Sierra County, New Mexico (NM)

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County population in July 2007: 12,316 (67% urban, 33% rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 4,571
Renter-occupied apartments: 1,542

% of renters here:	25%
State:	30%

Land area: 4180 sq. mi.
Water area: 56.1 sq. mi.

Population density: 3 people per square mile

(very low).

2008 cost of living index in Sierra County: 80.3 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (21.2%), Arts,entertainment,recreation,accommodation and food services (14.7%), Construction (11.9%), Retail trade (11.2%).

Type of workers:

Private wage or salary: 60%
Government: 24%
Self-employed, not incorporated: 15%
Unpaid family work: 1%

Sierra County, New Mexico business data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Races in Sierra County, New Mexico:

White Non-Hispanic (70.5%)
Hispanic (26.3%)
Other race (8.3%)
Two or more races (2.5%)
American Indian (2.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Median resident age:	48.9 years
New Mexico median age:	34.6 years

Males: 6,635	(50.0%)
Females: 6,635	(50.0%)

Average wage per job in 2003: $21,649
County population in 2003: 13,113
Jobs in 2003: 3,021

Recent posts about Sierra County, New Mexico on our local forum with over 400,000 registered users. Sierra County is mentioned 37 times on our forum:

	Sierra County to Vote on Spaceport Tax (39 replies)
	Truth or Consequences (257 replies)
	Gov. Richardson as Secretary of State? (31 replies)
	Artist Towns? (348 replies)
	Searching for truth about T or C (42 replies)
	where it doesn't snow much and where it isn't just desert (53 replies)

Total labor force in 2004: 5,327
Unemployment rate in 2004: 5.6%

Average household size:

Sierra County:	2.1 people
New Mexico:	2.6 people

Estimated median household income in 2007: $29,330 ($24,152 in 1999)

This county:	$29,330
New Mexico:	$41,452

2007 median house/condo value: $102,176 ($77,800 in 2000)

Sierra County:	$102,176
New Mexico:	$155,400

Median contract rent in 2007 for apartments: $350 (lower quartile is $266, upper quartile is $454)

This county:	$350
State:	$531

Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $921
Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $203

Institutionalized population: 249

Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

Murders: 0
Rapes: 1
Robberies: 2
Assaults: 9
Burglaries: 16
Thefts: 24
Auto thefts: 7

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

Murders: 0
Rapes: 0
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 10
Burglaries: 23
Thefts: 30
Auto thefts: 10

Sierra County races chart

Single-family new house construction building permits:

2003: 3 buildings, average cost: $106,700
2004: 5 buildings, average cost: $134,800
2005: 7 buildings, average cost: $105,600
2006: 2 buildings, average cost: $152,500

Number of permits per 10,000 residents

Average cost (in 1000s)

2004 Presidential Election results in Sierra County New Mexico:

Bush/Cheney (Republican): 61.3%
Kerry/Edwards (Democratic): 37.3%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: $346 (0.6%)

Sierra County household income distribution in 2007

Sierra County contract rent distribution in 2007

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2007:

This county:	20.9%
Whole state:	18.4%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2007:

This county:	9.6%
Whole state:	7.8%

Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Sierra County is $368 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $456 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $666 a month.

Cities in this county include: Truth or Consequences, Elephant Butte, Williamsburg.

Neighboring counties: Catron County , Dona Ana County , Grant County , Lincoln County , Luna County , Otero County , Socorro County .

Click to draw/clear county borders

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Sierra County: Walnut Corral (A), Walsh Windmill (B), Hilton Corral (C), Deep Well Ranch (D), Antelope Windmill (E), Apache Camp (F), Apodaca Windmill (G), White Rock Ranch (H), Wild Horse Windmill (I), Dines Ranch (J), Willow Spring Corral (K), Wilson Ranch (L), Windmill 16 (M), Artesia Windmill (N), Winston Weather Station (O), Clark Ranch (P), Wood Ranch Headquarters (Q), Yoast Windmill (R), Horse Island Historic Site (S), Avilas Camp (T). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Sierra County include: Union Community Church Historic Site (A), San Miguel Church (B), San Jose Church (C), Caballo Community Church (D), Saint Lorenzo Church (E), Saint Joseph Church (F), Las Palomas Church (G), Christ Episcopal Church (H), Saint Ignatius Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: Hermosa Cemetery (1), Graham Cemetery (2), Monticello Cemetery (3), Santa Nino Cemetery (4), Elephant Butte Cemetery (5), Cutter Cemetery (6), Engle Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map

Lakes, reservoirs, and swamps: Toby Hole (A), Cedar Lake (B), Lumley Lake (C), Red Lake (D), Big Salt Lake (E), Mud Lake (F), Little Salt Lake (G), Jornada Lakes (H). Display/hide their locations on the map

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Dry Creek (A), Pollock Creek (B), Deer Lick (C), Percha Creek (D), North Hollow Creek (E), Poverty Creek (F), King Arroyo (G), Nordstrom Arroyo (H), Baily Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Park in Sierra County: Emory Pass Historical Marker (1). Display/hide its location on the map

Beach: Lions Beach (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Post offices: Cuchillo Post Office (A), Arrey Post Office (B), Derry Post Office (C), Hillsboro Post Office (D), Winston Post Office (E), Monticello Post Office (F), Caballo Post Office (G). Display/hide their locations on the map

Unemployment in September 2007:

Here:	3.2%
New Mexico:	3.3%

Unemployment by year (%)

County total employment by year

County average yearly wages by year ($)

Current college students: 352
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 76.1%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.1%

Number of foreign born residents: 872 (32% naturalized citizens)

Sierra County:	6.6%
Whole state:	8.2%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population
	1995 to March 2000: 181 1990 to 1994: 192 1985 to 1989: 116 1980 to 1984: 80 1975 to 1979: 51 1970 to 1974: 53 1970 to 1974: 31 1965 to 1969: 168

Mean travel time to work: 20.1 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 90.7%

Sierra County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

One, detached: 3,933
One, attached: 115
Two: 184
3 or 4: 231
5 to 9: 208
10 to 19: 91
20 or more: 128
Mobile homes: 3,624
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 213

Housing units in Sierra County with a mortgage: 910 (49 second mortgage, 9 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 1,151

Here:	44.2% with mortgage
State:	63.6% with mortgage

Agriculture in Sierra County
Average size of farms: 6112 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $86934
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $991.76
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 70.19%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $80444
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.43%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 91.21%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $45666
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 88.79%
Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 1.59
Vegetables: 1384 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 723 acres

Sierra County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below New Mexico state average. It is 64.3 times below overall U.S. average.

Class of Workers

Most common industries for males:

Construction (22%)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (11%)
Accommodation and food services (10%)
Health care (7%)
Public administration (6%)
Repair and maintenance (5%)
Arts, entertainment, and recreation (4%)

Most common industries for females:

Health care (19%)
Accommodation and food services (13%)
Educational services (12%)
Public administration (9%)
Finance and insurance (5%)
Food and beverage stores (5%)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (4%)

Most common occupations for males

Agricultural workers including supervisors (5%)
Construction laborers (5%)
Construction trades workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (5%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
Other food preparation and serving workers including supervisors (5%)
Farmers and farm managers (4%)

Most common occupations for females

Secretaries and administrative assistants (5%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%)
Cashiers (5%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (5%)
Information and record clerks except customer service representatives (4%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (4%)

Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents:

Mexico (81%)
United Kingdom (3%)
El Salvador (3%)
Germany (2%)
France (2%)
Argentina (2%)
Philippines (1%)

Most common first ancestries reported in Sierra County:

German (13%)
United States or American (12%)
English (11%)
Irish (8%)
French (except Basque) (3%)
Scotch-Irish (3%)
Dutch (2%)

Sierra County mode of transportation to work chart

Means of transportation to work

Drove a car alone: 2,967 (68%)
Carpooled: 765 (18%)
Motorcycle: 17 (0%)
Bicycle: 19 (0%)
Walked: 242 (6%)
Other means: 66 (2%)
Worked at home: 286 (7%)

People in group quarters in Sierra County, New Mexico

220 people in nursing homes
29 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
10 people in other nonhousehold living situations
7 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms

Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $28,521.

9.47% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($32,445 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	9.47%
New Mexico average:	7.94%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
3.72% relocated from other counties in New Mexico ($11,434 average AGI)
5.76% relocated from other states ($21,011 average AGI)
Sierra County: 5.76%
New Mexico average: 4.63%

Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:

from Dona Ana County, NM	1.09% ($22,024 average AGI)
from Bernalillo County, NM	0.42% ($28,250)
from Grant County, NM	0.27% ($18,300)
from Valencia County, NM	0.27% ($28,800)
from El Paso County, TX	0.27% ($54,300)

8.36% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($35,019 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	8.36%
New Mexico average:	7.42%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.43% relocated to other counties in New Mexico ($15,572 average AGI)
3.92% relocated to other states ($19,447 average AGI)
Sierra County: 3.92%
New Mexico average: 4.16%

Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:

to Dona Ana County, NM	1.88% ($27,857 average AGI)
to Bernalillo County, NM	0.64% ($28,583)
to Valencia County, NM	0.30% ($37,545)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.1
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 8.2

Births per 1000 population in Sierra County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 18.5
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 17.1

Deaths per 1000 population in Sierra County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.2
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2003: 16.4

Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Sierra County

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 3,599 (3,120 aged, 479 disabled)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 26%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 24%

Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 7.72
Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 2893.300
Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 192.890
Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 43283.7

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 952.010
Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1342.180

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 9.07
Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 62.43

Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 7.8

Household type by relationship

Households: 13,005

In family households: 10,170 (2,881 male householders, 724 female householders)
2,913 spouses, 2,889 children (2,551 natural, 84 adopted, 254 stepchildren), 203 grandchildren, 95 brothers or sisters, 83 parents, 128 other relatives, 254 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,835 (1,253 male householders (1,039 living alone)), 1,245 female householders (1,155 living alone)), 337 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 265 (249 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 2,152 2-persons, 606 3-persons, 486 4-persons, 210 5-persons, 103 6-persons, 48 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 2,194 1-person, 269 2-persons, 33 3-persons, 2 4-persons.

78.4% of residents of Sierra County speak English at home.
20.3% of residents speak Spanish at home (69% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 8% speak English not well, 8% don't speak English at all).
1.0% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (90% speak English very well, 5% speak English well, 5% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (63% speak English very well, 37% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (82% speak English very well, 18% speak English well).

In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $118,318,000 ($9129 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $4,089,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $56,884,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $23,508,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $505,000
Federal grants: $29,708,000
Federal procurement contracts: $1,532,000 ($176,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $6,181,000 ($177,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $566,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $3,969,000
Federal Government insurance: $9,964,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 567

Here:	44 per 1000 residents
State:	74 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 1,165

Here:	91 per 1000 residents
State:	36 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +130

Here:	+10 per 1000 residents
State:	+15 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: +34

Here:	+3 per 1000 residents
State:	+5 per 1000 residents

Population growth in Sierra County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 1.71 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:

Here:	4.8
State:	5.6

Median number of rooms in apartments:

Here:	3.8
State:	4.0

Year house built:

1999 to March 2000: 286
1995 to 1998: 807
1990 to 1994: 683
1980 to 1989: 2,009
1970 to 1979: 1,871
1960 to 1969: 772
1950 to 1959: 796
1940 to 1949: 734
1939 or earlier: 769

Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Sierra County, New Mexico:
	1 room: 97 2 rooms: 143 3 rooms: 374 4 rooms: 1,211 5 rooms: 1,390 6 rooms: 723 7 rooms: 320 8 rooms: 192 9+ rooms: 121

Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Sierra County, New Mexico:
	1 room: 98 2 rooms: 238 3 rooms: 293 4 rooms: 449 5 rooms: 329 6 rooms: 63 7 rooms: 36 8 rooms: 21 9+ rooms: 15

Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses and condos in Sierra County:
	no bedroom: 109 1 bedroom: 430 2 bedrooms: 1,849 3 bedrooms: 1,899 4 bedrooms: 251 5+ bedrooms: 33

Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Sierra County:
	no bedroom: 135 1 bedroom: 488 2 bedrooms: 595 3 bedrooms: 297 4 bedrooms: 27 5+ bedrooms: 0

Cars and other vehicles available in Sierra County in owner-occupied houses/condos:
	no vehicle: 203 1 vehicle: 1,507 2 vehicles: 1,838 3 vehicles: 758 4 vehicles: 194 5+ vehicles: 71

Cars and other vehicles available in Sierra County in renter-occupied apartments
	no vehicle: 385 1 vehicle: 747 2 vehicles: 309 3 vehicles: 92 4 vehicles: 9 5+ vehicles: 0

51% of Sierra County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago.
Out of people who lived in different houses, 34% lived in this county.
Out of people who lived in different counties, 42% lived in New Mexico.

Sierra County:	51.2%
State average:	55.7%

Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

This state: 5019
Northeast: 712
Midwest: 2329
South: 2421
West: 1837

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $63,800

Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 3%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 3%

Year Householders Moved Into Unit:

Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos:
	Utility gas (64%) Bottled, tank, or LP gas (26%) Wood (5%) Electricity (4%)

Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments:
	Utility gas (73%) Bottled, tank, or LP gas (16%) Electricity (7%) Wood (2%) No fuel used (1%) Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (1%)

Private vs. public school enrollment:
Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 123

Here:	9.2%
New Mexico:	8.2%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 16

Here:	2.3%
New Mexico:	7.8%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 64

Here:	22.2%
New Mexico:	11.9%

Educational Attainment

School Enrollment by Level of School

Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Residents with Employment Disability (Noninst.)

Sierra County government finances in 2002:

Charges - All Other: $143,000
Current Operations - Central Staff Services: $1,204,000
Financial Administration: $886,000

General - Other: $640,000

Regular Highways: $437,000

Fire Protection: $285,000

Welfare, Vendor Payments for Medical Care: $279,000

Corrections - Other: $63,000

Judicial and Legal Services: $13,000
Federal Intergovernmental - General Support: $579,000
Highways: $25,000
Miscellaneous - General Revenue, NEC: $343,000
Interest Earnings: $49,000
Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $2,362,000
State Intergovernmental - All Other: $621,000
Highways: $265,000

General Support: $1,000
Tax - Property: $1,734,000
Total General Sales: $1,089,000

NEC: $5,000

Other Selective Sales: $2,000
Total Salaries & Wages: $1,980,000

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Total Number Of Recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of aged recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of blind and disabled recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients under 18

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients between 18 and 64

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients older than 64

Supplemental Security Inco