# Taos County, New Mexico

Taos County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,489. Its county seat is Taos. The county was formed in 1852 as one of the original nine counties in New Mexico Territory.
Taos County comprises the Taos, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,204 square miles (5,710 km$^2$), of which 2,203 square miles (5,710 km$^2$) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km$^2$) (0.06%) is water.
The county's highest point is the summit of Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet (4,011 m). This summit is also the highest natural point in New Mexico. The county has the highest mean elevation of any U.S. county outside of Colorado at 8,510 feet (2,590 m), even though it ranks only 22nd overall. Taos County contains 17 of New Mexico's highest 25 peaks.

### Adjacent counties

* Rio Arriba County - west
* Mora County - southeast
* Colfax County - east
* Costilla County, Colorado - north
* Conejos County, Colorado - northwest

### National protected area

* Carson National Forest (part)
* Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

## Demographics
### 2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 29,979 people, 12,675 households, and 7,757 families living in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km$^2$). There were 17,404 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 63.77% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 6.59% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 24.84% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.94% of the population.
There were 12,675 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.70% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 32.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 28.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,762, and the median income for a family was $33,995. Males had a median income of $27,310 versus $21,121 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,103. About 16.10% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 32,937 people, 14,806 households, and 8,437 families living in the county. The population density was 15.0 inhabitants per square mile (5.8/km$^2$). There were 20,265 housing units at an average density of 9.2 per square mile (3.6/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% white, 6.2% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 19.1% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 55.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 10.8% were English, 10.3% were German, 9.0% were Irish, and 1.2% were American.
Of the 14,806 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 43.0% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 45.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,441 and the median income for a family was $43,236. Males had a median income of $34,245 versus $28,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,145. About 14.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Towns

* Red River
* Taos (county seat)

### Villages

* Questa
* Taos Ski Valley

### Census-designated places

* Arroyo Hondo
* Arroyo Seco
* Chamisal
* Costilla
* Ojo Caliente (part)
* Peñasco
* Picuris Pueblo
* Ranchos de Taos
* Rio Lucio
* San Cristobal
* Talpa
* Taos Pueblo
* Vadito

### Other communities

* Amalia
* Cañoncito
* Carson
* Cerro
* El Prado
* El Rito
* Las Trampas
* Llano
* Llano Quemado
* No Agua
* Pilar
* Tres Piedras
* Valdez

## Politics

Taos County is heavily Democratic; the last Republican candidate to win the county was Richard Nixon in 1972 by just over 2%. Taos County often rivals Santa Fe County as the most Democratic county in New Mexico. Taos itself, Ranchos de Taos, Taos Pueblo, Taos Ski Valley, Picuris Pueblo, the Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Hondo areas, and the rural southern and western parts of the county all vote strongly Democratic, while the Red River area votes strongly Republican. Questa and El Prado are also Democratic-leaning, though they saw heavy Republican trends in 2024.
United States presidential election results for Taos County, New Mexico :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,139 | 24.88% | 12,038 | 72.36% | 459 | 2.76% |
| 2020 | 3,715 | 21.62% | 13,121 | 76.37% | 345 | 2.01% |
| 2016 | 2,727 | 17.87% | 10,668 | 69.91% | 1,865 | 12.22% |
| 2012 | 2,730 | 17.80% | 11,978 | 78.09% | 631 | 4.11% |
| 2008 | 2,866 | 16.97% | 13,816 | 81.82% | 204 | 1.21% |
| 2004 | 3,666 | 24.71% | 10,987 | 74.06% | 182 | 1.23% |
| 2000 | 2,744 | 25.19% | 7,039 | 64.61% | 1,112 | 10.21% |
| 1996 | 2,126 | 21.15% | 6,635 | 66.00% | 1,292 | 12.85% |
| 1992 | 2,260 | 21.16% | 7,051 | 66.01% | 1,370 | 12.83% |
| 1988 | 2,897 | 31.29% | 6,271 | 67.73% | 91 | 0.98% |
| 1984 | 4,154 | 44.04% | 5,144 | 54.54% | 134 | 1.42% |
| 1980 | 3,584 | 41.67% | 4,346 | 50.53% | 671 | 7.80% |
| 1976 | 3,012 | 40.07% | 4,414 | 58.72% | 91 | 1.21% |
| 1972 | 3,617 | 50.49% | 3,472 | 48.46% | 75 | 1.05% |
| 1968 | 3,119 | 49.89% | 2,993 | 47.87% | 140 | 2.24% |
| 1964 | 2,006 | 32.16% | 4,204 | 67.39% | 28 | 0.45% |
| 1960 | 2,620 | 41.87% | 3,631 | 58.03% | 6 | 0.10% |
| 1956 | 3,100 | 53.02% | 2,743 | 46.91% | 4 | 0.07% |
| 1952 | 2,763 | 48.94% | 2,877 | 50.96% | 6 | 0.11% |
| 1948 | 2,852 | 48.59% | 2,977 | 50.72% | 41 | 0.70% |
| 1944 | 2,557 | 50.30% | 2,525 | 49.67% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1940 | 3,342 | 49.07% | 3,463 | 50.85% | 5 | 0.07% |
| 1936 | 2,918 | 48.80% | 3,051 | 51.03% | 10 | 0.17% |
| 1932 | 2,416 | 42.22% | 3,277 | 57.26% | 30 | 0.52% |
| 1928 | 2,441 | 56.98% | 1,842 | 43.00% | 1 | 0.02% |
| 1924 | 2,470 | 58.68% | 1,655 | 39.32% | 84 | 2.00% |
| 1920 | 2,519 | 64.86% | 1,359 | 34.99% | 6 | 0.15% |
| 1916 | 1,320 | 57.95% | 910 | 39.95% | 48 | 2.11% |
| 1912 | 855 | 44.58% | 765 | 39.89% | 298 | 15.54% |

## Education

School districts for the county include:
* Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools
* Peñasco Independent Schools
* Questa Independent Schools
* Taos Municipal Schools

## In popular culture

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is featured in the 1994 crime-drama film Natural Born Killers, in the 2007 comedy Wild Hogs, and in the 2009 film Terminator: Salvation.
The 2007 film Garbage Warrior documents architect Mike Reynolds who builds Earthships in and around Taos County.