Sierra County Population Characteristics

As of June 2011; 2010 US census data sets have not been released. The information on this website will be updated as it becomes available.

Sierra County is located in southwestern New Mexico. It covers 4,180 square miles and had a Census 2000 population density of 3.2 persons per square mile. The 2008 American Community Survey estimated Sierra County’s ethnicity distribution at 66.7% White, 30.0% Hispanic, 2.0% American Indian and 0.6% Black.

Sierra County economic highlights include agriculture, healthcare, mining and tourism. The agriculture industry is primarily cattle ranching. The healthcare industry includes employees at the Sierra Vista Hospital, Sierra Healthcare Center, New Mexico State Veterans Home, Ben Archer Health Center, and Sierra Rural Health Clinic. Mining has traditionally been zinc and copper which is now declining. Recently the area is developing a space port. Local tourism attractions include Elephant Butte Lake and State Park, the Gila National Wilderness, Caballo Lake State Park, Percha Dam State Park, and mineral baths located in Truth or Consequences.

Incorporated communities in Sierra County include the City of Truth or Consequences, the City of Elephant Butte and the Village of Williamsburg.

 

Population 2010
Sierra County 11,988
Truth or Consequences 6,475
Elephant Butte 1,431
Williamsburg 449
Rural Unincorporated Sierra County 3,633
Total Change from 2000 -9.7%

 

Population change April 1990- July 1999
Births 1,129
Deaths 1,971
Natural Increase -842
Net International Migration 267
Net Domestic Migration 1,720
Net Migration 1,987
Total Change 1,145

 

 

Age Distribution
Median Age 2,000 Census Percent Under Age 18 Percent Age 65 and Over
Sierra County 48.9Sierra County 20.1 Sierra County 27.7
Truth or Consequences 48.0Truth or Consequences 20.2 Truth or Consequences 29.3
Elephant Butte 57.6Elephant Butte 12.0Elephant Butte 32.6
Williamsburg 55.4Williamsburg 15.9Williamsburg 35.9

 

Household Status
  Sierra County
Number    Percent		 Truth or Consequences
Number        Percent
Total households 6,113 100 3,450 100
Family households
with children under 18
Female head of household, children under 18		 3,617
1,244
300		 59.2
20.4
4.9		 1,858
698
210		 53.9
20.2
6.1
Nonfamily households
Householder living alone
Householder living alone, age 65 and over
Households with individuals under age 18		 2,496
2,194
1,182
1,386		 40.8
35.9
19.3
22.7		1,592
1,422
764
782		 46.1
41.2
22.1
22.7
Households with individuals age 65 and over
Average household size
Average family Size		 2,582
2.13
2.75		 42.21,478
2.04
2.75		 42.8
  Elephant Butte
Number    Percent		 Williamsburg
Number        Percent
Total households 689 100 264 100
Family households
with children under 18
Female head of household, children under 18		 472
82
20		 68.5
11.9
2.9		 154
42
11		 58.3
15.9
4.2
Nonfamily households
Householder living alone
Householder living alone, age 65 and over
Households with individuals under age 18		 217
178
95
86		 31.5
25.8
13.8
12.5		110
93
53
52		 41.7
35.2
20.1
19.7
Households with individuals age 65 and over
Average household size
Average family size		 310
2.02
2.38		 45.0138
2.00
2.51		 52.3

 

 

Source: 2008 American Community Survey 

Contact Us

400 West 4th St.
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901

Email: contact@scedo.org