Parcel Chartplaces Open the free map

County · code 35055

Taos CountyNew Mexico

Taos County is in northern New Mexico with its seat in Taos. It was established as one of seven original New Mexico counties in 1846 under Kearny's Code of Laws for the occupied Mexican territory.

  • Founded1852
  • County seatTaos
  • Named forTaos, New Mexico
  • Land area2,202 sq mi + 1.3 sq mi water
  • Population34,489 2020 Census
  • Parcels mapped70,984 checked 15 October 2026
Open the free map Click any parcel in Taos County: acreage, parcel id, address and who publishes the map. No sign-in.

Updated

Costilla, COConejos, COMoraColfaxRio Arriba Taos Census outline · seat marked

Where it is

Taos on the map of New Mexico

New Mexico has 33 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.

Bernalillo CountyCatron CountyChaves CountyCibola CountyColfax CountyCurry CountyDe Baca CountyDoña Ana CountyEddy CountyGrant CountyGuadalupe CountyHarding CountyHidalgo CountyLea CountyLincoln CountyLos Alamos CountyLuna CountyMcKinley CountyMora CountyOtero CountyQuay CountyRio Arriba CountyRoosevelt CountySandoval CountySan Juan CountySan Miguel CountySanta Fe CountySierra CountySocorro CountyTorrance CountyUnion CountyValencia CountyTaos County Taos
Counties of New Mexico · Taos highlighted

History

Founded in 1852

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

Taos County was established as one of seven original New Mexico counties in 1846 under Kearny's Code of Laws for the occupied Mexican territory. In 1852, the county was redefined with boundary exchanges involving Rio Arriba County and San Miguel County, and at that time it included parts of present Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. Taos County lost territory in 1860 when Mora County was created, and again in 1861 when Colorado Territory was established. The county was further reduced in 1863 when Arizona Territory was created from the western portion of New Mexico Territory.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; the 5 that matter most are shown first.

  1. 1846
    Taos County created Taos established as one of seven original New Mexico counties under Kearny's Code of Laws for the occupied Mexican territory. No written definitions given for the counties, boundaries were shown on the "Map of New Mexico Territory made by order of Brig. Gen. S. W. Kearny under instructions from Lieut. W. H. Emory, U.S.T.E. by Lieut's S.W. Abert and W.G. Peck, U.S.T.E. 1846-7." Competing claims to the eastern half of New Mexico resulted in an overlap between Taos and Bexar (Texas).
    from S. W.from W. H.from U.s.t.efrom S.w.from W.g.from Bexar (Tex.)
    · Kearny's Code 1846, "Courts and Judicial Powers," secs. 5-7/p. 49; Abel, Map #2; Coan, 252; Williams, 108-109
  2. 1852
    Gained territory Taos gained from Non-County Area 1, and exchanged with Rio Arriba and San Miguel when all counties redefined; included parts of present Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.
    from Rio Arribafrom San Miguel
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /p. 291
  3. 1860
    Lost territory Taos lost to creation of Mora.
    to Mora
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1859-1860, 9th assy. /p. 76
  4. 1861
    Lost territory Taos lost to creation of San Juan (original, extinct).
    to San Juan
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1860-1861, 10th assy. /p. 16
  5. 1861
    Lost territory Taos lost to creation of Colorado Territory. · U.S. Stat., vol. 12, pp. 172-177; Van Zandt, 141-144
Show all 13 changes (8 more)
  1. 1846
    Taos County created Taos established as one of seven original New Mexico counties under Kearny's Code of Laws for the occupied Mexican territory. No written definitions given for the counties, boundaries were shown on the "Map of New Mexico Territory made by order of Brig. Gen. S. W. Kearny under instructions from Lieut. W. H. Emory, U.S.T.E. by Lieut's S.W. Abert and W.G. Peck, U.S.T.E. 1846-7." Competing claims to the eastern half of New Mexico resulted in an overlap between Taos and Bexar (Texas).
    from S. W.from W. H.from U.s.t.efrom S.w.from W.g.from Bexar (Tex.)
    · Kearny's Code 1846, "Courts and Judicial Powers," secs. 5-7/p. 49; Abel, Map #2; Coan, 252; Williams, 108-109
  2. 1848
    Changed Taos recognized by the General Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico which convened December 1847 prior to formal designation of New Mexico Territory by the United States Congress. · N.M. Terr. Laws 1847, pp. 37-39
  3. 1852
    Gained territory Taos gained from Non-County Area 1, and exchanged with Rio Arriba and San Miguel when all counties redefined; included parts of present Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.
    from Rio Arribafrom San Miguel
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /p. 291
  4. 1860
    Lost territory Taos lost to creation of Mora.
    to Mora
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1859-1860, 9th assy. /p. 76
  5. 1861
    Lost territory Taos lost to creation of San Juan (original, extinct).
    to San Juan
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1860-1861, 10th assy. /p. 16
  6. 1861
    Lost territory Taos lost to creation of Colorado Territory. · U.S. Stat., vol. 12, pp. 172-177; Van Zandt, 141-144
  7. 1862
    Gained territory Taos gained all of San Juan (original, extinct) when the law creating San Juan was repealed.
    from San Juan
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 16
  8. 1863
    Lost territory Taos lost to creation of Arizona Territory. · U.S. Stat., vol. 12, pp. 664-665; Van Zandt, 165
  9. 1868
    Boundary clarified Boundary between Taos and Mora redefined (no change).
    with Morano change
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1867-1868, 17th assy., ch. 24/p. 106
  10. 1876
    Changed Colfax attached to Taos "for judicial purposes" (later repealed).
    Colfax
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1875-1876, 22d assy., ch.6/pp. 35-37
  11. 1878
    Changed Colfax detached from Taos when the law of 14 January 1876 was repealed.
    Colfax
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1878, 23d assy., ch. 9/p. 60
  12. 1880
    Exchanged territory Taos exchanged with Rio Arriba.
    with Rio Arriba
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1880, 24th assy., ch. 46/pp. 103-104
  13. 1905
    Gained territory Taos gained small area from Rio Arriba.
    from Rio Arriba
    · N.M. Terr. Laws 1905, 36th assy., ch. 11/pp. 39-40

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Taos

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Official
from the office that keeps the record
Good enough
a reliable statewide or national copy
Fallback
a guide only; check the official record
Missing
nothing public found yet

People and land

Taos by the Census

Population
34,489 2020 Census count
Housing units
20,904 2020 Census count
Land area
2,202 square miles
Water area
1.3 square miles
People per sq mi
16 population ÷ land area

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Rules and offices

Who to ask before you build, dig or sell

Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.

Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.

Records

Permits

Zoning and code

GIS and maps

County government

See your own lot on these maps

Open Taos County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.

Open the free map no sign-in Pro early access

Questions

Common questions about Taos County

When was Taos County founded?
Taos County was founded in 1852, and named after Taos, New Mexico.
What is the county seat of Taos County?
The county seat of Taos County is Taos.
Is there an online parcel map for Taos County?
Yes. Taos County publishes a parcel map of 70,984 parcels, rated official here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Taos County's boundary or name changed?
Taos County was created in 1846. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 11 later changes, chiefly involving Rio Arriba County, Colfax County and San Juan County.
Who issues building permits in Taos County?
The county's page on building permits: Building Permit Guide for Commercial Construction. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
Who issues septic and well permits in Taos County?
The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health Care Assistance Program.
Is my lot in a flood zone?
We do not have flood maps for Taos County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Nearby

Counties next door