Doña Ana County

County consists of the Las Cruces, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the El Paso–Las Cruces, TX–NM Combined Statistical Area. It borders Luna, Sierra, and Otero counties in New Mexico, and El Paso County, Texas, to the east and southeast. The Mexican state of Chihuahua borders the county to the south. Construction of an improved barrier on the border was expedited in 2019 with waivers of environmental and other laws. The waivers applied to 27 laws, including protection of endangered species, archeological sites, and historic places. Being 67.3% Hispanic in 2020, Doña Ana is New Mexico's largest majority-Hispanic county.

• County — Doña Ana County • State — New Mexico • Founded — 1852 • Seat Wl — Las Cruces • Largest City Wl — Las Cruces • Area Total Sq Mi — 3814 • Area Land Sq Mi — 3808 • Area Water Sq Mi — 6.9 • Area Water Percent — 0.2% • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 219561 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 229091 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Website — donaanacounty.org • District — 2nd • Time Zone — Mountain

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3814 sqmi, of which 3808 sqmi is land and 6.9 sqmi, or 0.2%, is covered by water. The county contains a number of prominent geographical features, most notably the Mesilla Valley (the floodplain of the Rio Grande), which runs north to south through the center of the county, and the Organ Mountains, which are located along the county's eastern edge. Other mountain ranges located in the county include the Robledo Mountains, Doña Ana Mountains, Sierra de las Uvas, the southern end of the San Andres Mountains, East Potrillo Mountains, and West Potrillo Mountains. Two small, isolated mountains also exist within the county: Tortugas Mountain (also called A Mountain) to the east of Las Cruces, and Picacho Peak to the west. The county also includes one of New Mexico's four large lava fields, the Aden Malpais, and one of the world's largest maare volcanoes, Kilbourne Hole.

• Luna County – west • Sierra County – north • Otero County – east • El Paso County, Texas – southeast • Ascensión, Chihuahua, Mexico – south • Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico – south

• Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail (part) • El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail (part) • Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument • Prehistoric Trackways National Monument • San Andres National Wildlife Refuge • White Sands National Park (part)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 219,561. The median age was 36.0 years, 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18, and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over. Doña Ana County, New Mexico – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. • Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) — Pop 2000 — Pop 2010 — % 2000 — % 2010 • White alone (NH) — 56,688 — 62,992 — 59,749 — 32.45% — 30.11% — 27.21% • Black or African American alone (NH) — 2,261 — 2,825 — 3,172 — 1.29% — 1.35% — 1.44% • Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) — 1,279 — 1,521 — 1,463 — 0.73% — 0.73% — 0.67% • Asian alone (NH) — 1,241 — 2,029 — 2,458 — 0.71% — 0.97% — 1.12% • Pacific Islander alone (NH) — 67 — 128 — 115 — 0.04% — 0.06% — 0.05% • Other race alone (NH) — 608 — 329 — 839 — 0.35% — 0.16% — 0.38% • Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) — 1,873 — 1,895 — 4,093 — 1.07% — 0.91% — 1.86% • Hispanic or Latino (any race) — 110,665 — 137,514 — 147,672 — 63.35% — 65.72% — 67.26% • Total — 174,682 — 209,233 — 219,561 — 100.00% — 100.00% — 100.00% The racial makeup of the county was 47.5% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 1.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 20.1% from some other race, and 27.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 67.3% of the population. 77.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 22.5% lived in rural areas. There were 82,366 households in the county, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 89,804 housing units, of which 8.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.7% were owner-occupied and 35.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 209,233 people, 75,532 households, and 51,863 families residing in the county. The population density was 55.0 PD/sqmi. There were 81,492 housing units at an average density of 21.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 74.1% white, 1.7% black or African American, 1.5% American Indian, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 18.5% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 65.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 7.3% were German, and 2.2% were American. Of the 75,532 households, 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.3% were non-families, and 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25. The median age was 32.4 years. The median income for a household in the county was $36,657 and the median income for a family was $43,184. Males had a median income of $33,510 versus $25,217 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,315. About 20.1% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 174,682 people, 59,556 households, and 42,939 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 PD/sqmi. There were 65,210 housing units at an average density of 17 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 67.8% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 24.7% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. 63.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 59,556 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.36. In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,808, and the median income for a family was $33,576. Males had a median income of $27,215 versus $20,883 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,999. 25.4% of the population and 20.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 34.4% are under the age of 18 and 12.7% are 65 or older.

Doña Ana is a Democratic-leaning county in Presidential and Congressional elections. Since 1920, Doña Ana has voted for the candidate who also won statewide, with the only exception being in 2004 when Democrat John Kerry won Doña Ana 51–48%, while Republican George W. Bush won statewide 50–49%. The last Republican to win a majority in the county was George H. W. Bush in 1988. Doña Ana is part of New Mexico's 2nd congressional district, which is currently held by Democrat Gabe Vasquez. In the State Senate, Doña Ana is part of the 31st, 35th, 36th, 37th, and 38th Senate districts, which currently held by Joe Cervantes, Crystal Brantley, Jeff Steinborn, William Soules and Carrie Hamblen, respectively. In the State House, Doña Ana is part of the 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 52nd and 53rd House districts. The current state representatives are Jenifer Jones, Micaela Lara Cadena, Raymundo Lara, Angelica Rubio, Nathan Small, Joanne Ferrary, Tara Jaramillo, Doreen Gallegos and Willie Madrid, respectively. The current County Commissioners are as follows: Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez (District 1), Gloria Gameros (District 2), Shannon Reynolds (District 3), Susana Chaparro (District 4) and Manuel A. Sanchez (District 5).

In January 2012, a federal court awarded former County prisoner Stephen Slevin a $22 million award for inhumane treatment and for keeping him jailed for 2 years without a trial. In a radio interview on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program As It Happens broadcast on February 7, 2012, Slevin's lawyer indicated that he was arrested for "DWI". During his incarceration, Slevin was placed in solitary confinement. When his health deteriorated, Slevin was removed to a hospital, but after two weeks in the hospital, he was returned to solitary confinement. The lawyer stated that pictures taken before and after Slevin's time in jail were key to the trial's outcome. The District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District in Doña Ana County during the 2005–2007 indefinite detention without trial of Mr. Slevin was Susana Martinez, who later became the Governor of New Mexico. In August 2013, County Clerk Lynn Ellins announced he would begin granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Several Republican state legislators vowed to file suit against Ellins in a bid to halt the licenses from being issued. In the aftermath of the 2015 Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, such controversies have not been raised.

• Illustration — Map of Doña Ana County

• Anthony • Las Cruces (county seat) • Sunland Park

• Mesilla

• Hatch

• Berino • Butterfield Park • Chamberino • Chaparral • Doña Ana • Fairacres • Garfield • La Mesa • La Union • Mesquite • Organ • Picacho Hills • Placitas • Radium Springs • Rincon • Rodey • Salem • San Miguel • San Pablo • San Ysidro • Santa Teresa • Tortugas • University Park • Vado • White Sands

• Picacho

• Lanark • Santa Barbara

School districts in the county include: • Gadsden Independent Schools • Hatch Valley Municipal Schools • Las Cruces Public Schools

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