According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,394 square miles (11,380 km2), of which 4,391 sq mi (11,370 km2) are land and 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km2) (0.07%) are covered by water.[3] Lea County is located in the southeast corner of New Mexico and borders Texas to the south and east.
The Permian Basin, 250 mi (400 km) wide and 350 mi (560 km) 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 3,000–15,000 ft (910–4,570 m) below the surface, below a salt bed and a groundwater aquifer.[4]
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010[9]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[10] 55,511 people, 19,699 households, and 14,715 families were living in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km2). The 23,405 housing units averaged 5 units per square mile (1.9/km2). 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.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, 64,727 people, 22,236 households, and 16,260 families were living in the county.[11] The population density was 14.7 inhabitants per square mile (5.7/km2). The 24,919 housing units averaged 5.7/sq mi (2.2/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 75.0% White, 4.1% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 16.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 51.1% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 9.3% were German, 7.6% were Irish, 7.2% were English, and 6.3% were American.[13]
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.[11]
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.[14]
Transportation
Airports
These public-use airports are located in the county:[15]
Lea County, like most of the High Plains, eastern New Mexico and west-central Texas, is 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%.[16] In 2020, Donald Trump won over 79% of the county's vote, while Joe Biden only received 19%, the worst showing for a Democrat in the county's history. It was Trump's strongest county in New Mexico in the 2020 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.
United States presidential election results for Lea County, New Mexico[17]
^John L. Smith (December 29, 2018). "Oil: Black gold or prime polluter?: Oil leases bring jobs, strains, to southeast New Mexico". Gallup Independent. Searchlight New Mexico. p. 1.
