New Mexico

Socorro

16,595
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Socorro

Socorro, New Mexico, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 5,787. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,595.

Its recorded population peaked at 18,078 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 8 percent.

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Gran Quivira Pueblo Warfare, Gran Quivira Conflict Evidence, Gran Quivira (Salinas) Abandonment — Violence, and 55 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,595
201017,866
200018,078
199014,764
198012,566
19709,763
196010,168
19509,670
194011,422
19309,611
192014,061
191014,761
190012,195
18909,595
18807,875
18706,603
18605,787
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Socorro

Military engagements that took place in Socorro, New Mexico.

Gran Quivira Pueblo Warfare
1300
Gran Quivira Conflict Evidence
1350
Gran Quivira (Salinas) Abandonment — Violence
1670
Battle of Valverde Apache Skirmish
1862
Fort Craig Siege (New Mexico)
1862
Battle of Valverde (New Mexico Territory)
1862
Battle of Val Verde
1862
Battle of Valverde
1862
Battle of Borajo Creek NM
1880
Socorro Lynchings New Mexico
1880
Nana's Raid — New Mexico (1881)
1881
Elfego Baca Standoff — Socorro County 1884
1884
White Caps Violence — Socorro County Livestock War 1892
1892

Historic places in Socorro

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

Sagrada Familia de Lemitar Church, Los Dulces Nombres
Lemitar
Hilton, August Holver, House
Socorro
Fitch, James Gurden, House
Socorro
Bank of Magdalena
Magdalena
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Depot
Magdalena
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Gran Quivira
Bursum House
Socorro
Gran Quivera Historic District
Mountainair
Aragon House
Magdalena
Fitch Hall
Socorro
Cooney, Captain Michael, House
Socorro
Fort Craig
Socorro
Hilton House
Magdalena
San Miguel Church
Socorro
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 Socorro County, New Mexico

This page charts the census history of Socorro 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 Socorro

When does Socorro first appear in the US census?
Socorro, New Mexico first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 5,787.
What is the population of Socorro?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Socorro had a recorded population of 16,595.
When did Socorro's population peak?
Socorro's recorded population peaked at 18,078 in 2000.
Were any battles fought in Socorro?
13 documented military engagements took place in Socorro, including Gran Quivira Pueblo Warfare, Gran Quivira Conflict Evidence, Gran Quivira (Salinas) Abandonment — Violence.
How many historic places are in Socorro?
55 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Socorro, New Mexico.
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