Socorro, New Mexico Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published June 30, 2019 · Updated September 12, 2024

Socorro, New Mexico is a small city located in the south-central part of the state. It is situated along the Rio Grande River in Socorro County and is home to just over 9,000 people. The city was established as a Spanish mission in 1682, and it has since become an important center for education and research due to its presence near two major universities: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) and the University of Texas at El Paso.

The area around Socorro offers a variety of scenic views, from desert landscapes to grand mountain peaks. The borough of Magdalena lies just to the north and offers some stunning vistas from its higher elevations. To the east lies San Antonio Mountain, with its impressive rock formations. The nearby Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge provides visitors with an opportunity to spot sandhill cranes, geese, ducks, and other birds during their migratory seasons.

In terms of outdoor activities, Socorro has plenty to offer its visitors. Hiking trails are plentiful throughout the area, allowing those who enjoy nature walks to explore all that Socorro has to offer. Other attractions include hot air balloon rides over the Rio Grande Valley or horseback riding through nearby ranches.

The city also has some interesting cultural attractions for those interested in local history and artistry. The historic Plaza de Indios can be found downtown; it features an old church building as well as numerous murals depicting local history and culture. The nearby Magdalena Museum showcases artifacts from Native American cultures that lived in the region long ago. Additionally, Socorro hosts several festivals throughout the year such as Fiesta de las Flores (Flower Festival) in April or Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in November which celebrate Mexican heritage with traditional music, food and dancing performances.

In addition to all its natural wonders and cultural attractions, Socorro is known for having excellent educational opportunities due to it being home to both New Mexico Tech and UTEP campuses which provide students with access to top-tier research facilities as well as some of the best professors in their fields from around the world. This makes it an ideal destination for those seeking higher education or research opportunities within their chosen field of study while also enjoying all that this charming southwestern town has to offer its visitors.

Population: 8,877. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,621 (-2.9% change)
Males: 4,581 (51.6%), Females: 4,296 (48.4%)

Socorro County

Zip code: 87801

Demographics

Median resident age: 31.1 years
Median household income: $22,530
Median house value: $84,400

Population by Race

Races in Socorro:

Hispanic (54.5%)
White Non-Hispanic (38.5%)
Other race (23.2%)
Two or more races (4.8%)
American Indian (4.1%)
Chinese (0.8%)
Black (0.7%)
Asian Indian (0.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (11.4%), Irish (6.7%), United States (6.2%), English (5.5%), Italian (2.4%), Polish (1.7%).

Elevation: 4605 feet

Land area: 14.4 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Socorro

High school or higher: 75.4%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 11.7%
Unemployed: 7.9%
Mean travel time to work: 15.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Socorro city

Never married: 36.7%
Now married: 42.9%
Separated: 1.6%
Widowed: 5.8%
Divorced: 12.9%

7.6% Foreign born (4.5% Latin America, 1.5% Asia, 0.8% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +663 (+8.1%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Socorro:

SOCORRO GENERAL HOSPITAL (1202 HIGHWAY 60 WEST)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Socorro:

SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL (about 66 miles; T OR C, NM)
CARRIE TINGLEY HOSPITAL (about 73 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM)
HEART HOSPITAL OF NEW MEXICO (about 73 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Socorro:

ALBUQUERQUE INTL SUNPORT (about 70 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Abbreviation: ABQ)
HOLLOMAN AFB (about 100 miles; ALAMOGORDO, NM; Abbreviation: HMN)
SIERRA BLANCA REGIONAL (about 104 miles; RUIDOSO, NM; Abbreviation: SRR)

Other public-use airports nearest to Socorro:

SOCORRO MUNI (about 4 miles; SOCORRO, NM; Abbreviation: ONM)
MAGDALENA (about 27 miles; MAGDALENA, NM; Abbreviation: N29)
ALEXANDER MUNI (about 40 miles; BELEN, NM; Abbreviation: E80)

Amtrak station:
SOCORRO (1007 S. CALIFORNIA ST.) – Bus Station. Services: snack bar, free short-term parking.

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Socorro:

NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY (Full-time enrollment: 1,353; Location: 801 LEROY PL; Public; Website: www.nmt.edu; Offers Doctor’s degree)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Socorro:

UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO-MAIN CAMPUS (about 70 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Full-time enrollment: 18,780)
ALBUQUERQUE TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE (about 73 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Full-time enrollment: 9,188)
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-ALBUQUERQUE NM CAMPUS (about 79 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Full-time enrollment: 3,261)
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 123 miles; LAS CRUCES, NM; Full-time enrollment: 12,562)
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY-DONA ANA (about 123 miles; LAS CRUCES, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,380)
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO (about 160 miles; EL PASO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 12,071)
EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 164 miles; EL PASO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 11,127)

Schools

Public high school in Socorro:

SOCORRO HIGH (Students: 601; Location: HIGHWAY 60 WEST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Socorro:

PARKVIEW ELEM. (Students: 452; Location: 107 FRANCISO DE AVONDO; Grades: KG – 03)
R. S. SARRACINO MID (Students: 445; Location: 1425 EL CAMINO REAL NW; Grades: 06 – 08)
ZIMMERLY ELEM (Students: 237; Location: 511 EL CAMINO REAL NW; Grades: 04 – 05)
COTTONWOOD VALLEY CH (Students: 148; Location: 201 NEEL ST.; Grades: KG – 08)
EDWARD E. TORRES EL. (Students: 32; Location: 239 GARFIELD AVENUE SW; Grades: PK – PK)

Libraries

Library in Socorro:

SOCORRO PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $322,757; Location: 401 PARK STREET; 40,837 books; 1,662 audio materials; 1,291 video materials; 90 serial subscriptions)