Española is a city in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. At the 2000 census the city had a total population of 11,688. In 2005 Española had a population of 13,213 within the city limits, and including surrounding unincorporated communities such as Santa Cruz, El Llano, Fairview and Sombrillo had a total of 16,092. The City Council is considering adding El Llano to City Limits; if it does, the city will have a population of 15,110. Española for years had been losing population until large growth of the area brought back jobs and more homes. It is the principal city of the Española Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Santa Fe-Española Combined Statistical Area.