24-742: Ruidoso Downs is a city in Lincoln County , New Mexico , United States, located within the Lincoln National Forest . The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census and 2,815 at the 2010 census . Originally incorporated as a village, it became a city in May 2002. Known locally as "the Downs", Ruidoso Downs is a suburb of adjacent Ruidoso and is a part of the Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area . The city, located along U.S. Route 70 ,
48-477: A household in the county was $ 33,886, and the median income for a family was $ 40,035. Males had a median income of $ 27,323 versus $ 19,923 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 19,338. About 10.80% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 census , there were 20,497 people, 9,219 households, and 5,859 families living in
72-713: Is named after the Ruidoso Downs Race Track , which is located in the city along with the Billy the Kid Casino and the Hubbard Museum of the American West . According to a local Ruidoso Downs historian, early on Hispanos settlers called the area "San Juanito". The settlers began arriving in the early in the late 1840s, and introduced rodeo and horse racing to the area. Originally the area had scattered farms and ranches, with
96-447: Is often difficult, since methodologies, definitions and data quality can vary greatly. Since the 1990s, the OECD has conducted regular surveys among its 38 member countries using a standardized methodology and set of questions. Per capita income is often used to measure a sector's average income and compare the wealth of different populations. Per capita income is also often used to measure
120-526: Is overwhelmingly Republican, voting Democratic in just 3 elections since New Mexico's founding (1912, 1932, 1936). It was one of only three counties in the state to support Barry Goldwater of neighboring Arizona in 1964, which is also the last time a Democrat managed even 40 percent of the county's vote. School districts include: 33°44′N 105°28′W / 33.74°N 105.46°W / 33.74; -105.46 Per capita income Per capita income ( PCI ) or average income measures
144-640: The Ruidoso News was founded and the airport opened, and two years later radio arrived. Electric lights appeared in the area in 1947. The White Mountain Inn opened in the 1940s as a sanatorium and as a lodging establishment. Ruidoso Downs is located in southern Lincoln County and is bordered to the west by Ruidoso . U.S. Route 70 passes through the city, leading east 69 miles (111 km) to Roswell and southwest over Apache Summit 34 miles (55 km) to Tularosa . New Mexico State Road 48 departs US 70 just west of
168-607: The Dowlin Mill constructed in 1868. A new wave of families arrived after the Lincoln County War . By around 1907 the road between Roswell and Alamogordo , which passed through the area, was still primitive, though it was improved in the 1920s through the Federal Aid Project. The road that would become US 70 was paved in the area around 1945, and then improved again in 1958. The road became four lanes in 1981. In 1946
192-553: The Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area 's population of 21,224. Ruidoso serves as the second largest city in south central New Mexico behind Alamogordo which is 46 miles southwest of the village. Ruidoso Downs on the southern end of the county and southeast of Ruidoso operates the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino. The track hosts both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing , notably the All American Futurity ,
216-404: The average family size was 3.09. In the city the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males. The median income for a household in the village
240-489: The average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such as the American Community Survey . This allows the calculation of per capita income for both the country as a whole and specific regions or demographic groups. However, comparing per capita income across different countries
264-609: The city limits, leading north 22 miles (35 km) to Capitan . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km), all of it recorded as land. The city is in the valley of the Rio Ruidoso , which rises to the west on Sierra Blanca Peak and flows east to form the Rio Hondo . As of the census of 2000, there were 1,824 people, 680 households, and 490 families residing in
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#1732890641000288-411: The county. The population density was 4.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km ). There were 17,519 housing units at an average density of 3.6 units per square mile (1.4 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 85.1% white, 2.4% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 9.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 29.8% of
312-411: The county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km ). There were 15,298 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 83.60% White , 0.35% Black or African American , 1.95% Native American , 0.27% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 11.28% from other races , and 2.48% from two or more races. 25.63% of
336-459: The late 1870s, the Lincoln County War began between ranchers and the owners of the county's largest general store. William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid , became involved on the side of the ranchers after his friend and employer was killed. In the end, Bonney killed the county sheriff, a deputy, and the deputy that killed his friend. Several other people were slain in the conflict, which included
360-654: The other leader of the rancher faction. His death ended the conflict. In 1878, the new territorial governor, retired Union General Lew Wallace , offered amnesty to the combatants to bring a long-lasting truce between the factions. Most of the population is in the Greater Ruidoso Area. The town of Carrizozo serves as the county seat and is in the Tularosa Basin northwest of Ruidoso. Ruidoso boasts several small suburbs and neighbor communities including Ruidoso Downs , Hollywood , Mescalero , and Alto which contribute to
384-441: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 8,202 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
408-406: The population. There were 680 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and
432-425: The population. In terms of ancestry, 17.0% were Irish , 15.6% were German , 12.3% were English , and 4.8% were American . Of the 9,219 households, 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.4% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
456-450: The richest in quarter horse racing. Historical figures from Lincoln County include Billy the Kid and Smokey Bear , whose names help drive the tourism trade that is heavily popularized within the county. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 4,831 square miles (12,510 km ), virtually all of which is land. As of the 2000 census , there were 19,411 people, 8,202 households, and 5,634 families living in
480-515: The richest race in Quarter Horse racing. Lincoln County, New Mexico Lincoln County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico . As of the 2020 census , the population was 20,269. Its county seat is Carrizozo , while its largest community is Ruidoso . Lincoln County was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln . It was once the largest county in the United States. In
504-429: The village. The population density was 856.7 inhabitants per square mile (330.8/km). There were 921 housing units at an average density of 432.6 per square mile (167.0/km). The racial makeup of the village was 67.32% White , 0.77% African American , 3.56% Native American , 0.71% Asian , 0.27% Pacific Islander , 24.45% from other races , and 2.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.70% of
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#1732890641000528-418: Was $ 29,375, and the median income for a family was $ 30,500. Males had a median income of $ 22,000 versus $ 17,623 for females. The per capita income for the village was $ 12,144. About 17.4% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. The city is the annual location of the All American Futurity , which claims to be
552-475: Was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 49.4 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 43,750 and the median income for a family was $ 53,871. Males had a median income of $ 34,306 versus $ 29,836 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 24,290. About 8.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over. Lincoln County
576-400: Was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.80. In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 30.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males. The median income for
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