[3] The county was named for Pennsylvania senator Matthew Quay, who supported statehood for New Mexico.

[4] Its eastern border is the Texas state line, approximately 103.04 degrees west longitude.

[5] As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 10,155 people, 4,201 households, and 2,844 families living in the county.

28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2010 census, there were 9,041 people, 4,072 households, and 2,502 families living in the county.

[15] As with much of eastern New Mexico, Quay County leans heavily towards Republicans.

The last time the county voted Democratic was in the 1976 United States presidential election.