Valencia County Growth

Valencia County’s proximity to large employers in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties attracts people seeking a rural setting to live in and less expensive real estate while having convenient access to the amenities of a metropolitan center. Valencia County has a rich, agrarian area that encompasses numerous, present-day cultural landmarks and traditions that link its residents with their histories. These are important components in County planning efforts.
Today, eighty-one percent of County residents are considered to be living in urbanized settings. Valencia County is included in the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area for the federal census. This highlights the urbanizing impact of Albuquerque, not only on Valencia County itself but on its neighboring counties Socorro to the south, and Torrance to the east, which are both included in this census area.

Over a 35-year span, from 1971 to 2006, the county averaged 4.1 percent annual growth (U.S. Census, 2000). This period saw spikes of 8.7 percent and 7.2 percent in 1980 and 1995, respectively. Average annual growth between 1996 and 2006 was 2.1 percent with an overall increase in population of 17.8 percent, from 59,764 people to 70,389 people (U.S. Census). Forecasts of the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research put the County’s total population at 86,708 in 2010 and 128,922 by the year 2030 (BBER, 2004).

Valencia County has adopted a Comprehensive Land Use Plan that was developed by the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG, 2005).

The Comprehensive Land Use Plan recognizes and emphasizes the County’s role in protecting its natural resources. “Among the most notable are fertile and productive farmlands, clean water, and clean air.” The Comprehensive Land Use Plan recommends strategies to address challenges associated with growth that include closely managing development near productive farmland and giving more scrutiny to fragile lands susceptible to overuse and subject to groundwater contamination (MRCOG, 2005). The Comprehensive Plan also stresses the need to develop programs that advance water conservation through measures that promote water efficient facilities.

To help address the rapid rate of population change, Valencia County adopted a Mobility Plan in 2006. Most of Valencia County’s communities are served by Interstate 25, the major north/south travel corridor, located outside of the Rio Grande valley west of the river. NM 314 and NM 47 are in the Rio Grande valley and serve residents on the west and east sides of the river, respectively. In addition to infrastructure improvements, the County is prioritizing various transportation demands, from equestrian paths to inter-urban rail transit. In 2000, half of county residents traveled out-of-county to their workplaces compared with 12.1% for New Mexico as a whole (US Census Bureau). [Add a link if the document is available on the web] The County hopes that improvements to mobility will lead to increased local employment opportunities.

Additionally, the County has approved a plan for a full-service hospital near Belen. The closest specialized medical care is in Albuquerque. In 2006, 7,284 County residents were served at University of New Mexico Hospital.

View the complete document at Task 1-1:  Survey of Existing Plans.

What Is the Plan?

References

United States Census Bureau, 2000, www.census.gov.

Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER), 2004, Population Projections for New Mexico and Counties University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Mid-Region Council of Governments, 2005, Valencia County Comprehensive Land Use Plan.