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Torrance County, New Mexico facts for kids

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Torrance County
U.S. county
Torrance County Courthouse in Estancia
Torrance County Courthouse in Estancia
Flag of Torrance County
Flag
 Official seal of Torrance County
Seal
Map of New Mexico highlighting Torrance County
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
Map of the United States highlighting New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  New Mexico
Founded March 16, 1903
Seat Estancia
Largest city Moriarty
Area
 • Total 3,346 sq mi (8,670 km2)
 • Land 3,345 sq mi (8,660 km2)
 • Water 0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.03%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 15,045
 • Density 4.4964/sq mi (1.7361/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district 1st

Torrance County is a county located right in the middle of New Mexico, a state in the United States. As of the 2020 census, about 15,045 people live there. The main town, or county seat, where the county government is located, is Estancia.

This county is special because it's home to the exact geographic center of New Mexico! This spot is southwest of the village of Willard. In 2010, the center of where most people live in New Mexico was also found in Torrance County, near Manzano. Torrance County is part of the larger Albuquerque area.

Geography: Where is Torrance County?

Torrance County covers a total area of about 3,346 square miles (8,670 km2). Only a tiny part of this, about 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), is water. Most of the county has gently rolling grasslands. These areas are usually between 6,000 and 6,200 feet high.

The Manzano Mountains are on the western side of the county. They are the only really tall parts of the land, reaching up to 10,098 feet! The highest parts of these mountains are protected in the Manzano Wilderness area. Another interesting natural feature is a group of dry lakebeds and seasonal lakes. These are called playas and are found southeast of Estancia, especially around Laguna del Perro.

Neighboring Counties

Torrance County shares its borders with several other counties:

Protected Natural Areas

Parts of these special national areas are found in Torrance County:

Population: Who Lives Here?

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910 10,119 —
1920 9,731 −3.8%
1930 9,269 −4.7%
1940 11,026 19.0%
1950 8,012 −27.3%
1960 6,497 −18.9%
1970 5,290 −18.6%
1980 7,491 41.6%
1990 10,285 37.3%
2000 16,911 64.4%
2010 16,383 −3.1%
2020 15,045 −8.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010

In 2010, there were 16,383 people living in Torrance County. The population density was about 4.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.9/km2). This means there were about 5 people for every square mile. The county has a mix of different backgrounds, with many people of Hispanic or Latino origin. The average age of people living here was about 41.6 years old.

Communities: Towns and Villages

Torrance County has several towns and villages where people live.

Cities

Towns

Villages

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or villages:

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller areas that are not officially part of a town or village:

Education: Schools in the County

Students in Torrance County attend schools in several different school districts:

  • Corona Municipal Schools
  • Estancia Municipal Schools
  • Moriarty Municipal Schools
  • Mountainair Public Schools
  • Vaughn Municipal Schools

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Torrance para niños

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Torrance County, New Mexico Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.