Total Population
27,108
Population
Growth Rate
-0.11%
Median Age
38
Diversity Index
81.800
Cibola County occupies approximately 4,539 square miles in the northwest region of New Mexico, and is the state’s youngest county, established in 1981. It is bordered by McKinley County to the northwest, Sandoval County to the northeast, and Bernalillo and Valencia Counties to the east, Socorro and Catron counties border to the south and Apache County (Arizona) to the west. The county is mostly rural and has one city, one town and 20 localities; the city of Grants is the county seat. This county is home to three Native American tribes – the Pueblo of Acoma, the Pueblo of Laguna and the Ramah Chapter of the Navajo.
Grants and Milan’s elevation of 6,460 feet is a climate that offers an average high of 70 degrees with a low of 42 degrees at night. The cities are located at the foot of Mt. Taylor, an inactive stratovolcano, which was named in 1849 for then president Zachary Taylor. It is the highest point of the San Mateo Mountains and in the Cibola National Forest at 11, 301 feet. This peak can be seen throughout the mountainous region and provides irrigation water for ranchers, farmers and the pueblos. The region offers scenic vistas of mountains and mesas, historical attractions, a national forest, national monuments, state parks, and many forms of outdoor recreation. It also plays a key role in the mining and forest restoration industries as well.
The Grants-Cibola County School District encompasses all of Cibola County. The City of Grants, Village of Milan and communities on their periphery constitute the urban area of the district. Acoma and Laguna Pueblos on the east side of the district contain many individual communities served by the district. The district includes the Ramah Chapter of the Navajo on the southwest side of the county, however, the district has a transportation agreement with Gallup/McKinley County Schools to bus students to public schools in Ramah. The Pine Hill Bureau of Indian Affairs K-12 Boarding School also serves residents in this area. The Zuni Mountains and Mt. Taylor units of the Cibola National Forest constitute a large portion of the district. Schools in the district are as follows:
School | Total Enrollment | School | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Bluewater Elem | 89 | Laguna/Acoma Mid/HS | 491 |
Cubero Elem | 197 | Los Alamitos Mid | 332 |
Mesa View Elem | 463 | Grants HS | 912 |
Milan Elem | 554 | ||
Mt. Taylor Elem | 511 | ||
San Rafael Elem | 67 | ||
Seboyeta Elem | 60 |
Cibola General Hospital is a modern 50,000 sq. ft., 25-bed acute care hospital offering on-site general surgery, 24-hour emergency care, intensive care nursing, internal medicine, obstetrics, pathology, pediatric dentistry, podiatry, primary care, and radiology services. The hospital has a helipad on site and air ambulance service is available through Grants/Milan Airport. Currently under construction is a new medical office complex that will allow for more doctors in the area. Acoma Canoncito Laguna Hospital (ACL), located in Acoma, is operated by Indian Health Services.
Cibola County housing is predominately single-family, detached units with over 77% of families owning their home. Multi-unit structures account for only 9.5%. Housing can be purchased from $30,000 to $300,000 for custom ranch homes.
City of Grants - 3,804
Milan - 837
Households
9,085
Total Housing Units
11,080
Owner Occupied
6,358
Renter Occupied
2,727
Vacant
1,995
Median Home Value
$92,394
Average Home Value
$136,828
Income
Growth Rate
Median
Household Income
0.00%
Per Capita Income
2.66%
Median Household
$47,194 $53,230
Average Household
$62,062 $70,631
Per Capita
$21,267 $24,245
Total Businesses
617
Total Employed
8,107
Workers 16+
8,694
2022 HealthCare/Social Assist
Businesses
74
Employed
1,588
2022 Educational Services - Businesses
Businesses
27
Employed
1,213
2022 Public Administration
Businesses
71
Employed
1,120
2022 Retail Trade Businesses
Businesses
98
Employed
931
2022 Accommodation/Food Service
Businesses
50
Employed
665
2022 Other Service excl Pub Admin
Businesses
65
Employed
566
Some
High School
2,037
Graduated
High School
5,181
Associates
Degree
2,389
Bachelor's
Degree
1,745
Graduate
Degree
1,100
Average Commute Time
22 min.
Resident Commuters
7,251
Non-Resident Commuters
1,403
Drive Alone
6,673
Carpooled
690
Public
72
Work At Home
623
NMSU-Grants offers a Small Business Development Center in the City of Grants. The SBDC is located at 701 E. Roosevelt and provides business plan assistance, business financing resources, and business counseling and guidance. Clemente Sanchez is the SBDC Director and can be reached at 505-285-8221 x688.
Cibola County Commission provides leadership for the rural areas of the county along with the Pueblo of Acoma and Laguna Pueblo. The City of Grants is a home ruled charter city and has various business opportunities; Cibola Foundation, Inc. holds the Cibola Industrial Park with existing infrastructure and interstate access. The City of Grants has a master plan in place with Main Street for downtown revitalization and a master site plan for Grants Public Library. The Village of Milan holds 800 acres for the Milan Farm with significant water rights, interstate access and a master plan in place for a vision of a future rail spur. Much of the county’s land is owned by federal, state and pueblo governments, with ownership held by the National Monuments, National Parks, and State land offices. There are three existing land grants: Cubero, Seboyeta and Juan Tafoya Cibola County’s annual budget is approximately $15,000,000, which comes from property taxes and federal payments in lieu of taxes. The City of Grants and the Village of Milan have their Local Economic Development Act incentives updated.
New Mexico State University at Grants is a two-year college providing post-secondary education and work force development programs in film, mining, nursing and business which match the needs of employers throughout the region’s business and government entities. The campus also offers a GED program, adult basic education services, dual enrollment classes and bachelors degrees through distance education. NMSU-Grants provides a gymnasium, a library, and an auditorium.
Cibola County is in northwest New Mexico in the Colorado Plateau. It is bisected by the Continental Divide where the Rio San Jose and the Rio Puerco run east to Albuquerque; only 1 hour 14 minutes and 77 miles from Grants/Milan. Gallup is 1 hour and 66 miles to the west of Grants/Milan; and 79 miles to the Arizona state line. Farmington is 137 miles to the north and the gateway to the Four Corners area.
Mileage Chart to Major Cities/Markets | Distance |
---|---|
Denver | 325 miles |
El Paso | 378 miles |
Phoenix | 422 miles |
Los Angeles | 688 miles |
Dallas | 720 miles |
Interstate 40 passes through the northeast corner of Cibola County east and west from Albuquerque to Arizona.
Hwy 53 allows visitors from Arizona to pass through the Pueblo of Zuni and Zuni Mountains.
Other arteries connect the Pueblo of Acoma and Laguna Pueblo to Interstate 40 with Historic Route 66 that runs parallel to Interstate 40.
Commercial airline carriers at Albuquerque International Sunport
Grants/Milan Airport offers a helicopter pad as well as a runway for
larger private planes.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe – freight
Amtrak – passenger service out of Gallup and Albuquerque
Continental Divide Electric Cooperative
City of Grants Municipal Water System
City of Grants Wastewater System
Northwest Solid Waste Authority
New Mexico Gas Company
Fiber optic infrastructure is available through Century
Link supported Competitive Local Exchange Carrier.