Otero County, New Mexico

Otero County, New Mexico
Otero County courthouse in Alamogordo, New Mexico
Location in the state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location in the U.S.
Founded	30 January 1899
Seat	Alamogordo
Largest city	Alamogordo
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	6,627 sq mi (17,164 km²) 6,626 sq mi (17,161 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.01%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	63,797 10/sq mi (4/km²)
Website	co.otero.nm.us

Otero County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of 2000, the population was 62,298. Its county seat is Alamogordo. The Census Bureau defines the Alamogordo Micropolitan Statistical Area as Otero County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,627 square miles (17,160 km²), of which 6,626 square miles (17,160 km²) is land and 1-square-mile (2.6 km²) (0.01%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Doña Ana County, New Mexico – west
• Sierra County, New Mexico – northwest
• Lincoln County, New Mexico – north
• Chaves County, New Mexico – east
• Eddy County, New Mexico – east
• Culberson County, Texas – southeast
• Hudspeth County, Texas – south
• El Paso County, Texas – southwest

National protected areas

• Lincoln National Forest (part)
• White Sands National Monument (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
2000	62,298		—
2010	63,797		2.4%

2010

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

• 72.7% White
• 3.5% Black
• 6.7% Native American
• 1.2% Asian
• 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 4.2% Two or more races
• 11.2% Other races
• 34.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,298 people, 22,984 households, and 16,801 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 29,272 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.71% White, 3.92% Black or African American, 5.80% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 11.67% from other races, and 3.60% from two or more races. 32.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,984 households out of which 37.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.50% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,861, and the median income for a family was $34,781. Males had a median income of $27,657 versus $18,470 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,345. About 15.60% of families and 19.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.90% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

Localities

City

• Alamogordo

Villages

• Cloudcroft
• Tularosa

Census-designated places

• Boles Acres
• Holloman AFB
• La Luz
• Mescalero
• Timberon

Other localities

• High Rolls
• Mountain Park
• Newman
• Sunspot
• Three Rivers

Other places in Otero County

• Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation
• Newman, New Mexico
• White Sands National Monument
• National Solar Observatory

See also

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

Further reading

• Sites Southwest LLC & Bohannan Huston Inc. (October 2005). Otero County Comprehensive Plan (Report). County of Otero. http://www.co.otero.nm.us/Oterococomplan-final-10-05%20small%20-%20Searchable.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-31.