Laguna, New Mexico Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools
Laguna, New Mexico is located in the high desert of central New Mexico. It is a small town with a population of just under 3,000 people. The geography of Laguna is mostly flat and dry, with some hills in the background. The climate of Laguna is semi-arid with hot summers and cold winters.
The history of Laguna dates back to the early 1600s when it was part of the ancient Pueblo culture. Later, it became part of the Spanish Empire and then eventually became a part of Mexico until 1848 when it became part of the United States. In 1877, the first post office was established in Laguna and it has been an integral part of life in this area ever since.
Politics in Laguna are largely governed by local government officials who are elected by citizens every four years. The economy is mainly based on tourism and agriculture, although there are some manufacturing facilities as well. There are several schools in Laguna that provide education for children from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Laguna has many landmarks that attract visitors from all over the world each year. These include two ancient pueblos: Acoma Sky City and Zuni Pueblo; Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs; El Malpais National Monument; and El Morro National Monument which features petroglyphs carved into its red sandstone walls by Native Americans centuries ago. There are also several museums including a museum dedicated to Native American culture as well as a museum dedicated to former Governor Bruce King who served from 1971-1975.
Population: 423
Males: 201 (47.5%), Females: 222 (52.5%)
Cibola County
Zip code: 87026
Demographics
Median resident age: 37.8 years
Median household income: $19,250
Median house value: $32,500
Population by Race
Races in Laguna:
- American Indian (96.9%)
- Hispanic (3.1%)
- White Non-Hispanic (2.1%)
Ancestries: Greek (1.7%).
Elevation: 5807 feet
Land area: 2.6 square miles
Population by Education
Laguna, New Mexico is a small town located in the heart of the Navajo Nation. The population of Laguna is estimated at 5,087 people as of 2019. Nearly three-quarters of the population identify as Native American, primarily Navajo. The rest of the population is made up of White, Hispanic, and African American individuals. The median age in Laguna is 28 years old and the median household income is $19,000.
The majority of residents in Laguna are employed by either the Navajo Nation or local businesses within the community. Education levels in Laguna are relatively low with only 22% of residents having obtained a high school diploma or GED. Despite this, there are many organizations working to improve educational opportunities for locals and create economic development for the area. Additionally, there has been an influx of new businesses opening in recent years to provide more job opportunities and attract visitors to the area. These businesses offer services such as restaurants, lodging accommodations, outdoor recreation activities and art galleries that feature works from local artists.
For population 25 years and over in Laguna
- High school or higher: 70.2%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.5%
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4%
- Unemployed: 16.9%
- Mean travel time to work: 44.8 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Laguna CDP
- Never married: 38.7%
- Now married: 49.7%
- Separated: 0.0%
- Widowed: 6.3%
- Divorced: 5.3%
0.0% Foreign born
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Laguna:
- ACOMA CANONCITO LAQUNA PHS HOSPITAL (about 17 miles; SAN FIDEL, NM)
- CIBOLA GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 36 miles; GRANTS, NM)
- ST JOSEPH WEST MESA HOSPITAL (about 52 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Laguna:
- ALBUQUERQUE INTL SUNPORT (about 56 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Abbreviation: ABQ)
- FOUR CORNERS REGIONAL (about 129 miles; FARMINGTON, NM; Abbreviation: FMN)
- DURANGO-LA PLATA COUNTY (about 147 miles; DURANGO, CO; Abbreviation: DRO)
Other public-use airports nearest to Laguna:
- GRANTS-MILAN MUNI (about 36 miles; GRANTS, NM; Abbreviation: GNT)
- DOUBLE EAGLE II (about 44 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Abbreviation: AEG)
- ALAMO NAVAJO (about 49 miles; ALAMO, NM; Abbreviation: 3N9)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Laguna:
- UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO-MAIN CAMPUS (about 51 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Full-time enrollment: 18,780)
- ALBUQUERQUE TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE (about 55 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Full-time enrollment: 9,188)
- UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-ALBUQUERQUE NM CAMPUS (about 59 miles; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; Full-time enrollment: 3,261)
- SAN JUAN COLLEGE (about 131 miles; FARMINGTON, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,837)
- FORT LEWIS COLLEGE (about 158 miles; DURANGO, CO; Full-time enrollment: 4,051)
- NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY (about 165 miles; LAS VEGAS, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,278)
- NORTHLAND PIONEER COLLEGE (about 190 miles; HOLBROOK, AZ; Full-time enrollment: 2,177)
Public primary/middle schools in Laguna:
- LAGUNA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 291; Location: P.O. BOX 191; Grades: KG – 05)
- LAGUNA MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 189; Location: P.O. BOX 268; Grades: 06 – 08)
Libraries
Library in Laguna:
- LAGUNA PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $38,830; Location: P.O. BOX 194; 10,685 books; 13 audio materials; 450 video materials; 55 serial subscriptions)