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LAS CRUCES - We're bigger, older and more Hispanic - that's the gist of the 2010 U.S. Census data that was released at high noon Tuesday.
The city's population has increased by 23,351 in the past 10 years - or by 31.4 percent - and is now at 97,245. Las Cruces remains New Mexico's second-largest city, based on population, with just a little more than 10,000 residents more than the city of Rio Rancho - which grew by 69.1 percent since the 2000 census.
"We fell just short of that 100,000 I thought we could get," said Mayor Ken Miyagishima, with an ever-so-slight twinge of disappointment in his voice.
But Miyagishima quickly rebounded.
"That's still a good number," he said. "We've grown at about 2,300 residents a year the past 10 years, and that's a good, steady increase."
Based on Las Cruces' annual growth rate of 3 percent since the 2000 census, Miyagishima said it won't be long before the city reaches 100,000 residents.
"I think we should be at 100,000 easily in the next year," Miyagishima said. "But if not next year, then the year after that for sure."
The data provided the first official glimpse for city, Do a Ana County, New Mexico and federal officials at population counts for all areas of the state. The data also showed population totals for race and ethnicity, voting age and housing unit data.
All of that data is important because it's used in determining just how much in state or federal funding the city could be eligible for, to pay for programs
James T. Peach, a New Mexico State University regents professor, whose primary research interests includes population economics, said he wasn't overly surprised by what the numbers revealed.
"A lot of what we learned (Tuesday) was what we already had a pretty good idea about," Peach said. "The estimates provided to us gave us pretty good determination of what we could have expected."
The difference between race and ethnicity
The number of Las Crucens who can say they are at least partly Hispanic or Latino has increased to 55,443, or 56.8 percent of the city's population.
"That's an increase from 51.7 percent of the population in the 2000 census," Peach said.
Altogether, 96.5 percent, or 94,164 city residents, are listed in 2010 Census as belonging to one race. Interestingly, the data showed there are almost as many Asians living in Las Cruces - 1,541, or 1.6 percent of city residents - as there are American Indians and Alaska natives, who account for 1,706 residents, or 1.7 percent of the population.
"I would have only been surprised if there had been fewer Hispanics living in 'Cruces," said Miguel Mora, a Las Cruces construction worker. "To me, there seems to be a pretty good mix of all kinds of races here. That's especially good for our kids because they get the chance to meet and interact with all kinds of people."
A person's ethnicity is their ability to identity with or membership in a particular racial, national, or cultural group and observance of that group's customs, beliefs, and language. A person's race, or multiple races, might be something entirely different.
"A lot of people confuse race with ethnicity, where the census is concerned," Peach said.
Peach said the city's increase in Hispanic residents could be compared with statewide data. Of the slightly more than two million New Mexico residents, 46.3 percent are Hispanic, which Peach said is an increase from 42.1 percent in the 2000 census.
Catching up
Peach said average age of New Mexico residents has now reached 35.8 years, just a year younger than the current U.S. average. Twenty years ago, the average age of New Mexicans was in the 20s.
"We're right there now, with the U.S. average," Peach said. "We're older."
American Community Survey
While the focus on Tuesday's census data was on population figures and ethnic and racial makeup, there wasn't any specific data on general demographics, such as income levels.
Peach said that data had traditionally been included in previous censuses, but is now done separately through the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The survey is an ongoing process that is sent to approximately 250,000 addresses every month. It regularly gathers information that was previously contained only in the long form of the census.
The American Community Survey is the largest survey other than the decennial census that the Census Bureau administers.
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.
The numbers are in
•Las Cruces' official population, according to the 2010 Census, is 97,618
•The city's population in the 2000 Census was 74,267
•Based on a 3-percent annual growth rate, which the city has maintained for more than 10 years, Las Cruces' population could exceed 100,000 in about a year.
We're growing
Population totals and the percentage change from 2000 to 2010:
2000 2010 % change
•Las Cruces 74,267 97,618 31.4
•Mesilla 2,180 2,196 .08
•Hatch 1,673 1,648 -0.1
•Sunland Park 13,309 14,106 5.7
•Anthony NA 9,360 -
•Do a Ana County 174,682 209,233 19.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
The rest of Do a Ana County
Populations of unincorporated areas of the county and their changes:
2000 2010 % change
•Berino 807 1,441 44.0
•Chamberino 295 919 311
•Chaparral 6,117 14,631 239
•Do a Ana 1,379 1,211 -12.2
•Garfield 436 137 -318
•La Mesa 728 3,499 480
•La Union NA 1,106 -
•Mesquite 948 1,172 19.2
•Rincon 220 271 18.9
•Santa Teresa 2,607 4,258 38.7
Source: 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census
