New Mexico

Otero

67,839
2020 population
1900
first census record
13
census records

About Otero

Otero, New Mexico, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 4,791. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 67,839.

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

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Sacramento (New Mexico 1847), Battle of Dog Canyon (Mescalero), Mescalero Apache Raids — Sacramento Mountains 1874, and 32 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202067,839
201063,797
200062,298
199051,928
198044,665
197041,097
196036,976
195014,909
194010,522
19309,779
19207,902
19107,069
19004,791
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Otero

Military engagements that took place in Otero, New Mexico.

Battle of Sacramento (New Mexico 1847)
1847
Battle of Dog Canyon (Mescalero)
1863
Mescalero Apache Raids — Sacramento Mountains 1874
1874
Battle of the Sacramentos NM
1879
Battle of Sierra Blanca NM
1879
Battle of Pinon Canyon (New Mexico)
1879
Mescalero Reservation Disturbances (1880)
1880

Historic places in Otero

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

Sutherland, D. H., House
La Luz
Wofford Lookout Complex
Cloudcroft
Mexican Canyon Trestle
Cloudcroft
Bridge A 249-Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Cloudcroft
Administration Building
Alamogordo
La Luz Pottery Factory (Additional Documentation)
La Luz
Alamogordo Woman's Club
Alamogordo
Queen Anne House
La Luz
Jackson House
Almogordo
St. Joseph Apache Mission Church
Mescalero
Circle Cross Ranch Headquarters
Sacramento
Bluewater Lookout Complex
Weed
Central Receiving Building
Alamogordo
La Luz Historic District
La Luz
Browse all New Mexicohistoric sites ›

Other counties in New Mexico

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Otero County, New Mexico

This page charts the census history of Otero 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 Otero

When does Otero first appear in the US census?
Otero, New Mexico first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 4,791.
What is the population of Otero?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Otero had a recorded population of 67,839.
Were any battles fought in Otero?
7 documented military engagements took place in Otero, including Battle of Sacramento (New Mexico 1847), Battle of Dog Canyon (Mescalero), Mescalero Apache Raids — Sacramento Mountains 1874.
How many historic places are in Otero?
32 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Otero, New Mexico.
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