I found New Mexico confusing, so I hope to unconfuse you... !!!
As most of my readers know, the United States began on the Atlantic coast, and then there was "expansion."
When Lewis and Clark began their expedition to find out what was West of the Alleghenies in May 1804, specifically to explore the Louisiana Territory, Purchased in 1803, they officially began in Missouri and the Missouri River, but actually, to get to the Missouri River they left what is the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, using the Ohio River to get to that official starting point. (Pittsburgh was almost the Wild Wild West!) Louisiana Territory was previously owned by France, but what of Spanish America and Mexican America?
The twists and turns of history affected what's available as does who conducted the census. The acquisition of territory came first, then statehood. What country owned that land? Who took the census? Was it Federal, State, Territorial, special?
When Lewis and Clark began their expedition to find out what was West of the Alleghenies in May 1804, specifically to explore the Louisiana Territory, Purchased in 1803, they officially began in Missouri and the Missouri River, but actually, to get to the Missouri River they left what is the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, using the Ohio River to get to that official starting point. (Pittsburgh was almost the Wild Wild West!) Louisiana Territory was previously owned by France, but what of Spanish America and Mexican America?
The twists and turns of history affected what's available as does who conducted the census. The acquisition of territory came first, then statehood. What country owned that land? Who took the census? Was it Federal, State, Territorial, special?
First, research the history of the state. Spain first claimed land in what became New Mexico. Then Mexico did. Spain did a census in 1790. Mexico did in1823 and then 1845.
In 1850, New Mexico became a Territory of the United States. From that point on the territory was included in what we call the U.S. Federal Census, though it was not a state. Statehood for New Mexico as a state of the United States of America - "joined the Union" was 1912. Which means that we are looking for resources from various countries.
Take a look at this list from NEW MEXICO STATE LIBRARY - GUIDE TO CENSUS (Genealogy) THERE WERE MANY CENSUS including some specific to Native Americans, it's a wonder...
Excerpt: Spanish and Mexican Census Records :
1845, 1830, 1827, 1826, 1823, 1822, 1816, 1802, 1790, and 1750-- Mexican and Spanish colonial censuses exist. The colonial censuses include the wife's maiden name. These censuses are incomplete and do not include all families in New Mexico.***
Though the United States first started taking a national (I call that a FEDERAL) census in 1790 (OF STATES THAT WERE ACTUALLY STATES), New Mexico did not appear until the 1850 census (7th). The New Mexico State Library has microfilm of the dicennial Federal Census of New Mexico for the years: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and then the New Mexico Territory Census of 1885!
*** No census has ever been totally complete, inclusive of every resident, for various reasons. In New Mexico's example we should consider California, another state that was claimed by Spain and then Mexico. When populations were sparse or a great deal of travel was necessary, lots of people who lived there were not counted.
In the case of French America or Spanish America, Church records can be especially helpful.
And a reminder : STATE LIBRARIES are often separate of STATE ARCHIVES.
Whew!
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The TAG for this series is "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"
