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Lincoln County, New Mexico
Map
Location in the state of New Mexico
New Mexico's location in the USA
Statistics
Founded	information needed
Seat	Carrizozo
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	12,513 km² (4,831 mi²)  sq mi ( km²) 1 km² (0 mi²), 0.01%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	19,411 2/km²
Website: www.lincolncountynm.net

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of 2000, the population was 19,411. The largest city in Lincoln County is Ruidoso. Its county seat is Carrizozo⁶.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Adjacent counties 3 Demographics 4 Cities and towns

It was once the largest county in the United States. In the late 1870s the so-called Lincoln County War broke out 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 deputy that killed his friend, another deputy, and the county sheriff. Several other people were slain in the conflict, which included the other leader of the rancher faction. His death ended the conflict. In 1878, the new territorial governor, retired Union General Lew Wallace offered an amnesty to the combatants in order to bring a long-lasting truce between the factions.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 12,513 km² (4,831 mi²). 12,512 km² (4,831 mi²) of it is land and 1 km² (0 mi²) of it (0.01%) is water.

• Torrance County, New Mexico - north
• Guadalupe County, New Mexico - north
• De Baca County, New Mexico - northeast
• Chaves County, New Mexico - east
• Otero County, New Mexico - south
• Sierra County, New Mexico - southwest
• Socorro County, New Mexico - west

As of the census² of 2000, there were 19,411 people, 8,202 households, and 5,634 families residing in the county. The population density was 2/km² (4/mi²). There were 15,298 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (3/mi²). 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 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 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 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.

• Capitan
• Carrizozo
• Corona
• Hollywood
• Ruidoso
• Ruidoso Downs

	State of New Mexico Santa Fe (capital)
Regions	Central New Mexico | Colorado Plateau | Eastern New Mexico | Llano Estacado | Northern New Mexico | Sangre de Cristo Mountains | Southwestern New Mexico
Major cities	Albuquerque | Las Cruces | Rio Rancho | Roswell | Santa Fe
Smaller cities	Alamogordo | Artesia | Carlsbad | Clovis | Corrales | Deming | Española | Farmington | Gallup | Grants | Hobbs | Las Vegas | Los Alamos | Los Lunas | Lovington | Portales | Ruidoso | Silver City | Socorro | Sunland Park
Counties	Bernalillo | Catron | Chaves | Cibola | Colfax | Curry | De Baca | Doña Ana | Eddy | Grant | Guadalupe | Harding | Hidalgo | Lea | Lincoln | Los Alamos | Luna | McKinley | Mora | Otero | Quay | Rio Arriba | Roosevelt | San Juan | San Miguel | Sandoval | Santa Fe | Sierra | Socorro | Taos | Torrance | Union | Valencia