Taos County is a county in New Mexico, United States, anchored by the town of Taos in the high desert of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It had a population of 34,489 at the 2020 census and covers 2,204 square miles (5,710 km2), of which 2,203 square miles is land, centred near 36°34′N 105°38′W.
Taos is the county seat and its postal code is 87571. The county has 2 incorporated towns, 2 incorporated villages, and more than 40 unincorporated communities. It observes Mountain Time and carries FIPS code 35055.
Towns & Villages in Taos County
Taos County has 4 incorporated municipalities and dozens of unincorporated communities scattered across its mountain valleys and mesas. The table below lists the main settlements; CDP = census-designated place, Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no formal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taos | Town · seat | 5,721 | 87571 |
| Red River | Town | 486 | 87558 |
| Questa | Village | 1,713 | 87556 |
| Taos Ski Valley | Village | 82 | 87525 |
| El Prado | CDP | 2,081 | 87529 |
| Ranchos de Taos | CDP | 2,915 | 87557 |
| Arroyo Seco | CDP | 1,215 | 87514 |
| Arroyo Hondo | CDP | 587 | 87513 |
| San Cristobal | CDP | 272 | 87564 |
| Valdez | CDP | 253 | 87580 |
| Talpa | CDP | — | — |
| Pilar | Unincorp. | — | 87531 |
| Penasco | Unincorp. | — | 87553 |
| Vadito | Unincorp. | — | 87579 |
| Tres Piedras | Unincorp. | — | 87577 |
| Costilla | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chamisal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Amalia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Angostura | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barranca | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buena Vista | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Canon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Canoncito | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cerro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lama | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Llano | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Llano Quemado | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Los Cordovas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| No Agua | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ojo Caliente | Unincorp. | — | 87549 |
| Picuris Pueblo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pot Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rio Lucio | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunshine Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Taos Pueblo | CDP | 4,384 | 87571 |
| Taos Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tres Ritos | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Twining | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vallecitos | Unincorp. | — | — |
El Rito, Kiowa Village, Las Mochas, Llano Largo, Lower Ranchito, Moly, Ojito, Ranchito, Rio Pueblo, Rock Wall, Rodarte, Servilleta, Shady Brook, Sipapu, Solo, Sunshine, Trampas, Vallecito, and Ventero from the old list could not be independently confirmed as distinct Taos County places and are omitted here (some, like El Rito, are actually across the Rio Arriba County line).
ZIP Codes
- 87571 — Taos (also serves Taos Pueblo)
- 87556 — Questa
- 87558 — Red River
- 87525 — Taos Ski Valley
- 87529 — El Prado
- 87557 — Ranchos de Taos
- 87514 — Arroyo Seco
- 87513 — Arroyo Hondo
- 87564 — San Cristobal
- 87580 — Valdez
- 87531 — Pilar
- 87553 — Penasco
- 87579 — Vadito
- 87577 — Tres Piedras
- 87549 — Ojo Caliente
Smaller unincorporated places without their own post office generally use the ZIP of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Taos County sits in northern New Mexico where the Rio Grande cuts an 800-foot-deep gorge across a high sagebrush plateau before the land climbs east into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Wheeler Peak, at 13,161 feet, is the highest point in New Mexico and sits within the county. The Rio Grande and its tributary the Rio Hondo supply most of the county’s water and its centuries-old acequia irrigation ditches.
Taos County borders Rio Arriba County to the west, Mora County to the southeast, Colfax County to the east, and Costilla County and Conejos County in Colorado to the north and northwest.
Demographics
Taos County had 34,489 residents at the 2020 census. The town of Taos (5,721) and the Taos Pueblo CDP (4,384) are the two largest communities. Median household income runs below the New Mexico median of $62,268, reflecting a seasonal, tourism- and arts-dependent economy. Population density is about 15.6 people per square mile, concentrated in the Taos valley.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism, arts, and skiing drive the county’s economy. Taos Ski Valley and Red River anchor winter sports; the Taos art colony, built around the historic Taos Plaza and the Millicent Rogers and Harwood museums, supports a year-round gallery and crafts trade. Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years, draws visitors and anchors the Pueblo’s own agriculture and craft economy. Holy Cross Medical Center in Taos is the county’s main hospital employer.
History
Taos County was organized in 1852 as one of New Mexico Territory’s nine original counties. Spanish colonists settled the Taos valley from 1615, building on a Taos Pueblo community that dates to around 1000 AD. The Taos Revolt of 1847, during the Mexican-American War, saw Hispano and Pueblo residents kill territorial governor Charles Bent. In the 20th century the county became a magnet for artists and writers, drawing figures such as D.H. Lawrence and Georgia O’Keeffe to the region.
Getting There
U.S. Route 64 and NM Route 68 are the county’s main highways, with NM 522 running north to Questa and the Colorado line.
- Santa Fe — 70 miles south
- Española — 45 miles southwest
- Angel Fire — 24 miles southeast
- Alamosa, Colorado — 75 miles north
Taos Regional Airport offers general aviation; the nearest commercial service is Albuquerque International Sunport, about 135 miles south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Taos County?
It is in north-central New Mexico, along the Rio Grande where the plateau meets the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
What is the population of Taos County?
34,489 at the 2020 census.
How big is Taos County?
2,204 square miles (5,710 km2), almost all of it land.
What is the county seat of Taos County?
The town of Taos.
How many towns and villages are in Taos County?
Four incorporated municipalities — Taos, Red River, Questa, and Taos Ski Valley — plus dozens of unincorporated communities and CDPs.
What ZIP codes are in Taos County?
Taos uses 87571; other towns have their own codes, including 87556 (Questa), 87558 (Red River), and 87525 (Taos Ski Valley).
Is Taos Pueblo part of Taos County?
Yes. Taos Pueblo is a census-designated place within Taos County and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in New Mexico.