Sierra County, New Mexico

Sierra County
	Sierra County, New Mexico
	Sierra County Courthouse in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
	; Seal
	; Seal
	; Location in the state of New Mexico
	; New Mexico's location in the U.S.
Founded	1884
Seat	Truth or Consequences
Largest city	Truth or Consequences
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 4,236 sq mi (10,971 km²); 4,180 sq mi (10,826 km²); 56 sq mi (145 km²), 1.32%
Population; - (2000); - Density	; 13,270; 3/sq mi (1/km²)

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Sierra County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of 2010, the population was 11,988. Its county seat is Truth or Consequences.^[1]

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,236 square miles (10,972 km²), of which 4,180 square miles (10,827 km²) is land and 56 square miles (145 km²) (1.32%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] National protected areas

Cibola National Forest (part)
Gila National Forest (part)

[edit] Demographics

[edit] 2010

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

85.6% White
0.4% Black
1.7% Native American
0.4% Asian
0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
3.3% Two or more races
8.6% Other races
28.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

[edit] 2000

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 13,270 people, 6,113 households, and 3,618 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 8,727 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.97% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 1.48% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 8.27% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. 26.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,113 households out of which 20.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.80% were non-families. 35.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.10% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 19.50% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 27.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,152, and the median income for a family was $29,787. Males had a median income of $24,570 versus $19,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,023. About 13.80% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Spaceport America

Spaceport America is located in Sierra County, 45 miles (72 km) north of Las Cruces and 30 miles (48 km) east of Truth or Consequences. Sierra County voters approved the creation of a spaceport tax district in April 2008, freeing up funding for its construction.^[3]