Socorro County

Socorro County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico, United States. As of 2000, the population was 18,078. The county seat is Socorro. Socorro was originally the name given to a Native American village (see: Pueblo Indians) by Don Juan de Oñate in 1598. Having received vitally needed food and assistance from the native population, Oñate named the pueblo Socorro ("succor" in English). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county ... more

Socorro County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico, United States. As of 2000, the population was 18,078. The county seat is Socorro. Socorro was originally the name given to a Native American village (see: Pueblo Indians) by Don Juan de Oñate in 1598. Having received vitally needed food and assistance from the native population, Oñate named the pueblo Socorro ("succor" in English). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,649 sq mi (17,220 km²). 6,646 sq mi (17,214 km²) of it is land and 2 sq mi (6 km²) of it (0.03%) is water. Socorro county ranges in elevation from approximately 4528 ft on the banks of the Rio Grande to 10,784 ft at the top of South Baldy peak in the Magdalena mountains. The county contains several mountain ranges of which the Magdalena mountains and the San Mateo mountains are classified as sky islands. As of the census of 2000, there were 18,078 people, 6,675 households, and 4,492 families residing in the county. The... less