Alma, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alma, New Mexico
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 Alma, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Alma, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Catron |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.26 sq mi (8.44 km2) |
| • Land | 3.25 sq mi (8.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,918 ft (1,499 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 47 |
| • Density | 14.44/sq mi (5.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 575 |
| FIPS code | 35-02560 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2806685 |
Alma is a small, quiet community in Catron County, New Mexico, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Alma is located north of Glenwood and south of Reserve.
Contents
History of Alma
Alma has an interesting past, going back to the 1870s.
Early Days of Alma
In the early 1870s, a man named Sergeant James C. Cooney first planned a town at this spot. However, he didn't develop it. Later, a person known as Captain Birney bought the land. He decided to name the place "Alma" in honor of his mother. The U.S. Post Office opened in Alma in 1882. It served the community until 1931.
Famous Visitors to Alma
Alma was once a temporary home for some well-known figures from the Old West. The famous "Wild Bunch" gang, which included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, stayed here for a short time. They even worked at a nearby ranch called the WS ranch. It's said that the ranch manager was quite happy with their work. Other notable people like Tom Ketchum, Harvey Logan, and William Antrim (who was Billy the Kid's stepfather) also lived in Alma at different times. The artist Olaf Wieghorst once worked on the Cunningham Ranch near Alma.
Alma's Boot Hill Cemetery
Alma is also home to a historic cemetery known as a Boot Hill cemetery. This type of cemetery was common in the Old West. Alma's Boot Hill is located about two miles north of the community.
The Alma Event of 1880
In 1880, an event known as the "Alma Massacre" occurred near Alma. It involved a raid on settlers' homes. About 41 people lost their lives during or right after this event. Two memorials were later built to remember these happenings.
Alma Today
Today, Alma is sometimes called a "ghost town" by the New Mexico Tourism Department. It is located on U.S. Route 180.
What You Can Find in Alma
Even though it's small, Alma has a restaurant and a little store. There are also a few dozens of homes spread out in the area. The community has a cemetery with over 100 burials. These burials date from the 1880s to the present day. The cemetery grounds are well-kept and have a special hand-crafted sign. There are also other cemeteries nearby, like the WS Ranch Cemetery and Cooney's Tomb.
Nature Around Alma
Alma is located in the middle of the Blue Range Wilderness. This wilderness area is part of New Mexico's Gila National Forest and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. It's a beautiful natural area.
Mexican Gray Wolf Reintroduction
In 1998, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service started a program to bring back the Mexican gray wolf to its old home areas. This included the region around Alma. Ranchers in the area have shared their worries about how the wolves might affect their cattle. On the other hand, environmentalists believe that ranchers could manage their herds better. This wolf reintroduction program is still a much-discussed topic. Many different groups, including environmentalists, ranchers, and law enforcement, are involved in the discussions.
Population of Alma
Alma is a very small community.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 47 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Education in Alma
Students in Alma attend schools within the Reserve Independent School District.
