New Mexico

Lea

74,455
2020 population
1920
first census record
11
census records

About Lea

Lea, New Mexico, first appears in the United States federal census in 1920, when it recorded a population of 3,545. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 74,455.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202074,455
201064,727
200055,511
199055,765
198055,993
197049,554
196053,429
195030,717
194021,154
19306,144
19203,545
Source

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

Historic places in Lea

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

Lea Theater
Lovington
Lovington Fire Department Building
Lovington
Sewalt, Mathew Elmore, House
Lovington
Pyburn House
Lovington
Browse all New Mexicohistoric sites ›

Other counties in New Mexico

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Everything a full report reveals about Lea County, New Mexico

This page charts the census history of Lea 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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New Mexicohistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from New Mexico›

Frequently asked about Lea

When does Lea first appear in the US census?
Lea, New Mexico first appears in the federal census in 1920, with a recorded population of 3,545.
What is the population of Lea?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lea had a recorded population of 74,455.
How many historic places are in Lea?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lea, New Mexico.
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