Lea County, New Mexico

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4394 sqmi, of which 4391 sqmi are land and 3.3 sqmi (0.07%) are covered by water. Lea County is located in the southeast corner of New Mexico and borders Texas to the south and east.

The Permian Basin, 250 mi wide and 350 mi long, underlies Lea County and adjacent Eddy County, as well as a large portion of West Texas. It produces 500,000 barrels of crude a day, and this number was expected to double in 2019. The shale in this basin lies 3,000 - below the surface, below a salt bed and a groundwater aquifer.

Adjacent counties

• Roosevelt County – north
• Chaves County – northwest
• Eddy County – west
• Loving County, Texas – south
• Winkler County, Texas – southeast
• Andrews County, Texas – east
• Gaines County, Texas – east
• Yoakum County, Texas – east
• Cochran County, Texas – northeast

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 74,455. The median age was 32.3 years. 29.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 107.6 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 46.1% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 27.1% from some other race, and 20.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 60.7% of the population.

75.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 24.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 25,049 households in the county, of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 27,950 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.6% were owner-occupied and 33.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.2%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 64,727 people, 22,236 households, and 16,260 families were living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020238/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US35025 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192205/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US35025 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024301/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US35025 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 22,236 households, 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.9% were not families, and 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.30. The median age was 31.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,910 and for a family was $48,980. Males had a median income of $44,714 versus $25,847 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,637. About 15.2% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023902/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US35025 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 55,511 people, 19,699 households, and 14,715 families were living in the county. The population density was 13 /mi2. The 23,405 housing units averaged 5 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 67.13% White, 4.37% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 23.85% from other races, and 3.27% from two or more races. About 39.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 19,699 households, 39.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were not families. About 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73, and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the age distribution was 30.10% under 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,799, and for a family was $34,665. Males had a median income of $32,005 versus $20,922 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,184. About 17.30% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.00% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Airports

These public-use airports are located in the county:

• Lea County Regional Airport (HOB) – Hobbs
• Lea County-Jal Airport (E26) – Jal
• Lea County-Zip Franklin Memorial Airport (E06) – Lovington
• Tatum Airport (18T) – Tatum

Politics

Lea County, like most of the High Plains, eastern New Mexico and west-central Texas, is heavily Republican. It has repeatedly claimed the status of the most Republican county in New Mexico in Presidential elections. In the 2004 Presidential election, Lea County was the top New Mexico county, as far as percentage, for Republican George W. Bush. He beat John Kerry 79%-20%. In 2008, the Republican candidate John McCain beat Democratic candidate Barack Obama by a wide but slightly smaller margin, 72% to 27%. In 2024, Donald Trump won over 80% of the county's vote, while Kamala Harris only received 18.5%, the worst showing for a Democrat in the county's history. It was Trump's strongest county in New Mexico in the 2024 election. No Democrat has received more than 30% of the county's vote since Bill Clinton in 1996.

However, Lea County was a Democratic stronghold prior to 1968, voting Republican only once in Herbert Hoover's 1928 landslide.

Communities

Cities

• Eunice
• Hobbs
• Jal
• Lovington (County Seat)

Town

• Tatum

Census-designated places

• Monument
• Nadine
• North Hobbs

Other unincorporated communities

• Bennett
• Caprock
• Crossroads
• Knowles
• Maljamar
• McDonald

Ghost towns

• Arkansas Junction

Education

School districts include:

• Eunice Municipal Schools
• Hobbs Municipal Schools
• Jal Public Schools
• Lovington Public Schools
• Tatum Municipal Schools

Notable people

• Roy Cooper. Rodeo cowboy
• Kathy Whitworth, professional golfer
• Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears football linebacker (2000–2012)

References

References

1. "Lea County, New Mexico". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
4. John L. Smith. (December 29, 2018). "Oil: Black gold or prime polluter?: Oil leases bring jobs, strains, to southeast New Mexico". Gallup Independent.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
14. [http://www.tollfreeairline.com/newmexico/lea.htm Public and Private Airports, Lea County, New Mexico]
15. "County Results – Election Center 2008 – Elections & Politics from CNN.com".
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
17. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lea County, NM". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].