San Juan County (Spanish: Condado de San Juan) is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 121,661[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in New Mexico. Its county seat is Aztec.[2] The county was created in 1887.[3]

San Juan County
San Juan County Administration Building in Aztec
San Juan County Administration Building in Aztec
Official seal of San Juan County
Map of New Mexico highlighting San Juan County
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
Map of the United States highlighting New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°31′N 108°19′W / 36.51°N 108.32°W / 36.51; -108.32
Country United States
State New Mexico
FoundedFebruary 24, 1887
Named forSan Juan River
SeatAztec
Largest cityFarmington
Area
 • Total
5,538 sq mi (14,340 km2)
 • Land5,513 sq mi (14,280 km2)
 • Water25 sq mi (60 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
121,661
 • Density24/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.sjcounty.net
San Juan County includes the New Mexico section of the Four Corners Monument.
Shiprock

San Juan County is part of the Farmington, New Mexico, Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is in the state's northwest corner and includes the New Mexico portion of the Four Corners.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,538 square miles (14,340 km2), of which 5,513 square miles (14,280 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4] Indian reservations (and off-reservation trust lands) comprise 63.4 percent of the county's land area: The Navajo Nation takes up 60.45% and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation another 2.93%.

The physical features include three rivers: the San Juan, Animas, and La Plata rivers; also, the Chuska Mountains and Shiprock Pinnacle to the west, volcanic structures, buttes, mesas, badlands, and fertile river valleys.

Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18901,890
19004,828155.4%
19108,50476.1%
19208,333−2.0%
193014,70176.4%
194017,11516.4%
195018,2926.9%
196053,306191.4%
197052,517−1.5%
198081,43355.1%
199091,60512.5%
2000113,80124.2%
2010130,04414.3%
2020121,661−6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2016[1]

2000 census

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At the 2000 census there were 113,801 people, 37,711 households, and 28,924 families living in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8.1 people/km2). There were 43,221 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 52.83% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 36.88% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.77% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 14.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9] There were 37,712 households, 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female head of household with no husband present, and 23.30% were non-families. 19.30% of households were one person and 6.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.43.

The age distribution was 32.60% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median household income was $33,762 and the median family income was $37,382. Males had a median income of $35,066 versus $21,299 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,282. About 18.00% of families and 21.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.60% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 130,044 people, 44,404 households, and 32,457 families living in the county.[10] The population density was 23.6 inhabitants per square mile (9.1/km2). There were 49,341 housing units at an average density of 8.9 units per square mile (3.4 units/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 51.6% white, 36.6% American Indian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 7.3% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 19.1% of the population.[10] The largest ancestry groups were:[12]

  • 34.8% Navajo
  • 15.0% English
  • 10.7% Mexican
  • 9.1% German
  • 5.9% Irish
  • 4.4% Spanish
  • 2.8% American
  • 1.8% French
  • 1.4% Italian
  • 1.2% Scottish
  • 1.1% Scotch-Irish
  • 1.1% Swedish

Of the 44,404 households, 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.9% were non-families, and 21.9% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.38. The median age was 33.0 years.[10]

The median household income was $46,189 and the median family income was $53,540. Males had a median income of $44,984 versus $30,245 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,725. About 15.9% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Other communities

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Politics

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The county has consistently voted for the Republican Party, though Democrats have usually gotten at least 30% of the vote. The only Democratic presidential candidate to win the county since 1936 was Lyndon B. Johnson in his 1964 landslide, who only narrowly won the county by just 93 votes and a margin of victory of less than 1%.

United States presidential election results for San Juan County, New Mexico[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 34,232 64.93% 17,429 33.06% 1,058 2.01%
2020 32,874 62.86% 18,083 34.58% 1,337 2.56%
2016 27,946 60.61% 12,865 27.90% 5,299 11.49%
2012 28,849 62.39% 15,855 34.29% 1,533 3.32%
2008 27,869 59.92% 18,028 38.76% 614 1.32%
2004 29,525 65.60% 14,843 32.98% 638 1.42%
2000 21,434 61.85% 11,980 34.57% 1,243 3.59%
1996 17,478 53.69% 12,070 37.08% 3,005 9.23%
1992 13,415 44.30% 11,302 37.32% 5,564 18.37%
1988 16,202 58.39% 11,094 39.98% 454 1.64%
1984 18,690 66.97% 8,963 32.11% 257 0.92%
1980 15,579 66.30% 6,705 28.53% 1,215 5.17%
1976 10,852 55.13% 8,615 43.77% 216 1.10%
1972 10,788 67.55% 4,296 26.90% 886 5.55%
1968 7,664 54.03% 4,036 28.45% 2,485 17.52%
1964 6,808 49.01% 6,901 49.68% 183 1.32%
1960 7,521 57.04% 5,370 40.73% 294 2.23%
1956 5,194 67.54% 2,425 31.53% 71 0.92%
1952 3,864 69.73% 1,659 29.94% 18 0.32%
1948 2,407 60.71% 1,544 38.94% 14 0.35%
1944 1,438 56.61% 1,093 43.03% 9 0.35%
1940 1,757 54.79% 1,445 45.06% 5 0.16%
1936 1,345 45.69% 1,530 51.97% 69 2.34%
1932 925 35.10% 1,506 57.15% 204 7.74%
1928 1,436 66.36% 724 33.46% 4 0.18%
1924 889 44.88% 819 41.34% 273 13.78%
1920 985 53.42% 831 45.07% 28 1.52%
1916 385 36.05% 637 59.64% 46 4.31%
1912 203 19.04% 493 46.25% 370 34.71%

Education

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School districts include:[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "New Mexico: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". New Mexico Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  11. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  12. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Juan County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2022. - Text list

36°31′N 108°19′W / 36.51°N 108.32°W / 36.51; -108.32