New Mexico

Chaves

65,157
2020 population
1900
first census record
13
census records

About Chaves

Chaves, New Mexico, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 4,773. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 65,157.

Its recorded population peaked at 65,645 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Mescalero Internment at Bosque Redondo 1863, Bosque Redondo – Navajo Conflicts at Reservation, Bosque Redondo Long Walk Route Skirmishes, and 22 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202065,157
201065,645
200061,382
199057,849
198051,103
197043,335
196057,649
195040,605
194023,980
193019,549
192012,075
191016,850
19004,773
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Chaves

Military engagements that took place in Chaves, New Mexico.

Mescalero Internment at Bosque Redondo 1863
1863
Bosque Redondo – Navajo Conflicts at Reservation
1864
Bosque Redondo Long Walk Route Skirmishes
1864
Long Walk – Bosque Redondo Internment
1864
Navajo Treaty Signing at Fort Sumner (June 1868)
1868

Historic places in Chaves

National Register of Historic Places listings in Chaves, New Mexico.

Milne-Bush Ranch
Roswell
Downtown Roswell Historic District
Roswell
Garrett, Patrick Floyd, House
Roswell
White, James Phelps, House
Roswell
Rio Felix Bridge At Hagerman
Hagerman
Ozark Trails Marker at Lake Arthur
Lake Arthur
Saunders-Crosby House
Roswell
Massey, Louise, House
Roswell
CA Bar Ranch
Mayhill
Slaughter-Hill Ranch
Roswell
Flying H Ranch
Roswell
Chaves County Courthouse
Roswell
New Mexico Military Institute Historic District
Roswell
South Spring Ranch
Roswell
Roswell Artist-in-Residence Compound
Roswell
Browse all New Mexicohistoric sites ›

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Explore census history and historic records for more New Mexico counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Chaves County, New Mexico

This page charts the census history of Chaves County, New Mexico. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Chaves

When does Chaves first appear in the US census?
Chaves, New Mexico first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 4,773.
What is the population of Chaves?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Chaves had a recorded population of 65,157.
When did Chaves's population peak?
Chaves's recorded population peaked at 65,645 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Chaves?
5 documented military engagements took place in Chaves, including Mescalero Internment at Bosque Redondo 1863, Bosque Redondo – Navajo Conflicts at Reservation, Bosque Redondo Long Walk Route Skirmishes.
How many historic places are in Chaves?
22 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chaves, New Mexico.
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