Torrance County, New Mexico

Torrance County, New Mexico
File:Torrance County New Mexico Court House.jpg Torrance County Courthouse in Estancia
Seal of Torrance County, New Mexico Seal
Location in the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 16, 1903
Seat	Estancia
Largest city	Moriarty
Area
• Total	3,346 sq mi (8,666 km2)
• Land	3,345 sq mi (8,664 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2 km2), 0.03%
Population
• (2010)	16,383
• Density	4.9/sq mi (2/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.torrancecountynm.org

Torrance County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,383. The county seat is Estancia.

Torrance County is included in the Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In 2010, the center of population of New Mexico was located in Torrance County, near Manzano.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,346 square miles (8,670 km²), of which 3,345 square miles (8,660 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (0.03%) is water. Most of the county is primarily gently-rolling grassland ranging from 6000 to 6200 feet in elevation. The Manzano Mountains rising to 10,098 feet on the western edge of the county provide it with its only significant topographic relief. The Manzano Wilderness area includes the highest part of the mountains. The other notable geographic feature of the county is the series of playas and seasonal lakes centering on Laguna del Perro southeast of Estancia.

Adjacent counties

• Santa Fe County - north
• San Miguel County - north
• Guadalupe County - east
• Lincoln County - south
• Socorro County - south
• Valencia County - west
• Bernalillo County - northwest

National protected areas

• Cibola National Forest (part)
• Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (part)

Government

County Commissioners

• District 1: Jim Frost
• District 2: Julia Dechalmes
• District 3: Leroy Candelaria

• County Manager - Joy Ansley  
• County Clerk - Linda Kayser 
• County Treasurer - Dorothy Sandoval 
• County Assessor - Betty Cabber 
• County Sheriff - Heath White 

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	10,119		—
1920	9,731		−3.8%
1930	9,269		−4.7%
1940	11,026		19.0%
1950	8,012		−27.3%
1960	6,497		−18.9%
1970	5,290		−18.6%
1980	7,491		41.6%
1990	10,285		37.3%
2000	16,911		64.4%
2010	16,383		−3.1%
Est. 2014	15,611		−4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2010

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

• 76.1% White
• 1.3% Black
• 2.3% Native American
• 0.4% Asian
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 4.3% Two or more races
• 15.6% Other races
• 39.1% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,911 people, 6,024 households, and 4,391 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 7,257 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.89% White, 1.66% Black or African American, 2.09% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 17.95% from other races, and 3.97% from two or more races. 37.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,024 households out of which 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county the population was spread out with 30.40% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.20 males. SHIP NAMED AFTER COUNTY USS Torrance (AKA-76) was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship of the United States Navy named after Torrance County, New Mexico. She was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft, and to use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines on enemy shores during amphibious operations. She served as a commissioned ship for 19 months.

Torrance was laid down as a Type C2-S-AJ3 ship under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1382) on 1 April 1944 at Wilmington, North Carolina, by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 6 June 1944; sponsored by Miss Marlene DeKay; acquired by the Navy on 20 June and towed to the Bethlehem Steel Company plant at Hoboken, New Jersey, for conversion to an attack cargo ship; and commissioned on 18 November 1944, Lt. Comdr. George A. Euerle, USNR, in command. The median income for a household in the county was $30,446, and the median income for a family was $34,461. Males had a median income of $29,403 versus $21,833 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,134. About 15.20% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.50% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Moriarty

Towns

• Estancia (county seat)
• Mountainair
• Willard

Village

• Encino

Census-designated places

• Duran
• Indian Hills
• Manzano
• Manzano Springs (partial)
• McIntosh
• Tajique
• Torreon

Unincorporated communities

• Abo
• Cedarvale
• Clines Corners
• Progresso
• Wagon Wheel

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Torrance County, New Mexico