Bayard is a city in Grant County, New Mexico, United States. It is near Santa Rita, east of Silver City. The population was 2,328 at the 2010 census, down from 2,534 in 2000. This city was incorporated on August 20, 1938.

It is located in east-central Grant County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.95 square miles (2.45 km), all land. The city is in the valley of Whitewater Creek, a seasonal south-flowing tributary of the Mimbres River.

U.S. Route 180 passes through Bayard as Tom Foy Boulevard and Central Avenue, leading northwest 2 miles (3 km) to Santa Clara and 9 miles (14 km) to Silver City, and south 42 miles (68 km) to Deming and Interstate 10. New Mexico State Road 356 leads northeast from Bayard 5 miles (8 km) up the Whitewater Creek valley to Hanover.

Bayard is located in the southern foothills of the Pinos Altos Range and Mogollon Mountains in the southwestern portion of New Mexico and situated east of the Continental Divide at an elevation of approximately 5,800 feet (1,800 m). Gila National Forest lies north from here. A semi-arid desert of predominantly grasses and yucca is in Bayard's southern portion.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1940	764		—
1950	2,119		177.4%
1960	2,327		9.8%
1970	2,908		25.0%
1980	3,036		4.4%
1990	2,598		−14.4%
2000	2,534		−2.5%
2010	2,328		−8.1%
2020	2,116		−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,534 people, 970 households, and 719 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,916.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,126.0/km). There were 1,100 housing units at an average density of 1,266.0 per square mile (488.8/km). The racial makeup of the town was 65.67% White, 0.32% African American, 1.66% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 29.04% from other races, and 3.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.33% of the population.

There were 970 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,957, and the median income for a family was $27,632. Males had a median income of $30,200 versus $17,132 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,066. About 19.7% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.8% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

• List of municipalities in New Mexico
• Fort Bayard Historic District
• Fort Bayard National Cemetery

Media related to Bayard, New Mexico at Wikimedia Commons