Questa, New Mexico

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Questa is a village in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,864 at the 2000 census. Located on the northwest side of the beautiful Enchanted Circle highway, Questa is the poorest and least developed town on the route. With a large Hispanic population, the small village is mainly an agricultural center. Little development is underway, however, the wealth of the ski-towns nearby bring promise of prosperity.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Questa is located at 36°42′23″N, 105°35′35″W (36.706302, -105.593058)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 13.2 km² (5.1 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,864 people, 741 households, and 512 families residing in the village. The population density was 140.8/km² (365.0/mi²). There were 888 housing units at an average density of 67.1/km² (173.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 50.16% White, 0.11% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 43.40% from other races, and 5.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 80.53% of the population.

There were 741 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $23,448, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $26,667 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $13,303. About 20.7% of families and 24.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Questa was originally named San Antonio del Rio Colorado. Later, a U.S. postmaster changed its name to Questa. [[1]] The postmaster misspelled the name — according to Spanish spelling rules, it should have been spelled Cuesta, which was derived from the Spanish for "ridge" or "slope." Despite the error, the village has kept the name.