Home    Programs     NMGS Press    Membership     Contact Us

---

The New Mexico Genealogical Society, founded in 1960, is composed entirely of volunteers. 2010 was our 50th year of providing research materials and networking opportunities for family historians.

---

Availability of U. S. Federal Census Population Schedules for New Mexico Counties by Ezekiel Gutierrez, Jr., as published in the New Mexico Genealogist, March 1999.

The following chart shows the census population schedules that exist for New Mexico counties from 1850 through 1920 and that are available on microfilm for public research at genealogical and family history libraries. The first U.S. census of New Mexico was taken in 1850, the year that New Mexico officially became a territory of the United States. It remained a territory until statehood in 1912. The 1850 territorial census for the original seven counties of New Mexico is itemized and indexed in New Mexico 1850 Territorial Census, Vols. 1 through 4 [Item B1, NMGS Press]. Notes: Yes: A federal population schedule is extant for that census year. No: The 1890 census was taken, but the schedules are not available. A 1921 fire in the Commerce Department, Washington, D.C., destroyed almost all the census documents. None of the New Mexico records survived. Although there is no 1890 Federal Census, a Special Schedule of 1890 (an enumeration of union veterans and widows) is available. The Special Schedule for Doña Ana County has been published in the New Mexico Genealogist, Sep 1997:113 and Dec 1997:158. Under current law, a federal census does not become available to the public for 72 years after it is taken. The 1930 census will come into the public domain in the year 2002.

County 1850 1860 1870 1880 1885 1890 1900 1910 1920 Established Bernalillo Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1852 Catron -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1921 Chaves -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes Yes 1889 Cibola -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1981 Colfax -- -- Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1869 Curry -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes 1909 DeBaca -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes 1917 Doña Ana Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1852 Eddy -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes Yes 1889 Grant -- -- Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1868 Guadalupe -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes Yes 1891 Harding -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1921 Hidalgo -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes 1919 Lea -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes 1917 Lincoln -- -- Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1869 Los Alamos -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1949 Luna -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes 1901 McKinley -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes 1899 Mora -- Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1860 Otero -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes Yes 1899 Quay -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes 1903 Rio Arriba Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1852 Roosevelt -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes 1903 San Juan -- -- -- -- -- No Yes Yes Yes 1887 San Miguel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1852 Sandoval -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes 1903 Santa Ana Yes Yes Yes -- -- -- -- -- -- 1852-1876* Santa Fe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1852 Sierra -- -- -- -- Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1884 Socorro -- Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1850 Taos Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1852 Torrance -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes 1903 Union -- -- -- -- -- -- Yes Yes Yes 1893 Valencia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 1852        *Santa Ana County was absorbed by Bernalillo County in 1876. References: Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920, by William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, MD 1987. Twenty Censuses Population and Housing Questions, 1790-1980, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, October 1979.