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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Roosevelt County, New Mexico
Roosevelt County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,191. Its county seat is Portales. The county was created in 1903 from Chaves and Guadalupe counties and named for the then-current President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The county's eastern border is the Texas state line.

Roosevelt County comprises the Portales, NM Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Clovis–Portales, NM Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,455 square miles (6,360 km), of which 2,447 square miles (6,340 km) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km) (0.3%) is water.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191012,064—
19206,548−45.7%
193011,10969.7%
194014,54931.0%
195016,40912.8%
196016,198−1.3%
197016,4791.7%
198015,695−4.8%
199016,7026.4%
200018,0187.9%
201019,84610.1%
202019,191−3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 18,018 people, 6,639 households, and 4,541 families living in the county. The population density was 7 inhabitants per square mile (2.7/km). There were 7,746 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km). The racial makeup of the county was 74.14% White, 1.65% Black or African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 19.76% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. 33.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,639 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.10% under the age of 18, 16.00% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 18.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,586, and the median income for a family was $31,813. Males had a median income of $26,170 versus $20,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,185. About 17.30% of families and 22.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.10% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 19,846 people, 7,299 households, and 4,671 families living in the county. The population density was 8.1 inhabitants per square mile (3.1/km). There were 8,163 housing units at an average density of 3.3 per square mile (1.3/km). The racial makeup of the county was 76.9% white, 1.8% black or African American, 1.3% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 15.9% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 39.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 12.7% were German, 10.0% were American, 9.8% were English, and 9.3% were Irish.

Of the 7,299 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.0% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 29.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,762 and the median income for a family was $43,536. Males had a median income of $37,719 versus $21,916 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,933. About 16.0% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

The Roosevelt County clerk and deputy clerk resigned in late 2013 after the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that all counties in the state must license same-sex marriages. County Manager Bill Cathey said they had resolved to quit "rather than be associated with that," according to the Associated Press.

Roosevelt County is heavily Republican. It has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Roosevelt County, New Mexico
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,634 70.13% 1,802 27.27% 172 2.60%
2016 3,884 65.28% 1,454 24.44% 612 10.29%
2012 4,043 67.73% 1,727 28.93% 199 3.33%
2008 4,311 64.15% 2,303 34.27% 106 1.58%
2004 4,997 69.95% 2,082 29.14% 65 0.91%
2000 3,762 66.57% 1,762 31.18% 127 2.25%
1996 3,245 55.29% 2,097 35.73% 527 8.98%
1992 3,215 49.36% 2,172 33.35% 1,126 17.29%
1988 3,589 63.18% 2,033 35.79% 59 1.04%
1984 4,598 72.26% 1,696 26.65% 69 1.08%
1980 3,950 60.92% 2,240 34.55% 294 4.53%
1976 3,269 50.85% 3,111 48.39% 49 0.76%
1972 4,727 73.03% 1,612 24.90% 134 2.07%
1968 3,256 58.11% 1,547 27.61% 800 14.28%
1964 2,732 48.49% 2,875 51.03% 27 0.48%
1960 4,039 69.59% 1,761 30.34% 4 0.07%
1956 2,708 54.56% 2,247 45.28% 8 0.16%
1952 3,030 56.74% 2,298 43.03% 12 0.22%
1948 956 23.46% 3,087 75.75% 32 0.79%
1944 1,610 40.56% 2,359 59.44% 0 0.00%
1940 1,384 30.15% 3,190 69.50% 16 0.35%
1936 677 17.56% 2,951 76.55% 227 5.89%
1932 475 13.95% 2,826 83.02% 103 3.03%
1928 1,157 51.10% 1,098 48.50% 9 0.40%
1924 398 19.54% 1,340 65.78% 299 14.68%
1920 571 31.43% 1,178 64.83% 68 3.74%
1916 230 15.55% 1,088 73.56% 161 10.89%
1912 107 8.81% 599 49.34% 508 41.85%

Communities

City

Town

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include:

See also