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Valencia County Website.
A subdivision in Valencia County
County Seat: Los Lunas
Government: Five Commissioners are elected by district to staggered 4-year terms. The Commission appoints a County Manager.
Area: 1,069 square miles
Population and Economy
Valencia County, traditionally an agricultural area, has become increasingly diversified. Los Lunas in recent years has developed as the commercial center for Valencia County and a growing satellite community in the Albuquerque metro area. Belen, farther south, maintains its identity as a transportation and agricultural center.
Residents still cherish a quality of life that’s both country and cool – access to big-city amenities but rural in character.
The Village of Los Lunas is located 20 miles south of Albuquerque and is the county seat and largest community in the County. To the south are the village of Tomé, which has the University of New Mexico-Valencia campus, and the City of Belen. Just north of Los Lunas is Isleta Pueblo, one of the state’s largest pueblos. To the east of Los Lunas is the Town of Peralta, which is newly incorporated as of 2007.
A steady influx of new residents from Albuquerque in search of pleasant alternatives to city living has spurred population growth of 12.0 percent between 2000 and 2006 in the County, and fairly rapid growth is expected to continue in the future.
Los Lunas and Belen have historically seen over half of their workforce drive north to jobs in Albuquerque. Both share a common goal, to boost jobs for their residents while also preserving their rural ambiance.
Valencia County has been a magnet for industries needing room to expand. The attractions are low-cost industrial sites, easy transportation access, available work force, affordable housing and a positive business climate.
Geography
Valencia County is south of Bernalillo County in the Middle Rio Grande valley, flanked to the east by the Manzano Mountains and to the west by rolling mesas with the occasional volcanic hill.
History
Created in 1844 when the region was still part of Mexico, Valencia County once stretched from Texas to California. It was named for Juan de Valencia, who settled here in the 1660s. In 1852 it was confirmed by New Mexico’s Territorial Legislature as one of the territory’s original seven counties.
In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate and Union forces fought a skirmish at Peralta, a village north of Los Lunas, and the Confederate Army retreated southward. The Union soldiers pursuing them engaged them again near La Joya, south of Belen.
The county has been divided multiple times, most recently in 1981 when Cibola County was created from Valencia County’s western half.
Transportation
Los Lunas and Belen have direct access to I-25 and rail. NM 314, a bit of the former Camino Real, parallels I-25 in the area. NM 6 is a shortcut from I-25 to I-40 west of Albuquerque.
Two general aviation airports serve the area – Alexander Municipal Airport in Belen and Mid-Valley Airport in Los Lunas. Albuquerque’s airport is a short 15 minutes away.
Population Trend and Forecast, 1960 - 2025 |
| |
1960 |
1970 |
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
2010 Forecast |
2025 Forecast |
| Population |
16,146* |
20,451* |
30,769* |
45,235 |
66,152 |
86,708 |
118,593 |
| Annual Growth Rate % |
|
2.39 |
4.17 |
3.93 |
3.87 |
2.68 |
2.11 |
*Valencia County was split into two counties in 1981. Populations for 1960 to 1980 are computed from Census data for the Los Lunas and Belen Census Divisions which approximate the current boundaries of Valencia County.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Census for 1960 - 2000, UNM BBER for 2010 and 2025 Forecasts |
1970 Median Age (Census): 21.6
1980 Median Age (Census): 25.5
1990 Median Age (Census): 31.5
2000 Median Age (Census): 33.8
Housing by Type, 1990 and 2000 |
| Year |
Single Family |
Multifamily |
Mobile Homes |
Total Units |
| 1990 |
10,298 |
915 |
5,568 |
16,781 |
| 2000 |
14,913 |
1,124 |
8,516 |
24,643 |
| Sources: 1990 Census, 2000 Census and 1999 MRGCOG Estimates |
2000 Average Household Size (Census): 2.86
Median Household Income
1989 (Census): $24,312 (81% of the U.S. median)
1999 (Census): $34,099
Civilian Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment, 1990 - 2001 |
| Year |
Civilian Labor Force |
Employment* |
Employment Growth Rate % |
Unemployment Rate % |
| 1990 |
19,658 |
18,425 |
|
6.3 |
| 1991 |
20,212 |
18,859 |
2.36 |
6.7 |
| 1992 |
20,793 |
19,614 |
4.00 |
5.7 |
| 1993 |
22,235 |
20,721 |
5.64 |
6.8 |
| 1994 |
23,640 |
22,541 |
8.78 |
4.6 |
| 1995 |
25,343 |
24,217 |
7.44 |
4.4 |
| 1996 |
26,321 |
24,951 |
3.03 |
5.2 |
| 1997 |
28,117 |
26,837 |
7.56 |
4.6 |
| 1998 |
29,119 |
27,608 |
2.87 |
5.2 |
| 1999 |
28,945 |
27,660 |
.19 |
4.4 |
| 2000 |
30,187 |
28,994 |
4.82 |
4.0 |
| 2001 |
31,033 |
29,518 |
1.81 |
4.9 |
* Employment is a measure of the residents of Valencia County who are employed and is comparable to the estimate of the labor force, it is a count by county of residence of workers. On the other hand, jobs are counted in the county where the work site is located.
Source: New Mexico Department of Labor |
Estimated Total Employment by Industrial Sector - 2000* |
| Industrial Sector |
Number of Jobs |
Percentage |
| Agriculture |
306 |
2.07 |
| Mining |
7 |
0.05 |
| Construction |
936 |
6.34 |
| Manufacturing |
1,418 |
9.61 |
| Transportation, Communications, Utilities |
1,096 |
7.42 |
| Wholesale Trade |
261 |
1.77 |
| Retail Trade |
3,482 |
23.59 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate |
473 |
3.20 |
| Services |
2,212 |
14.99 |
| Government including Military |
4,569 |
30.96 |
Total Estimated Employment
|
14,760 |
100.0 |
* This table is based on the MRGCOG disaggregation of employment by work site. It includes wage and salary jobs, military enlistment, railroad, tribal, and estimate of self-employment.
Source: New Mexico Department of Labor and MRGCOG. |
Largest Employers
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Los Lunas Public School District
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State of New Mexico
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Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (regional distribution center and retail store)
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Belen Public School District
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Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railroad
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Solo Cup Co.
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Valencia County
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Sud Chemie
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Merit Distribution Services
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University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus
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Avonite Inc.
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