 7,822 | 57.8% | |
| 1920 | 7,823 | 0.0% | |
| 1930 | 7,198 | −8.0% | |
| 1940 | 8,557 | 18.9% | |
| 1950 | 7,409 | −13.4% | |
| 1960 | 7,744 | 4.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,560 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 10,997 | 45.5% | |
| 1990 | 12,219 | 11.1% | |
| 2000 | 19,411 | 58.9% | |
| 2010 | 20,497 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 20,269 | −1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 |
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In 2010, about 20,497 people lived in Lincoln County. The population density was about 4.2 people per square mile. Most of the people living in the county were white (85.1%). About 2.4% were American Indian, and 29.8% were of Hispanic or Latino background.
Communities in Lincoln County
Lincoln County has different types of communities:
Cities
Towns
- Carrizozo (This is the county seat)
Villages
Census-Designated Places
Other Communities
Ghost Towns
These are towns that used to be active but are now mostly empty:
- Jicarilla
- Placitas
- White Oaks
Education in Lincoln County
Here are the school districts that serve students in Lincoln County:
- Capitan Municipal Schools
- Carrizozo Municipal Schools
- Corona Municipal Schools
- Hondo Valley Public Schools
- Ruidoso Municipal Schools
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lincoln (Nuevo México) para niños
