The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.
Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in New Mexico using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson's diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.
Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.
Peter Potrowl // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 33#33. Catron County
- Index: 0.042
- Total population: 3,526
- White: 97.9% (3,451)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (2)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.0% (0)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (73)
Gestalt Imagery // Shutterstock
2 / 33#32. Lincoln County
- Index: 0.062
- Total population: 19,461
- White: 96.8% (18,843)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (104)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (113)
- Asian: 0.1% (13)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (225)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (163)
Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 33#31. Hidalgo County
- Index: 0.119
- Total population: 4,297
- White: 93.8% (4,031)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (54)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.5% (66)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (55)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (91)
Underawesternsky // Shutterstock
4 / 33#30. Grant County
- Index: 0.141
- Total population: 27,669
- White: 92.6% (25,630)
- Black or African American: 1.0% (275)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.1% (588)
- Asian: 0.6% (175)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (428)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (570)
AllenS // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 33#29. Luna County
- Index: 0.146
- Total population: 24,083
- White: 92.3% (22,231)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (381)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (228)
- Asian: 0.8% (199)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (304)
- Some other Race: 3.1% (740)
AllenS // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 33#28. Torrance County
- Index: 0.168
- Total population: 15,519
- White: 91.0% (14,122)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (121)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (50)
- Asian: 0.1% (23)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (222)
- Some other Race: 6.3% (981)
#27. Eddy County
- Index: 0.185
- Total population: 57,732
- White: 90.1% (52,019)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (906)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.7% (982)
- Asian: 0.5% (265)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (840)
- Some other Race: 4.7% (2,720)
psyberartist // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 33#26. Sierra County
- Index: 0.190
- Total population: 11,031
- White: 89.8% (9,907)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (44)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.4% (481)
- Asian: 0.8% (83)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (287)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (229)
Tony Hisgett // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 33#25. Quay County
- Index: 0.212
- Total population: 8,326
- White: 88.6% (7,373)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (138)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.9% (160)
- Asian: 0.9% (75)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (16)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (106)
- Some other Race: 5.5% (458)
AllenS // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 33#24. Lea County
- Index: 0.215
- Total population: 70,277
- White: 88.4% (62,117)
- Black or African American: 3.8% (2,692)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (716)
- Asian: 0.6% (402)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (20)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (1,219)
- Some other Race: 4.4% (3,111)
Cheri Alguire // Shutterstock
11 / 33#23. Chaves County
- Index: 0.229
- Total population: 65,144
- White: 87.6% (57,038)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (1,012)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.7% (1,085)
- Asian: 1.0% (621)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (6)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (1,559)
- Some other Race: 5.9% (3,823)
David Langford // Shutterstock
12 / 33#22. Doña Ana County
- Index: 0.235
- Total population: 216,069
- White: 87.1% (188,300)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (3,905)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.1% (2,430)
- Asian: 1.1% (2,427)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (85)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (4,072)
- Some other Race: 6.9% (14,850)
Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 33#21. Union County
- Index: 0.243
- Total population: 4,133
- White: 86.7% (3,583)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (67)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.1% (86)
- Asian: 0.0% (1)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (174)
- Some other Race: 5.4% (222)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
14 / 33#20. Los Alamos County
- Index: 0.263
- Total population: 18,625
- White: 85.5% (15,929)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (107)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.1% (197)
- Asian: 5.0% (926)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 5.0% (938)
- Some other Race: 2.8% (528)
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 33#19. Colfax County
- Index: 0.263
- Total population: 12,168
- White: 85.4% (10,394)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (89)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.0% (238)
- Asian: 0.4% (52)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (513)
- Some other Race: 7.2% (882)
Lochaven // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 33#18. Taos County
- Index: 0.279
- Total population: 32,786
- White: 84.4% (27,682)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (154)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 6.5% (2,131)
- Asian: 0.9% (282)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (743)
- Some other Race: 5.5% (1,793)
Asaavedra32 // Wikimedia
17 / 33#17. Santa Fe County
- Index: 0.290
- Total population: 149,293
- White: 83.8% (125,090)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (1,574)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.2% (4,850)
- Asian: 1.3% (1,889)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (164)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (4,109)
- Some other Race: 7.8% (11,617)
Drmccreedy // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 33#16. Valencia County
- Index: 0.303
- Total population: 76,027
- White: 83.0% (63,117)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (1,059)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.3% (3,257)
- Asian: 0.9% (707)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (2,529)
- Some other Race: 7.0% (5,358)
Vacaypicts // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 33#15. Harding County
- Index: 0.304
- Total population: 441
- White: 82.3% (363)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.7% (3)
- 2 or more races: 3.6% (16)
- Some other Race: 13.4% (59)
#14. Socorro County
- Index: 0.348
- Total population: 16,858
- White: 79.7% (13,439)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (95)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 12.2% (2,057)
- Asian: 3.3% (553)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (396)
- Some other Race: 1.9% (318)
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock
21 / 33#13. Otero County
- Index: 0.364
- Total population: 66,137
- White: 79.1% (52,309)
- Black or African American: 3.5% (2,343)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 6.8% (4,503)
- Asian: 1.3% (858)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (138)
- 2 or more races: 3.4% (2,277)
- Some other Race: 5.6% (3,709)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 33#12. Guadalupe County
- Index: 0.373
- Total population: 4,353
- White: 78.0% (3,395)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (34)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 5.8% (254)
- Asian: 0.2% (9)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (131)
- Some other Race: 12.2% (530)
StockPhotoAstur // Shutterstock
23 / 33#11. McKinley County
- Index: 0.400
- Total population: 72,438
- White: 14.4% (10,426)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (474)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 75.9% (54,977)
- Asian: 1.1% (829)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (30)
- 2 or more races: 3.7% (2,692)
- Some other Race: 4.2% (3,010)
Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 33#10. Roosevelt County
- Index: 0.404
- Total population: 18,888
- White: 75.5% (14,255)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (530)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (188)
- Asian: 0.6% (121)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (14)
- 2 or more races: 5.0% (942)
- Some other Race: 15.0% (2,838)
M.Bucka // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 33#9. Bernalillo County
- Index: 0.431
- Total population: 677,858
- White: 74.3% (503,337)
- Black or African American: 3.0% (20,127)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.9% (33,349)
- Asian: 2.6% (17,885)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (580)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (28,510)
- Some other Race: 10.9% (74,070)
AllenS // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 33#8. Mora County
- Index: 0.456
- Total population: 4,536
- White: 65.9% (2,991)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (2)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (12)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.7% (30)
- Some other Race: 33.1% (1,501)
turtix // Shutterstock
27 / 33#7. Sandoval County
- Index: 0.456
- Total population: 142,704
- White: 72.1% (102,859)
- Black or African American: 2.3% (3,327)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 12.8% (18,278)
- Asian: 1.4% (1,976)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (276)
- 2 or more races: 3.9% (5,615)
- Some other Race: 7.3% (10,373)
Wordbuilder // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 33#6. De Baca County
- Index: 0.495
- Total population: 2,040
- White: 66.9% (1,364)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (32)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (5)
- Asian: 0.3% (7)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 8.6% (175)
- Some other Race: 22.4% (457)
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 33#5. Curry County
- Index: 0.512
- Total population: 49,732
- White: 66.4% (33,022)
- Black or African American: 5.1% (2,520)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (495)
- Asian: 1.3% (643)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.4% (188)
- 2 or more races: 5.5% (2,722)
- Some other Race: 20.4% (10,142)
KeanoManu // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 33#4. San Miguel County
- Index: 0.527
- Total population: 27,738
- White: 60.9% (16,882)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (365)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.4% (382)
- Asian: 1.2% (341)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (22)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (911)
- Some other Race: 31.9% (8,835)
#3. San Juan County
- Index: 0.567
- Total population: 126,515
- White: 52.3% (66,160)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (1,041)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 39.6% (50,133)
- Asian: 0.8% (984)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (76)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (3,851)
- Some other Race: 3.4% (4,270)
#2. Cibola County
- Index: 0.592
- Total population: 26,891
- White: 48.1% (12,932)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (297)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 41.5% (11,172)
- Asian: 0.1% (40)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (9)
- 2 or more races: 3.2% (858)
- Some other Race: 5.9% (1,583)
Carptrash // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 33#1. Rio Arriba County
- Index: 0.616
- Total population: 39,159
- White: 53.1% (20,775)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (251)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 16.3% (6,380)
- Asian: 0.5% (191)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (13)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (815)
- Some other Race: 27.4% (10,734)
