Harding County is a county in New Mexico, United States, on the high plains of the state’s northeastern corner. It had a population of 657 at the 2020 census, the least populous county in New Mexico, and covers 2,126 square miles (5,510 km2) centred near 35°52′N 103°49′W.
Mosquero is the county seat, and its postal code is 87733. The county has two incorporated municipalities (Mosquero and Roy) and several small unincorporated communities, runs on Mountain Time, and was organised in 1921.
Towns & Villages in Harding County
Harding County has two incorporated places and a scatter of unincorporated communities and former settlements across its ranching plains. Roy is the largest place; several of the smaller communities are now little more than a grain elevator or a few houses.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy | Village | 192 | 87743 |
| Mosquero | Village · seat | 98 | 87733 |
| Bueyeros | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Solano | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Albert | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dehaven | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gallegos | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rosebud | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rosebud Farms | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sabino | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Yates | Unincorp. | — | — |
New Mexico’s Roy sits astride the Harding–Mora county line, but the town itself is entirely within Harding County; the surrounding farm country west of it stretches into Mora County.
ZIP Codes
- 87733 — Mosquero (also serves the surrounding ranch country)
- 87743 — Roy (also serves nearby unincorporated communities)
The smaller unincorporated places (Bueyeros, Mills, Solano and the historic sites Albert, Dehaven, Gallegos, Rosebud, Sabino and Yates) use the Mosquero or Roy ZIP depending on which town is closer, rather than a ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Harding County sits on the Canadian River breaks and high shortgrass plains of northeastern New Mexico, mostly rangeland with little surface water outside the Canadian River corridor in the south. Elevations run roughly 4,300 to 6,000 feet, with the county’s mesas and canyon country giving way to broad grazing land toward the Texas Panhandle border. Almost all of the land is privately held ranchland; there is very little public or tribal land within the county. The county borders Colfax County to the northwest, Union County to the north and east, Quay County to the southeast, San Miguel County to the south, and Mora County to the west.
Demographics
Harding County’s population was 657 at the 2020 census, the smallest of any New Mexico county. Roy (192) and Mosquero (98) are its two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs well below the New Mexico median of $62,268, reflecting a small, aging, ranching-dependent population. Population density is roughly 0.3 people per square mile, among the lowest in the contiguous United States.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching is the county’s economic backbone, supplemented by dryland and irrigated farming (wheat, sorghum, hay) on the county’s better bottomland. The Bravo Dome carbon dioxide gas field, tapped for enhanced oil recovery elsewhere in the region, is extracted commercially from the eastern part of the county. Mosquero and Roy each host a small public school serving the surrounding ranch families; local life centres on 4-H, county fair events, and the volunteer fire departments that cover the county’s wide-open distances. With no incorporated town over 200 residents, the nearest grocery store, hospital or big-box retailer for most residents is a drive of 40 miles or more.
History
Harding County was created on March 4, 1921 — the day of Warren G. Harding’s presidential inauguration — from parts of Union and Mora Counties, and named for him. He remains the most recent U.S. president to have a county named in his honor. The county’s population peaked in the early homestead era of the 1920s–30s before Dust Bowl-era drought and farm consolidation pushed it into a long decline that continues today.
Getting There
U.S. Route 39 and State Road 120 are the county’s main paved roads, connecting Roy and Mosquero to the wider highway network.
- Springer — 45 miles northwest
- Tucumcari — 55 miles southeast
- Las Vegas, NM — 60 miles southwest
- Clayton — 65 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Albuquerque International Sunport, about 190 miles to the southwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Harding County located?
It is in the high-plains corner of northeastern New Mexico, bordering Colfax, Union, Quay, San Miguel and Mora Counties.
What is the population of Harding County?
657 people, per the 2020 census — the smallest population of any New Mexico county.
How large is Harding County?
2,126 square miles (5,510 km2), almost entirely rural rangeland.
What is the county seat of Harding County?
Mosquero is the county seat.
How many towns are in Harding County?
Two incorporated villages, Roy and Mosquero, plus several small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Harding County?
87733 (Mosquero) and 87743 (Roy) cover the county.
Why is it named Harding County?
It was formed on Warren G. Harding’s 1921 inauguration day and named for him — he is the last U.S. president to have a county named after him.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in New Mexico.