Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico

Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico
Village
Horse racing at Ruidoso Downs
Location of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico Location of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico
Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico Location in the United States
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Lincoln
Area
• Total	2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
• Land	2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	6,417 ft (1,956 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	1,824
• Density	856.7/sq mi (330.8/km2)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	88346
Area code(s)	575
FIPS code	35-65280
GNIS feature ID	0923669

Ruidoso Downs is a city in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located within the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a village; the change was made in May 2002. It is a suburb of Ruidoso and is a part of the Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Ruidoso Downs Race Track, Billy the Kid Casino and the Hubbard Museum of the American West are located in the city.

History

According to a local Ruidoso Downs historian, early on Hispanos settlers called the area "San Juanito." The settlers began arriving in the early in the late 1840s, and introduced rodeo and horse racing to the area. Originally the area had scattered farms and ranches, with the Dowlin Mill constructed in 1868. A new wave of families arrived after the Lincoln County War.

By around 1907 the road between Roswell and Alamogordo, which passed through the area, was still primitive, though it was improved in the 1920s through The Federal Aid Project. The road that would become US 70 was paved in the area around 1945, and then improved again in 1958. The road became four lanes in 1981.

In 1946 the Ruidoso News was founded and the airport opened, and two years later radio arrived. Electric lights appeared in the area in 1947. The White Mountain Inn opened in the 1940s as a sanatorium and as a lodging establishment. The road that would become US 70 was paved in the area around 1945, and then improved again in 1958. The road became four lanes in 1981.

Geography

Ruidoso Downs is located at (33.331690, -105.596079). Elevation is 6420 feet. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village had a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1950	363		—
1960	407		12.1%
1970	702		72.5%
1980	949		35.2%
1990	920		−3.1%
2000	1,824		98.3%
2010	2,815		54.3%
Est. 2014	2,635		−6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,824 people, 680 households, and 490 families residing in the village. The population density was 856.7 people per square mile (330.6/km²). There were 921 housing units at an average density of 432.6 per square mile (166.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 67.32% White, 0.77% African American, 3.56% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 24.45% from other races, and 2.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.70% of the population.

There were 680 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $30,500. Males had a median income of $22,000 versus $17,623 for females. The per capita income for the village was $12,144. About 17.4% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

File:Heading towards Capitan (4987224121).jpg

Pictured is the road out of Ruidoso Downs and heading towards then nearby village of Capitan.

Airports

• Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, located about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Ruidoso Downs.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 70

Key facilities

Hubbard Museum of the American West in Ruidoso Downs

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• Ruidoso Downs Race Track
• Billy the Kid Casino
• Hubbard Museum of the American West

Events and culture

File:Ruidoso Downs New Mexico Racetrack and Casino.jpg

Pictured is the Ruidoso Downs New Mexico Racetrack and Casino, where the All American Futurity is held annually.

The city is the annual location of the All American Futurity, which claims to be the richest race in Quarter Horse racing.

On October 9–11, 2009, the twentieth annual Lincoln Cowboy Symposium was held at Ruidoso Downs. The event celebrated the ranching lifestyle, with demonstrations in horsemanship, shooting, roping, cooking, and blacksmithing. Booths offered western-style arts and crafts. Music and poetry were highlights of the festival, which featured performers Leon Rausch, Tommy Allsup and the Texas Playboys; Mel Tillis and the Statesiders; Larry Gatlin; Billy Mata, and Liz Talley. Gospel artists also performed.

See also

• Lincoln National Forest

External links

• City of Ruidoso Downs
• Ruidoso Downs Racing
• Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway
• The Hubbard Museum of the American West