Thoreau, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Thoreau is a census-designated place
(CDP) in McKinley County
, New Mexico
, United States
. The population was 1,863 at the 2000 census.
Practically all residents pronounce the town's name like "thuh-ROO" (similar to "through" or "threw") and definitely not like "thorough" or "throw." The town is also not named for Henry David Thoreau
, the transcendentalist author, though this is a common misconception. A history of the town was compiled by local author Roxanne Trout Heath in her book "Thoreau, where the trails cross!" published in 1982.
The ZIP code for Thoreau is 87323.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²), all of it land.
Thoreau sits at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) above sea level, and located 8 kilometres (5 mi) east of the continental divide
.
Thoreau lies along Interstate 40
and the historic U.S. Route 66
. New Mexico State Highways 122, 371, and 612 also pass through or terminate here. Additionally, the town is located along two natural gas pipelines and a major railway.
The climate in Thoreau is desert, with sparse vegetation typical of the region. Common plants include pinyon pine and juniper trees, sagebrush, tumbleweeds, and some short, sparse grasses. The four seasons are well pronounced. Summers are relatively mild, due to Thoreau's high elevation and persistently low humidities. Maximum temperatures do not usually exceed about 33 °C (about 90 °F). The southwest monsoon brings thunderstorms with frequent lightning in July and August. Autumn is pleasant with warm days and cool nights. Winter is marked by frequent snowstorms, with minimum temperatures sometimes dropping to about -15 °C (about 0 °F) or colder. Cold, persistent, very high winds are common in Spring, usually through much of the month of March.
Thoreau is located in a broad valley beneath a large escarpment of Old Red Sandstone
, which marks the southern boundary of the Colorado Plateau to the north. Mount Powell
and Castle Rock
are landmarks along this escarpment adjacent to Thoreau. The Zuñi Mountains
are to the south.
of 2000, there were 1,863 people, 532 households, and 405 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 117.1 people per square mile (45.2/km2). There were 599 housing units at an average density of 37.6 per square mile (14.5/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 23.19% White, 0.11% African American, 71.12% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.27% from other races
, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.34% of the population.
There were 532 households out of which 49.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples
living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% 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 4.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 40.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,280, and the median income for a family was $29,708. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $23,092 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $10,516. About 23.3% of families and 30.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 26.9% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in McKinley County
McKinley County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*15.2% White*0.5% Black*75.5% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*4.6% Other races*13.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,863 at the 2000 census.
Practically all residents pronounce the town's name like "thuh-ROO" (similar to "through" or "threw") and definitely not like "thorough" or "throw." The town is also not named for Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist...
, the transcendentalist author, though this is a common misconception. A history of the town was compiled by local author Roxanne Trout Heath in her book "Thoreau, where the trails cross!" published in 1982.
The ZIP code for Thoreau is 87323.
Geography
Thoreau is located at 35.414370°N 108.223594°W (35.414370, -108.223594).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²), all of it land.
Thoreau sits at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) above sea level, and located 8 kilometres (5 mi) east of the continental divide
Continental divide
A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea...
.
Thoreau lies along Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
and the historic U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
. New Mexico State Highways 122, 371, and 612 also pass through or terminate here. Additionally, the town is located along two natural gas pipelines and a major railway.
The climate in Thoreau is desert, with sparse vegetation typical of the region. Common plants include pinyon pine and juniper trees, sagebrush, tumbleweeds, and some short, sparse grasses. The four seasons are well pronounced. Summers are relatively mild, due to Thoreau's high elevation and persistently low humidities. Maximum temperatures do not usually exceed about 33 °C (about 90 °F). The southwest monsoon brings thunderstorms with frequent lightning in July and August. Autumn is pleasant with warm days and cool nights. Winter is marked by frequent snowstorms, with minimum temperatures sometimes dropping to about -15 °C (about 0 °F) or colder. Cold, persistent, very high winds are common in Spring, usually through much of the month of March.
Thoreau is located in a broad valley beneath a large escarpment of Old Red Sandstone
Old Red Sandstone
The Old Red Sandstone is a British rock formation of considerable importance to early paleontology. For convenience the short version of the term, 'ORS' is often used in literature on the subject.-Sedimentology:...
, which marks the southern boundary of the Colorado Plateau to the north. Mount Powell
Mount Powell
Mount Powell may refer to one of the following:*One of five mountain peaks in the United States:**Mount Powell **Mount Powell - highest summit of the Gore Range...
and Castle Rock
Castle Rock
-Islands:*Castle Rock , an island off the coast of the U.S. state of Alaska*Castle Rock, Hong Kong , an island of Hong Kong, part of the Po Toi Islands*Castle Rock , an island in the U.S...
are landmarks along this escarpment adjacent to Thoreau. The Zuñi Mountains
Zuni Mountains
The Zuni Mountains are a mountain range in Cibola County of northwestern New Mexico. The range is located largely in the Cibola National Forest, lying south of Interstate 40 from southeast of Gallup to southwest of Grants. The range is about sixty miles long and forty miles wide...
are to the south.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,863 people, 532 households, and 405 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 117.1 people per square mile (45.2/km2). There were 599 housing units at an average density of 37.6 per square mile (14.5/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 23.19% White, 0.11% African American, 71.12% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.34% of the population.
There were 532 households out of which 49.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% 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 4.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 40.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,280, and the median income for a family was $29,708. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $23,092 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $10,516. About 23.3% of families and 30.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 26.9% of those age 65 or over.