The demographics and trends of communities in the Rio Chama basin are unique but have similarities to other rural communities throughout New Mexico. This topic of focus is important to understanding the context of the region and the people that live there. The predominate languages spoken in this region are English and Spanish with 61.4% of people identifying as speaking a language other than English. The people in the region are predominately Hispanic or Latino and White. In the town of Chama 61% of people identify as Hispanic or Latino, 92% in the town of Tierra Amarilla, 92% of people in Abiquiu, 76% of people in Medanales, and 93% of people in Hernandez.
The average age of citizens in many towns throughout the basin is higher than the state of New Mexico as a whole. Often, this is because teens and young adults move away from the area when they are of age. Many leave for more urban communities such as Española or Albuquerque and some leave the state entirely. This results in “brain drain” and a serious loss in workforce capacity. The average median income in all of Rio Arriba County is well below the rest of the United States, $33,972 to $59,039 respectively. 22.5% of Rio Arriba County citizens are considered to live in poverty. In the towns directly along the Rio Chama, these numbers remain mostly consistent: $33,750 in Chama, $29,500 in Abiquiu, and $31,563 in Hernandez.
Please see the graphs and tables below for specific information regarding various characteristics of the Rio Chama Valley community. For simplicity and in an attempt to capture the interested parties, we have selected five communities along the Rio Chama to focus on. We believe that these communities give an accurate impression of the basin, specifically along the river. These five communities are (from North to South): Chama, Tierra Amarilla, Abiquiu, Medenales, and Hernandez.
Population Data
Data retrieved from the US Census Bureau (2018).
ArcGIS map depicting population density along the Rio Chama, Rio Arriba County, NM.
Darker red and orange colors symbolize a higher population of people. Map by Emma Kelly.
Median Age of the Rio Chama Valley
Data retrieved from the US Census Bureau (2018).
Median House Hold Income Statistics
Data retrieved from the US Census Bureau (2018).
Our Focus Area: Below Abiquiu Dam
The reach of the Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam is substantially more continuously populated than above the dam. The region is home to agrarian communities that are heavily dependent on the acequia system that delivers water to their fields from the Rio Chama. Many families in these communities have deep roots in the area that go back numerous generations. However, there are some newcomers to the area; retirees looking for a quieter lifestyle and hobby farmers have moved to the area in recent decades. The property values of homes in this region vary greatly. There is a general mix of mobile home communities and free standing homes. Some of these homes lie directly along the river but more frequently, there is a large agricultural field between the river and dwelling.