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 located in the northern part of New Mexico, a state in the United States. The name Río Arriba means "upriver" in Spanish, which makes sense because the county is located along the upper part of the Rio Grande river.

As of the 2020 census, about 40,363 people live here. The main town and county seat is Tierra Amarilla. The county's northern edge touches the state of Colorado. Rio Arriba County is also part of a larger area that includes cities like Española, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe.

History of Rio Arriba County

Rio Arriba County was one of the first nine counties created in the Territory of New Mexico way back in 1852. When it was first formed, it was much larger. It even stretched all the way west to where Las Vegas, Nevada is today!

Over the years, the county seat, which is the main town where the county government is located, moved a few times:

• It started in San Pedro de Chamita.
• Then it moved to Los Luceros.
• In 1860, it moved to Plaza del Alcalde.
• Since 1880, Tierra Amarilla has been the county seat.

A battle called the Battle of Embudo Pass happened in the southern part of the county in January 1847. This was during the Mexican-American War.

Geography of Rio Arriba County

Rio Arriba County is quite large! It covers a total area of about 5,896 square miles. Most of this (5,861 square miles) is land, and a small part (35 square miles) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in New Mexico by land area.

The county's size changed over time, especially after San Juan County was created. The highest point in the county is the top of Truchas Peak, which stands at 13,102 feet tall.

Neighboring Counties

Rio Arriba County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Taos County - to the east
• Mora County - to the southeast
• Santa Fe County - to the south
• Los Alamos County - to the south
• Sandoval County - to the south
• San Juan County - to the west
• Archuleta County, Colorado - to the north (in Colorado)
• Conejos County, Colorado - to the north (in Colorado)

Protected Natural Areas

Parts of these important natural areas are found within Rio Arriba County:

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

Population and People

The population of Rio Arriba County has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived there during different census years:

What the 2010 Census Showed

In 2010, there were 40,246 people living in Rio Arriba County. About 71.3% of the people living in the county were of Hispanic or Latino origin. The largest ancestry groups included Mexican, Spanish, German, English, and Irish.

The average household had about 2.53 people, and the average family had about 3.09 people. The median age of people in the county was 39 years old.

Education in Rio Arriba County

Ghost Ranch is a famous place in Rio Arriba County.

Rio Arriba County has several public school districts that serve its students:

• Chama Valley Independent Schools
• Dulce Independent Schools
• Española Public Schools (this is the largest one)
• Jemez Mountain Public Schools
• Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools
• Peñasco Independent Schools

There is also a special school called Kha'p'o Community School in Santa Clara Pueblo. This school is connected to the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).

Colleges and Universities

For students who want to continue their education after high school, Rio Arriba County has:

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

Fun Places to Visit

Rio Arriba County has many interesting places to explore:

• Abiquiu Lake - a beautiful lake for recreation.
• Chama River (Rio Grande) - a scenic river.
• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad - a historic train ride.
• Echo Amphitheater - a natural rock formation with amazing echoes.
• Jicarilla Apache Reservation - the home of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
• Puye Cliff Dwellings - ancient homes built into cliffs.
• Ghost Ranch - a famous retreat and education center.
• Monastery of Christ in the Desert & Abbey Brewing Company - a peaceful monastery.
• Project Gasbuggy - a historic site related to a past energy experiment.
• Tierra Amarilla (the county seat) & Brazos Cliffs - the county's main town and nearby stunning cliffs.

Communities in Rio Arriba County

A trick rider at the Rio Arriba Rodeo in 2013.

Truchas Peaks in winter, seen from Española.

Cities

• Española

Villages

• Chama

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

These are areas identified by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes.

Other Communities

These are smaller, unincorporated communities.

Ghost Towns

These are towns that used to exist but are now abandoned.

• Hopewell
• Riverside
• Santa Rosa de Lima
• Sublette

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Río Arriba para niños