Census Data for Hobbs
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Hobbs a population of 39,060 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Hobbs a population of 34,122 people.
The city of Hobbs is located in Lea County. The 2010 Census gave Lea County; a population of 64,727 people. This means that Hobbs had 52.7% of the county's total population, making it Lea's most populous community.
At the same time, New Mexico had a population of 2,059,179 people, meaning that Hobbs had 1.66% of the total population of New Mexico - making it the state's 8th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Hobbs has a total area of 23.99 square miles [62.1 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.04 square miles [0.1 km²]).
Lea County has a land area of 4,390 square miles [11,372.5 km²]. At 23.95 square miles [62 km²], Hobbs has 0.55% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Hobbs, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Hobbs reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Hobbs might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 32° 43' 48" (or 32.73°)
- Lon: -103° 9' 37" (or -103.16°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Hobbs had 12,900 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 34,122 people, this averages 2.65 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Hobbs had a land area of 23.95 square miles [62 km²]. This translates to 537 Housing Units per square mile [207.6 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Hobbs had 11,968 Housing Units, a population of 28,657 people and a land area of 18.93 square miles [49 km²]. This gives a density of 2.39 people per Housing Unit and 632 Housing Units per square mile [244.1 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Hobbs and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Lea County ...
Hobbs is located in Lea County<4>.
The county had a population of 64,727 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 34,122 people, Hobbs represented 52.7% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Hobbs has a population density of 1,422 people per square mile [549 people/km²], Lea County averages 14.74 people per square mile [5.69 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Lea County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Hobbs, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Hobbs. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Hobbs or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Hobbs, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Hobbs.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 32.730276° (or 32°43'48" N)
- Lon: -103.160490° (or -103°9'37" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 32.712240° (or 32°42'44" N)
- Lon: -103.140681° (or -103°8'26" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 8,953 feet to the northwest<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2410771) to Hobbs. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Hobbs. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 32.697511° (or 32°41'51" N)
- Lon: -103.128820° (or -103°7'43" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 2 miles to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Hobbs. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Hobbs.
Miscellaneous Information for Hobbs ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Lea County or the city of Hobbs:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 35 (New Mexico)
- County Code: 025 (Lea County)
- Place Code: 32520 (Hobbs)
- State & County Code: 35/025 (New Mexico / Lea County)
- State & Place Code: 35/32520 (New Mexico / Hobbs)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Hobbs is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Hobbs, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Hobbs. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for Hobbs:88240<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Hobbs.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Hobbs: www.hobbsnm.org/
The official website for Lea County: www.leacounty.net/
The official website for State of New Mexico: www.newmexico.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of New Mexico's counties, including Lea, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 42 degrees and a distance of 8,953 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 39 degrees and a distance of 2 miles. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Hobbs or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |