Placitas, Sandoval County, New Mexico

Placitas is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 4,977.[1] It is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Placitas, New Mexico
CDP
Las Placitas Presbyterian Church
Location of Placitas, New Mexico
Placitas, New Mexico Location in the United States
Coordinates: 35°19′3″N 106°27′7″W
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Sandoval
Area
• Total	29.7 sq mi (76.9 km^2)
• Land	29.7 sq mi (76.9 km^2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km^2)
Elevation	5,955 ft (1,815 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	4,977
• Density	170/sq mi (65/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	87043
Area code(s)	505
FIPS code	35-58070
GNIS feature ID	0915877

Geography

Placitas is located at 35°19′3″N 106°27′7″W (35.317444, -106.452065).[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 29.7 square miles (77 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

At the 2000 census there were 3,452 people, 1,485 households, and 1,101 families in the CDP. The population density was 115.4 people per square mile (44.5/km²). There were 1,606 housing units at an average density of 53.7 per square mile (20.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.52% White, 0.70% African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.46% from other races, and 3.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.22%.[3]

Of the 1,485 households 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 20.1% of households were one person and 4.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.66.

The age distribution was 18.8% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 42.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median household income was $60,597 and the median family income was $71,696. Males had a median income of $46,667 versus $41,914 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $36,243. About 2.6% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places: New Mexico". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

Wild Horses of Placitas, 2012. They are the source of some controversy. One argument is that they eat the wild grass faster than it can renew itself, especially during drought, which may lead to erosion problems. Traffic safety is also of concern, due to the free-roaming horses crossing rural roads and a state highway (NM 165). Photo courtesy of John Fowler, Placitas.