Grant County, New Mexico

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Grant County

| state = New Mexico

| seal =

| founded year = 1868

| founded date =

| seat wl = Silver City

| largest city wl = Silver City

| city type = town

| area_total_sq_mi = 3968

| area_land_sq_mi = 3962

| area_water_sq_mi = 5.9

| area percentage = 0.1%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 28185

| pop_est_as_of = 2021

| population_est = 27889 {{loss}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| web = www.grantcountynm.gov

| ex image = Grant County New Mexico Court House.jpg

| ex image cap = Grant County Courthouse in Silver City

| district = 2nd

| time zone = Mountain

| named for = Ulysses S. Grant }}

Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. At the 2020 census, the population was 28,185.{{cite web|title=Grant County, New Mexico Profile|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile/Grant_County,_New_Mexico?g=0500000US35017|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 16, 2022}} Its county seat is Silver City.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} The county was founded in 1868 and named for Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n140 141]}} Grant County comprises the Silver City, NM, Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is part of the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments.{{cite web|title=Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments|url=https://swnmcog.org/|access-date=October 16, 2022}}

Geography

File:Pinos Altos RR.jpg]]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|3,968|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3,962|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.9|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195546/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 2, 2015 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}

=Adjacent counties=

Catron County - north
Sierra County - east
Luna County - southeast
Hidalgo County - south
Greenlee County, Arizona - west

=National protected area=

Gila National Forest (part)

Demographics

{{US Census population

| 1870 = 1143

| 1880 = 4539

| 1890 = 9657

| 1900 = 12883

| 1910 = 14813

| 1920 = 21939

| 1930 = 19050

| 1940 = 20050

| 1950 = 21649

| 1960 = 18700

| 1970 = 22030

| 1980 = 26204

| 1990 = 27676

| 2000 = 31002

| 2010 = 29514

| 2020 = 28185

| estyear = 2021

| estimate = 27889

| estref = {{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals: 2020-2021|access-date=October 16, 2022}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 2, 2015}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 2, 2015}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nm190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 2, 2015}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 2, 2015}} 2010-2016

}}

=2000 census=

At the 2000 census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}} there were 31,002 people, 12,146 households and 8,514 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 14,066 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial make-up was 75.67% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 1.35% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 19.02% from other races, and 3.11% from two or more races. 48.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,146 households, of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 12.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.

26.20% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64 and 16.50% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median household income was $29,134 and the median family income was $34,231. Males had a median income of $31,126 and females $19,627. The per capita income was $14,597. About 15.10% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.90% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

=2010 census=

At the 2010 census, there were 29,514 people, 12,586 households and 7,941 families living in the county.{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35017 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |access-date=January 14, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011257/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35017 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }} The population density was {{convert|7.4|/sqmi}}. There were 14,693 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3.7|/sqmi}}.{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35017 |access-date=January 24, 2016 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192542/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35017 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}} The racial make-up was 84.9% white, 1.4% American Indian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 9.6% from other races and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 48.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 11.9% were English, 11.8% were German, 10.4% were Irish, and 2.9% were American.{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35017 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 24, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014407/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35017 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}

Of the 12,586 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.9% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 45.9 years.

The median Household income was $36,591 and the median family income was $44,360. Males had a median income of $38,731 and females $27,161. The per capita income was $21,164. About 11.7% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35017 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 24, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010247/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35017|archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}

=2020 census=

At the 2020 census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 16, 2022|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 28,185 people and 11,496 households in the county. The population density was {{convert|7.1|/sqmi}}. There were 14,584 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3.7|/sqmi}}. The racial make-up was 64.8% white, 2.1% American Indian, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 11.7% from other races, and 19.5% of two or more races. 47.8% of the population are of Hispanic origin.{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Grant%20County,%20New%20Mexico&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) Table P1 RACE |access-date=October 15, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

Communities

File:Chalcopyrite-Quartz-Sphalerite-197930.jpg in quartz needles, from the old Groundhog Mine, between Bayard and the Chino mine.]]

File:Pinos Altos Opera House2.jpg Opera House]]

=City=

Bayard

=Towns=

Hurley
Silver City (county seat)

=Village=

Santa Clara

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

Politics

Grant County has leaned Democratic for most of its history, although since 1980 Republicans have typically held over 40% of the vote. Since 1932, it has only voted for the Republican presidential nominee twice, both times by narrow margins. The communities of Silver City, Bayard and Hurley and surrounding areas are strongly Democratic and hold the majority of the county's voters, while many rural areas of the county, especially in the south and west, are highly Republican.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/elections/2024-election-map-precinct-results.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xk4.VI7C.oXuhxhF7kYdB&smid=url-share

{{PresHead|place=Grant County, New Mexico|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 1, 2018}}}}