New Mexico Population for Largest Counties
1900 to 1920 by decades
US Census Data
County 1900 Rank 1910 1920 Rank Percent
Increase
Bernallilo 28,630 1 23,606 29,885 1 + 4.3
Dona Ana 10,187 - 12,893 16,548 5 +62
Grant 12,887 5 14,813 21,939 3 +70
Rio Arriba 13,777 4 16,624 19,552 4 +42
San Miguel 22,053 2 22,930 22,867 2 + 3.7
Santa Fe 14,770 3 14,658 15,030 - + 1.8
This table illustrates well the results of the Territorial Bureau of Immigration. They produced and distributed illustrated books, booklets, and pamphlets trying to dispel the idea of desolation, aridness, of the Territory and to emphasize economic opportunities. The Bureau’s sole goal was to promote immigration from the east to the territory. The increase in Grant County was most likely because of mining. San Miguel remained stable after the railroad boom of the 1800’as did Bernallilo. Rio Arriba showed a significant increase, I would guess because of agriculture and livestock production. Dona Ana probably came from growth in the Collage and agriculture through irrigation. And the table shows why city fathers in Santa Fe worried over the city decline and the resulting push to remake the city to attract tourism.
During the twenty year period additional counties were formed by dividing existing counties. The only one affected in this list is Bernalillo. Torrance county was formed n 1903 by taking parts of Bernalillo and Valencia county. Also Sandoval County was formed from part of Bernalillo County in 1903. This skewed the population a bit.