The town of Taos lies in the north-central region of New Mexico, seated on the high desert mesa at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The word Taos means "red willow" in the Tiwa language. A place of wide open spaces and incredible views, Taos County is composed of many small communities that are spread over 50 square miles.

Towns in Taos County:

Incorporated: Taos, Red River, Questa, Taos Ski Valley
Unincorporated: Amalia, Costilla, Ojo Caliente, Pilar, Penasco, Ranchos de Taos, Talpa, Tres Piedras, Valdez
Angel Fire is located in Colfax County, 23 miles east of Taos.

Environment:

Temperatures: Semi-arid continental climate. Annual precipitation in Town of Taos, 12 inches. Sunshine 70 percent of possible hours annually. Daytime during warmest month averages in 80's. Low winter temperatures average near 10 degrees.
Average Annual Snowfall: Taos Ski Valley - 312 inches. Town of Taos - 35 inches. Angel Fire - 140 inches.
Elevation: Town - 6,950 feet. Taos Ski Valley - 9,207 feet. Wheeler Peak - 13,161 feet. Angel Fire: 8,382 feet.

Temperatures(F) & Precipitation
Month High Low Inches
January 40 10 0.83
February 45 15 0.72
March 53 22 0.79
April 64 29 0.92
May 73 37 1.21
June 83 44 0.75
July 87 50 1.58
August 85 50 1.77
September 79 42 1.11
October 67 32 1.13
November 52 18 0.71
December 43 12 0.57
Total Annual
Average 64 30 1.00
Source: National Climatic Data Center
Population
1992 24,157
1992 24,995
1994 25,912
1996 24,157
1998 26,815
2000 29,979
Age Breakdown, 2000
Under 5 5.8%
5-17 24.5%
18-64 57.4%
65 plus 12.3%
Median age 34
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Ethnic Composition, 2000
Hispanic 17,370
Anglo 19,118
Native American 1,975
Black/African American 105
Asian 114
Islander 35
Other 7,447
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Government

  • Town of Taos: Manger with mayor, council, four-year terms.
  • Taos County: Manager with three commissioners (four-year terms)
  • Taos Pueblo: Sovereign government, Governor, War Chief, serving one-year terms
  • Picuris Pueblo: Sovereign government, Governor serves two-year term.
  • Federal Officials: U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D), 505-988-6647. Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R) , 505-988-6511. U.S. Rep. Tom Udall (D), 505-984-8950.
  • State Officials: Sen. Carlos Cisneros (D), 751-9687 Rep. Roberto Gonzales (D), 758-2674.
  • County Voter Breakdown: Total Registered Voters - 18,151.
  • Democrats - 12,373. Republicans - 3,161. Minority Party- 560.
  • Independent - 2,161. Green Party - 696.
  • Source: Bureau of Elections, 751-8657.


Labor: Workforce, 2000

Civilian labor force - 12,638. Employed - 11,311. Unemployed - 1,327
Rate - 10.5 % Source: N.M. Department of Labor

Per capita personal income:

1990: $11,600
1997: $16,540
Source: Bureau of Business & Economic Research

Income & poverty, Taos County, 1995 Median household income: $20,928
People of all ages in poverty: 7,070. People under age 18 in poverty: 2,984
Related children age 5-17 in families in poverty: 1,999
Source: U. S. Census Bureau

Taos County Property Tax:

1/3 of full value times tax rate, which varies in different parts of county.
Assessed valuations in Taos County, 1999 property tax year: $515,886,027
Source: Taos County Assessor

Tourism Industry:

Lodging, Taos Area, 1999
Rooms available: 305,210
Rooms Occupied: 161,466
Occupancy: 53%
Average room rate: $69.99
Source: Rocky Mountain Lodging Report

More than 50 bed and breakfasts and 40 motels with more than 3,000 rooms county-wide.
Source: Taos County Lodgers Association

Taos Visitor Center, 2001:

Walk-ins: 137,934
Watts lines: 16,762
Top states calling: Texas, California, Colorado, New York, New Mexico
Top states visiting: Texas, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida
Source: Taos County Chamber of Commerce

Museum Visitation, 1999

Harwood Museum: 11,519
Kit Carson Museum: 31,425
Martinez Hacienda: 18,244
Blumenschein Home: 9,332
Millicent Rogers Museum: 25,328 (2000)

Skier days 2000/2001 Season:

Angel Fire: 142,816
Enchanted Forest: 4,500
Red River: 99,268
Sipapu: 14,000
Taos Ski Valley: 249,000
New Mexico: 1,092,399
Source: Ski New Mexico

Real Estate, 2000:
  All Listings Sold Residential Land Commercial
Number of listings 495 262 218 12
Dollar Volume $74,071,159 $54,322,621 $16,010,033 $3,138,505
Average Price $149,638 $207,338 $73,440 $261,542
Median Price $120,500 $166,300 $55,600 $197,500
Avg. Days on Mkt. 315 252 398 215
Rent Sample: 2000
Guesthouse in town $600 Studio Apartment Des Montes $535
1 BD, adobe, Ranchos $650 2 BD country cottage $700
3 BD, 2 BA, Ranchos $700 2 BD, 2BA, near Plaza $800
Source: The Taos News
Commercial Rental space:
Median rent/sf/year, Taos Central District, $10.32 Median rent/sf/year, Taos General, $8.20
SSource: Mark Cowan and Associates
Multi-Family Listings Sold
Number of listings 3
Dollar Volume $600,000
Average Price $200,000
Median Price $225,000
Avg. Days on Mkt. 196
Source: Taos County Association of Realtors
 

Public School Information - Taos Municipal School District:

  • Public School enrollment: 3,409
  • Student Drop Out Rate: Grades 7-8: 1.7% (New Mexico is 2.9%) Grades 9-12: 6.6% (New Mexico is 7.1%)
  • Student Attendance Rate: District - 93% Taos High School - 87%
  • Taos Middle School - 97%
  • Enos Garcia Elementary - 92%
  • Taos Elementary - 95%
  • Ranchos Elementary - 92%
  • Arroys Del Norte Elementary - 93%

Continuing Education:

University of New Mexico, Taos, Community college education, two-year comprehensive educational center, eight associate of arts, three associate of applied science, six customized training and 15 certificate programs. 758 -7667 University of New Mexico North offers graduate and upper division programs .

Other Continuing Education:

  • Taos Institute of Arts
  • Fechin Institute
  • Southern Methodist University/Fort Burgwin
  • Taos School of Natural medicine and Massage
  • Intuitive Training Center of Taos
  • El Valle Technologies
  • many creative workshops available throughout the year.


Transportation:

Public: The Chile Line transit system: Two routes that run six days a week, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., every half hour. One runs north and south from the Ranchos de Taos Post Office to Taos Pueblo. The second is an east-west route that serves the public facilities of Taos. Fifty cents per person or $1 a day. 751-4459

TNM&O Bus: National connection and shuttle services to and from Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque International Airport.

AIR: Rio Grande Air: Flights departing daily from gate D-2 at the Albuquerque International Sunport. 877-I-FLY-RGA or 737-9790

Taos Municipal Airport: Open 24 hours, 5,800 foot runway. Two approaches, one NDB and one VOC/DME. Elevation 7,091. 758-4995

Taos Aviation Services: The only full-service FBO in northern New Mexico. 100LL AV Gas and Jet-A-Fuel. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 737-0505

Police/Emergency Support:

Town of Taos. Emergency: 911 Non Emergency: 758-2216. area: Town of Taos Limits
NM State Police: Emergency: 911 Non Emergency: 758-8878 Serves: All Taos County area north to Colorado, east to Colfax County, south to Rio Arriba County, west to Tres Piedras
Taos County Sheriff: Emergency 911 Non Emergency: 751-8593 Area: Same as NM State Police.
Taos Search and Rescue: Call New Mexico State Police
Fire Emergency 911 Non Emergency 758-3386 5 paid firefighters and 19 volunteers 5 engines at the main station, 3 at the substation and 1 at Taos Airport.

Medical Facilities:

  • Holy Cross Hospital: 115,000 square foot hospital with 43-bed acute care facility, 69 consulting, active, allied health, temporary and associate professionals serve the hospital Environmentally sensitive rooms. Physician always available.
  • Clinics and in-home care: Medical clinics in some outlying communities. 24-hour ambulance available throughout Taos County. Homebound services through Mountain Home Health Care
  • Pharmacies: 4
  • Senior Citizen support services: Plaza De Retiro: Lifetime care facility/retirement home. 758-8248
  • Ancianos Inc. Senior Citizens Center: Offers meals five days a week, Meals on Wheels, walking program, health lectures, blood pressure checks, Foster Grandparents program and Senior Companions program and more. 758-4091
  • Taos Living Center: 100-bed skilled facility with outpatient rehabilitation services, specialized Alzheimer's program. 758-2300.

Recreation:

  • Public: Rafting, ice skating, baseball/softball, rodeo, skiing, tennis, swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, camping, horseback riding, boating, golf, rock climbing, windsurfing and more.
  • Private: Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, spas/clubs, tennis, ballooning, horseback riding, llama treks, golfing, biking and more.
  • Kit Carson Park and Historic Cemetery: Located 1 1/2 blocks north of Taos Plaza, is a 25-acre park with waling and running track, baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts and playground.
  • Fred Baca Park: On Camino del Medio, one mile west of Taos Plaza. A 17-acre park with playground, basketball and tennis facilities and a 5-acre Wetlands Project. Call 758-8234 for information.

Community Facilities

  • Taos Public Library: new $2.2 million library 50,000 volumes. Receives 1,000 volumes a year. 758-3063
  • Taos County Association of Retarded Citizens: new 7,300 square foot complex with comprehensive early childhood evaluations. Adult services. 758-4274.
  • Humane Society of Taos has new enclosed 2,400 square foot space for 30 dogs and 20 cats. Adopt-A-Pet Program available 758-2981
  • Taos Youth & Family Center Opened fall 1999 with ice arena arcade and concessions. 758-4160
  • Don Fernando Pool recreational swim, lap swim. 737-2622
  • Guadalupe Sports & Recreation Center. 751-9456


Theater and Nightlife:

One ten plex theater with current-run films. Two independent film series run throughout the year Several nightclubs offering country-western, jazz, rock-n-roll, Spanish music and dancing.

Restaurants:

More than 80 restaurants with American, Italian, New Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, French, Barbecue, Vegetarian and Seafood.

Shopping:

Three grocery stores and one natural food stores
Two department stores. More than 80 art galleries and 60 retail shops.

Meetings/Banquets:

Taos Civic Plaza and Convention Center has 20,195 square feet of meeting space and complete food and beverage services for 10-500 people.
Sagebrush Inn and Convention Center has 18,000 square feet of meeting space and 62 two-room guest suites and 100 rooms nearby and complete food services.
Taos Visitor Center has meeting room to accommodate 45 people.
Larger lodging facilities have meeting spaces.

Business Support:

Taos Business Alliance for Economic Development assists businesses interested in relocating in the Taos area, supports education and training of businesses and the workforce and promotes business expansion through traditional marketing and e-commerce programs. 758-2103

Taos County Chamber of Commerce provides leadership in promoting economic development and business. The chamber runs the Taos visitor Bureau to promote tourism, collect and distribute tourism related data and fulfill visitor requests. Members: 650.
Taos County Economic Development Corporation helps local residents benefit from diversified economic opportunities through a small business incubator, business assistance and a 25,000 square foot business park. Including Taos Food Center, working toward sustainable development of traditional land-based cultures. 758-8731.