New Mexico

Rio Arriba

40,363
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Rio Arriba

Rio Arriba, New Mexico, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 10,668. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 40,363.

Its recorded population peaked at 41,190 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

On the ground today, 19 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Gallina Culture Massacre — Largo Canyon, Burnt Mesa Pueblo Attack (New Mexico), Largo Gallina Conflict, and 118 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202040,363
201040,246
200041,190
199034,365
198029,282
197025,170
196024,193
195024,997
194025,352
193021,381
192019,552
191016,624
190013,777
189011,534
188011,023
18709,294
18609,849
185010,668
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Rio Arriba

Military engagements that took place in Rio Arriba, New Mexico.

Gallina Culture Massacre — Largo Canyon
1100
Burnt Mesa Pueblo Attack (New Mexico)
1100
Largo Gallina Conflict
1200
Gallina Massacre — La Jara Site
1200
Gallina Culture Massacre – New Mexico
1250
Burnt Mesa Pueblo Conflict
1275
Tsiping Ruin Conflict
1350
Gallinas Springs Massacre
1350
Oñate's Entrada – San Juan Pueblo 1598
1598
Pueblo Revolt – San Juan Massacre 1680
1680
Battle of Embudo Pass
1847
Embudo Pass Battle – Detail
1847
Skirmish at El Embudo / Canada
1847
Embudo Pass Fight
1847
Battle of Ojo Caliente (Jicarilla)
1854
Battle of Cienega Creek — Jicarilla Ambush (March 30, 1854)
1854
Battle of Ojo Caliente NM (1855)
1854
Battle of Rio Caliente
1854
Battle of Cieneguilla — Jicarilla
1854

Historic places in Rio Arriba

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rio Arriba, New Mexico.

La Puente Historic District
Los Ojos
Jaramillo, Ramon, House and Barn
Encenada
Becker, George, House, Bunk House and Barn
Los Ojos
Frances Canyon Ruin
Blanco
Adolfo Canyon Site (LA 5665)
Tierra Amarilla
Martinez, Teodoro, House
Los Ojos
San Gabriel de Yungue-Ouinge
Espanola
O'Keeffe, Georgia, Home and Studio
Abiquiu
La Puente Community Ditch
La Puente
Old Fort (LA 1869)
Tierra Amarilla
Crow Canyon Archeological District
Farmington
Santa Clara Pueblo
Espanola
Valdez, Miguel, Barn
Encenada
Trujillo, Manuelita, House
Los Ojos
Rio Grande Bridge at San Juan Pueblo
Alcalde
Puye Ruins
Espanola
Casados House
Los Ojos
Parkview Community Ditch
Los Ojos
Plaza Blanca Historic District
Plaza Blanca
San Juan Pueblo
Sante Fe
Tsama Pueblo
Abiquiu
Blanton Log House
Los Ojos
Martinez, Gilbert, Barn
Los Ojos
Foster Hotel
Chama
Browse all New Mexicohistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

This page charts the census history of Rio Arriba 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 Rio Arriba

When does Rio Arriba first appear in the US census?
Rio Arriba, New Mexico first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 10,668.
What is the population of Rio Arriba?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rio Arriba had a recorded population of 40,363.
When did Rio Arriba's population peak?
Rio Arriba's recorded population peaked at 41,190 in 2000.
Were any battles fought in Rio Arriba?
19 documented military engagements took place in Rio Arriba, including Gallina Culture Massacre — Largo Canyon, Burnt Mesa Pueblo Attack (New Mexico), Largo Gallina Conflict.
How many historic places are in Rio Arriba?
118 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rio Arriba, New Mexico.
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