La Cienega, New Mexico Explained

Official Name:La Cienega, New Mexico
Settlement Type:CDP
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:New Mexico
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Santa Fe
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:30.20
Area Land Km2:30.20
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:11.66
Area Land Sq Mi:11.66
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:3885
Population Density Km2:128.64
Population Density Sq Mi:333.16
Timezone:Mountain (MST)
Utc Offset:-7
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:-6
Elevation Ft:6158
Coordinates:35.5736°N -106.1256°W
Area Code:505
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:35-36720
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2408502
Website:La Cienega Valley Association

La Cienega is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico, metropolitan statistical area. The population was 3,007 at the 2000 census.

La Cienega is located on the site of a Keres pueblo that took part in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 13.4sqmi, all land.

The South End of the Rockies Historical Marker, marking the southern terminus of the Rocky Mountains, is about three miles west of La Cienega.[3]

Wetlands

The name La Cienega refers to an important feature, a cienega (spring and associated marsh) that supplies water to El Rancho de las Golondrinas and the Santa Fe River Canyon at the foot of the Caja del Rio. The cienega itself is managed by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden as the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve.[4] La Cienega is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and has been a focus of recent efforts to create an open space corridor between Santa Fe and the Rio Grande.[5]

Demographics

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 3,007 people, 1,033 households, and 761 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 225.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,079 housing units at an average density of 80.8sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the CDP was 60.86% White, 0.50% African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 31.19% from other races, and 5.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 70.80% of the population.

There were 1,033 households, out of which 44.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 31.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,028, and the median income for a family was $46,578. Males had a median income of $31,178 versus $30,092 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,329. About 7.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

It is within Santa Fe Public Schools.[7]

The area is divided between the boundary of Nina Otero Community School (K-8) and those of Amy Biehl Elementary School and Milagro Middle School. The area is divided between Santa Fe High School and Capital High School.[8]

Previously all of it was zoned to Capital High.[9] In 2017 the district recommended changing the boundary of a section of the area to Santa Fe High.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 12, 2022.
  2. Book: Julyan . Robert . The Place Names of New Mexico . 1996 . University of New Mexico Press . 0826316891 . 188.
  3. Web site: Google Terrain Map. 27 December 2011.
  4. http://santafebotanicalgarden.org/visit-us/leonora-curtin-wetland-preserve/ Santa Fe Botanical Garden: Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve
  5. http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/New_Mexico_State_Office/features/la_cienega_acec_expansion.html Community Celebrates Expansion of La Cienega ACEC
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  7. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Santa Fe County, NM. U.S. Census Bureau. 2021-07-20.
  8. Web site: School Zone Maps. Santa Fe Public Schools. 2021-07-22.
  9. Web site: High Schools Effective August 2016. Santa Fe Public Schools. 2021-07-22. - Note the inset overall map of the district that shows the high school zones relative to the wider area.
  10. Web site: Recommended High School Boundary Changes for 2017-2018. Santa Fe Public Schools. 2021-07-22.