2020 census As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 40,363. The median age was 43.5 years, with 21.2% of residents under the age of 18 and 21.0% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and among those age 18 and over there were 95.6 males per 100 females. The racial makeup of the county was 34.4% White, 0.5%
Black or African American, 17.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
Asian, 0.0%
Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander, 21.2% from some other race, and 26.1% from
two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 67.3% of the population. 43.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.4% lived in rural areas. There were 16,122 households in the county, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 19,638 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 51.6% white, 16.0% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 28.0% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 71.3% of the population. • 20.6% Mexican • 15.5% Spanish • 4.5% German • 3.2% English • 2.7% Irish • 1.7% French • 1.5% Navajo • 1.2% Scottish Of the 15,768 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.0 years.
2000 census As of the
2000 census, there were 41,190 people, 15,044 households, and 10,816 families living in the county. The
population density was . There were 18,016 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 56.62%
White, 0.35%
Black or
African American, 13.88%
Native American, 0.14%
Asian, 0.11%
Pacific Islander, 25.62% from
other races, and 3.28% from two or more races. 72.89% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. There were 15,044 households, out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were
married couples living together, 15.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,429, and the median income for a family was $32,901. Males had a median income of $26,897 versus $22,223 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $14,263. About 16.60% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 23.30% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over. ==Politics==