N.M. Stat. § 4-12-1
That the county of Hidalgo is hereby created out of that portion of the state of New Mexico, lying and situate within the following boundaries:
beginning at the northeast (NE) corner of section 24 in township 28 south of range 14 west of the New Mexico principal meridian, and running thence westwardly along the northerly boundary lines of sections 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19 of said township 28 south of range 14 west, and along the northerly boundary lines of sections 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19 of township 28 south of range 15 west, and along the northerly boundary lines of sections 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19 of township 28 south of range 16 west to the southwest (SW) corner of section 18 of township 28 south of range 16 west; thence northwardly upon the line between ranges 16 west and 17 west to the fifth standard parallel south and thence along the said fifth standard parallel south to the point where the line between ranges 16 and 17 west, north of said fifth standard parallel south intersects the same and thence northwardly along said line between ranges 16 west and 17 west to the northeast (NE) corner of township 21 south of range 17 west; thence westwardly along the line between townships 20 south and 21 south to the southwest (SW) corner of township 20 south of range 17 west, thence northwardly along the line between ranges 17 west and 18 west to the northeast (NE) corner of township 20 south of range 18 west; thence westwardly along the line between townships 19 south and 20 south to the southwest (SW) corner of township 19 south of range 19 west; thence northwardly along the line between ranges 19 west and 20 west to the northeast (NE) corner of township 18 south of range 20 west; thence westwardly along the line between townships 17 south and 18 south to the point where the same intersects the boundary line between the states of New Mexico and Arizona; thence southwardly along said boundary line between the states of New Mexico and Arizona to the point where the same intersects the boundary line between the United States of America and the Republic of Mexico; thence eastwardly along said boundary line between the United States of America and the Republic of Mexico to the point where the same turns northwardly in township 34 south of range 14 west of the New Mexico principal meridian; thence northwardly along said boundary line between the United States of America and the Republic of Mexico to the point where the same turns eastwardly in township 29 south of range 14 [13] west of the New Mexico principal meridian; thence [west] upon a straight line to the southwest (SW) corner of the county of Luna, and thence northwardly along the westerly boundary line of said county of Luna to the point of beginning.
NMS § 4-12-1