New Mexico is a state located in the Western United States. According to the 2020 United States Census, New Mexico is the 15th least-populous state with 2,117,522 inhabitants[1] but the 5th-largest by land area, spanning 121,298.15 square miles (314,160.8 km2).[2] New Mexico is divided into 33 counties and contains 106 municipalities consisting of cities, towns, villages and an incorporated county.[3] New Mexico's municipalities cover only 1% of the state's land mass but are home to 65.4% of its population.[2]
All municipalities are granted local government powers including the collection of property tax, funding of fire protection and public transit, providing and maintaining public parks, cemeteries, hospitals, libraries, and museums, building and zoning regulations, and the maintenance of municipal water, sewer, electric, natural gas and solid waste utilities.[4] Municipalities in New Mexico may adopt one of five forms of municipal government including Mayor-Council, Mayor-Council with Manager, Council-Manager, Commission-Manager, or City-County Council-Manager. All municipalities over 10,000 people must elect their representatives by district, with those under 10,000 having option to do so.[5] Citizens in a Mayor-Council form of government elect a mayor (who only votes to break a tie, and does not have veto power), and a council of 4 to 10 councilors or trustees. Any municipality with a population over 1,000 with a Mayor/Council form of government may establish the office of manager who is not elected and administers the hiring and firing of municipal employees, enforces ordinances, prepares the budget, but cannot vote on council.[5] The manager in a Commission/Manager municipality has identical powers to the manager in the Mayor/Council form of government.[5] Mayor-Council system can be changed to a Commission/Manager municipality by popular vote if the population exceeds 3,000. Citizens in a Commission/Manager municipality may also vote on initiatives, referendums and recalls and the mayor has the right to vote on council issues.[5] Only one municipality, Los Alamos, is an incorporated City-County with a Council-Manager system through the Los Alamos County Charter.[6] Municipalities may also adopt a home rule charter which gives local municipalities powers not specifically authorized for municipalities by the state statutes.[5] Twelve municipalities have adopted home rule or a charter in New Mexico.[7]
The largest municipality by population in New Mexico is Albuquerque with 564,559 residents or approximately 26.7% of the state population.[1] The smallest municipality by population is Grenville with 22 residents.[1] The largest municipality by land area is also Albuquerque which spans 187.73 sq mi (486.2 km2), while Virden is the smallest at 0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2).[2]
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Census 2020was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c "GCT-PH1 – Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – State – Place and (in selected states) County Subdivision". 2010 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ "Forms of Municipal Government in New Mexico" (PDF). New Mexico Municipal League. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "Additional Powers of Any Municipality" (PDF). New Mexico Municipal League. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Forms of Municipal Government in New Mexico" (PDF). New Mexico Municipal League. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- ^ Los Alamos County Code of Ordinance (Order 558, § 1, Part I - Charter, Article I. 101. - Powers of County). June 23, 2010. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
munitypewas invoked but never defined (see the help page).