Mescalero, New Mexico

Census-designated place in New Mexico, United States

33°9′27″N 105°46′50″W / 33.15750°N 105.78056°W / 33.15750; -105.78056Country

United StatesState

New MexicoCounty OteroArea

^[1]

• Total17.90 sq mi (46.36 km²) • Land17.89 sq mi (46.33 km²) • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km²)Elevation

6,611 ft (2,015 m)Population

(2020)^[2]

• Total1,480 • Density82.74/sq mi (31.95/km²)Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)ZIP code

88340

Area code575FIPS code35-47920GNIS feature ID0923626

Mescalero (Mescalero-Chiricahua: Mashgal) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Otero County, New Mexico, United States, located on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. The population was 1,338 at the 2010 census.

History

The settlement was originally called Blazer's Mill, the location of a famous gunfight during the Lincoln County War.^[3]

Geography

Mescalero is located at 33°9′27″N 105°46′50″W / 33.15750°N 105.78056°W / 33.15750; -105.78056 (33.157440, -105.780482).^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.9 square miles (46 km²) 17.9 square miles (46.3 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	1,480		—
U.S. Decennial Census^[5]^[2]

As of the census^[6] of 2010, there were 1,338 people, 404 households, and 283 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 68.9 inhabitants per square mile (26.6/km²). There were 373 housing units at an average density of 20.9 per square mile (8.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 4.06% White, 0.16% African American, 90.59% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.68% of the population.

There were 351 households, out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 33.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50 and the average family size was 3.88.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 38.4% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $22,353, and the median income for a family was $22,969. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $20,573 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,554. About 34.5% of families and 39.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.7% of those under age 18 and 34.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Mescalero Apache Schools is a tribal K-12 school associated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). It is outside of the Mescalero CDP although it has a Mescalero post office address.^[7]

Tularosa Municipal Schools is the local school district.^[8]

References

^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
^ Caldwell, pg. 101
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "Home". Mescalero Apache Schools. Retrieved July 29, 2021. 249 White Mountain Drive Mescalero, NM 88340
Compare to: "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Mescalero CDP, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2021. - Pages: 1, 2, and 3
^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Otero County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2021.