Ramah, New Mexico

Geography

Ramah is located at 35°8′6″N 108°29′16″W (35.135013, -108.487798). Its altitude is 6,926 feet (2,111 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land.

Surrounding countryside

Ramah was one of fifty locations settled in the New Mexico Territory under the direction of Brigham Young, 2nd President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is one of only three that still remain today. Ramah was originally settled by Mormon pioneers for the purpose of missionary work to be carried out within the Zuni and Navajo communities. Ramah Lake was built by these same Mormon pioneers in order to farm the surrounding area, which receives little rainfall on a yearly basis. This trait is shared by many areas in the state of New Mexico. In recent years, the lake has mostly dried up, and while fishing was once a popular activity, the environment is now unsustainable.

Ramah lies between the Zuni Indian Reservation, the Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation, and the Cibola National Forest. Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, El Morro National Monument, and El Malpais National Monument are all located near the Ramah area.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 407 people, 121 households, and 98 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 106.9 people per square mile (41.2/km²). There were 175 housing units at an average density of 46.0 per square mile (17.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 64.86% White, 25.80% Native American, 0.98% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 7.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.63% of the population.

There were 121 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36 and the average family size was 3.81.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 37.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 115.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $35,278. Males had a median income of $17,143 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,419. About 23.0% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.