ABOUT OUR COUNTY
Catron County is centrally located on the state's western border in the heart of some of the most spectactular country in the Southwest. The terrain consists predominantly of mountains and high mesas with extensive plains regions in the north and east. A portion of the Gila Forest was declared wilderness in 1924, making it the oldest declared wilderness in the U.S.
CLIMATE (Averages)
Elevation 7,050
Temperature
January 28.9
July 65.0
First Freeze Date (1996) September 21
Last Spring Freeze (1996) June 23
Annual Precipitation 16.12
LAND AREA
Catron County has a land area that encompasses 6,898 square miles. More than half the land is designated as one of three national forests: Gila, Cibola, and Apache. This county is New Mexico's largest county.
AGRICULTURE
Cattle ranching is the largest source of agricultural income mainstays for the entire economy. In 1998 cattle growers had a total of 42,000 head of cattle. Cash receipts for Catron County (1997) for all agricultural commodities were 21,365,000 ranking it twenty-third in the state.
THE PEOPLE
The population, by race and ethnicity, based on the 1990 census:
White 70% Black .3% Hispanic 28% American Indian .7% Asian .07% Other .00%
Total population projected for the year 2000 3,749
INCOME
The county's economic base is largely confined to cattle ranching and government employment. Like many other rural New Mexico counties, population remains small with consistently low incomes and high rates of unemployment. The per capita income for Catron County (1995) was $13,094.
SCHOOLS
Catron County has an elementary school in Datil and Glenwood, N.M., elementary and high schools in Quemado and Reserve, N.M. 97-98 Pupil Teacher ratio in Datil and Quemado is 11:01 and in Reserve and Glenwood is 13:05
FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Catron County has a total of 9 rural fire departments located in:
Apache Creek Glenwood Luna Pie Town Rancho Grande Datil Horse Mountain Mogollon Quemado
and 1 municipal fire department in the Village of Reserve, which is also the county seat.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
Catron County Medical Clinic is located in Reserve and has 1doctor, 1physicions assistant, 2 RNs and 2LPNs. The Clinic also provides services in Quemado twice a month and there are EMT's and Amulance services in every community of Catron County.
SENIORS CENTERS
Catron County Cooperative Extension Service is located in the Catron County Courthouse. The office is staffed by one full time agent, specializing in Agriculture and 4-H programs, and one secretary provides office support.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
1998 Statistical Abstract provided by the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments.
1997 New Mexico Agricultural Statistics Service
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