Total population (1996 census): 51928
County seat: Alamogordo
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 3 | 3 | 304 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 48 | 1990 | 7440 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 32 | 1230 | 5813 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 23 | 500 | 1175 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 10 | 134 | 289 tons, dry | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Hot Peppers | 6 | 7 | ||
| Pumpkins | 3 | 4 | ||
| Squash | 3 | 1 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 8 | 10 | ||
| Tomatoes | 6 | 2 | ||
| Fruits and Nuts | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 65 | 280 | 19656 trees | |
| Apricots | 13 | 5 | 265 trees | |
| Cherries, Total | 40 | 66 | 4417 trees | |
| Sweet Cherries | 40 | 58 | 3923 trees | |
| Tart Cherries | 17 | 8 | 494 trees | |
| Grapes | 6 | 15 | 6455 vines | |
| Peaches | 30 | 20 | 1332 trees | |
| Pears | 16 | 8 | 483 trees | |
| Plums and Prunes | 12 | 4 | 139 trees | |
| Pecans | 88 | 1543 | 60701 in shell | |
| Pistachios | 36 | 460 | 48369 in shell | |
| Other Fruits and Nuts | 3 | 2 | 87 | |
| Other Crops | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Cotton | 2 | D | D | |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops, Cut Christmas Trees Harvested, Mushrooms, and Sod Grown for Sale | Farms | Sq. ft. under glass or other protection | Acres in the open | Sales ($1,000) |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 10 | 23380 | 28 | 232 |
| Nursery, Floriculture Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 5 | X | 22 | X |
| Nursery Crops | 5 | D | D | 81 |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.