Rio Arriba County, New Mexico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rio Arriba County
U.S. county
Rio Arriba County Courthouse, Isaac Rapp, architect, 1916-17
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Founded	1852
Named for	location on the upper Rio Grande (río arriba means "upriver" in Spanish)
Seat	Tierra Amarilla
Largest city	Española
Area
• Total	5,896 sq mi (15,270 km2)
• Land	5,861 sq mi (15,180 km2)
• Water	35 sq mi (90 km2)  0.6%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	40,363
• Density	6.8458/sq mi (2.64319/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Rio Arriba County (Spanish: Condado de Río Arriba) is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,363. Its county seat is Tierra Amarilla. Its northern border is the Colorado state line.

Rio Arriba County comprises the Española, NM Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was one of nine originally created for the Territory of New Mexico in 1852. Originally extending west to the California line, it included the site of present-day Las Vegas, Nevada. The county seat was initially sited at San Pedro de Chamita, and shortly afterwards at Los Luceros. In 1860 the seat was moved to Plaza del Alcalde. Since 1880 Tierra Amarilla has been the county seat.

The Battle of Embudo Pass took place in the southern part of the county during the Mexican–American War in January 1847.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,896 square miles (15,270 km²), of which 5,861 square miles (15,180 km²) are land and 35 square miles (91 km²) (0.6%) are water. It is the fifth-largest county in New Mexico by area. The highest point in the county is the summit of Truchas Peak at 13,102 feet (3,993 m).

The county acquired its present proportions after the creation of San Juan County and other adjustments.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

• Carson National Forest (part)
• El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail (part)
• Santa Fe National Forest (part)
• Valles Caldera National Preserve (part)

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 40,246 people, 15,768 households, and 10,477 families living in the county. The population density was 6.9 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km²). There were 19,638 housing units at an average density of 3.4 units per square mile (1.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 51.6% white, 16.0% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 28.0% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 71.3% of the population.

The largest ancestry groups were:

• 20.6% Mexican
• 15.5% Spanish
• 4.5% German
• 3.2% English
• 2.7% Irish
• 1.7% French
• 1.5% Navajo
• 1.2% Scottish

Of the 15,768 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,437 and the median income for a family was $47,840. Males had a median income of $39,757 versus $31,657 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,913. About 15.7% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Ghost Ranch rainbow

Primary and secondary schools

Rio Arriba County has six public school districts.

• Chama Valley Independent Schools
• Dulce Independent Schools
• Española Public Schools
• Jemez Mountain Public Schools
• Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools
• Peñasco Independent Schools

Española Public Schools is the largest school district.

Additionally, there is a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated tribal elementary school, Kha'p'o Community School, in Santa Clara Pueblo (the school's postal address states "Espanola").

Colleges

• Northern New Mexico College with campuses in Española and El Rito
• New Mexico Highlands University campus in Española

Points of interest

• Abiquiu Lake
• Chama River (Rio Grande)
• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
• Echo Amphitheater
• Jicarilla Apache Reservation
• Puye Cliff Dwellings
• Ghost Ranch
• Monastery of Christ in the Desert & Abbey Brewing Company
• Project Gasbuggy
• Tierra Amarilla (county seat) & Brazos Cliffs

Communities

Trick Rider, Rio Arriba Rodeo, 2013

Truchas Peaks in winter, viewed from Espanola

City

• Española

Village

• Chama

Census-designated places

Other communities

Ghost towns

• Hopewell
• Riverside
• Santa Rosa de Lima
• Sublette

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Río Arriba para niños