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LAS CRUCES - For the first time ever, New Mexico's population has surpassed two million residents.
We'll find out by how much today, when U.S. Census Bureau officials announce the first set of 2010 Census data. Information to be released includes the resident population for the U.S. and each of the 50 states as well as the congressional apportionment totals. Federal law requires the Census Bureau to report these results to President Barack Obama by Dec. 31.
"It's not surprising that we've grown as a state," said Denise Jerome, an administrative assistant who has lived in Las Cruces for 17 years. "With all of the growth and changes that have happened here in the past 10 years, I'm especially curious to see just how much Las Cruces and Do-a Ana County have increased the past 10 years."
But Jerome, and everyone else, will have to wait a while longer for that data to become available. Census data for individual communities isn't schedule to be released until April.
According to last year's American Community Survey, an estimate compiled by the Census Bureau, Las Cruces had an approximate population of 93,452. That was a 20.5
Davin Lopez, executive director of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, said Monday the census data coming in April should have more meaning to Las Crucens than today's report.
"Most important from that forthcoming data will be the indications of what types of federal programs we could become eligible for," Lopez said. "That data will give us a much better indication of what types of federal business assistance programs we might be eligible for, such as new market tax credits and HUBZone programs."
HUBZone is a U.S. Small Business Administration program for small companies that operate and employ people in historically underutilized business zones.
New Mexico's estimated population last year, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, was 2,009,671. But since it was a not a year when the census was conducted, the population is not considered official. That would have an effect on the number of congressional representatives New Mexico has, as well as the delineation of congressional districts.
Jude McCartin, spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said today's announcement of New Mexico's population shouldn't have an effect on the number of congressional members the state will have.
"It is exciting that New Mexico will have a population of more than two million for the first time ever," McCartin said. "But that increase won't mean additional seats in Congress. As I understand, we would have had to have seen an increase in the state of something like 600,000 to get another seat, but that's not going to happen."
As many as 10 states, including Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, could all lose U.S. House seats because of dwindling population. New Mexico's neighboring states of Arizona and Texas could gain additional House seats, along with Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington.
But McCartin added that doesn't mean there won't be any changes for New Mexico.
"What the census data will tell us is if the boundaries for congressional districts in the state will have to be redrawn," McCartin said. "It's possible that could happen. If it does come to that, the Legislature would have the responsibility of establishing the new boundaries."
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452
We're getting bigger
• U.S. Census Bureau officials will announce new census numbers today for all 50 states.
• New Mexico's population will be more than two million residents for the first time ever.
• In 2000, New Mexico's population was 1,819,041.
• Despite the population increase, there will be no increase in congressional representation for New Mexico.
• Census figures for Las Cruces and all other New Mexico communities aren't anticipated to be announced until April.
