Anton Chico, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anton Chico, New Mexico
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 Anton Chico, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Anton Chico, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Guadalupe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.79 sq mi (4.63 km2) |
| • Land | 1.79 sq mi (4.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,309 ft (1,618 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 161 |
| • Density | 90.15/sq mi (34.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
87711
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| Area code(s) | 575 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2584047 |
Anton Chico is a small community in Guadalupe County, New Mexico, United States. It is also known as Anton Chico Abajo or Anton Chico de Abajo. In 2010, about 188 people lived there. Most residents were of Hispanic background. Anton Chico has its own post office with the ZIP code 87711. New Mexico State Road 386 runs through the town. This historic place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of Anton Chico
Early Spanish Settlements in New Mexico
Before 1786, Spanish towns in New Mexico were mostly in the Rio Grande valley. This was because of threats from Native American groups like the Comanches. After a peace treaty with the Comanches, the Spanish could expand. They moved east into the Pecos River valley and onto the Great Plains.
The Spanish wanted to expand for a few reasons. Their population was growing, and they needed more land. Also, they wanted to protect their towns in the Rio Grande valley. These towns were often raided by other Native American groups, such as the Apache.
The Anton Chico Land Grant
In 1822, the New Mexico government created the Anton Chico Land Grant. This was a large area of land, about 378,537 acres. Salvador Tapia and 36 other people asked for this land. They promised to live there and share the land with future settlers. They also agreed to get firearms and bows and arrows to defend the settlement from attacks.
The first settlers came to Anton Chico from La Cuesta. This town is now called Villanueva, located upstream on the Pecos River. However, Native American raids caused the settlers to leave Anton Chico in 1827. But the community was resettled in 1834, and this time it was successful.
Growth of the Community
Seven small towns grew along 12 kilometers of the Pecos River. These included Tecolotito, Upper Anton Chico, Anton Chico, Llano Viejo, La Loma, Llano del Medio, Dilia, and Colonias. Anton Chico became the largest of these settlements.
Around 1841-1842, Anton Chico had about 200 to 300 people. The village was built in a square shape for defense. The houses faced inward, forming a plaza. They were made of adobe, a type of sun-dried brick. The houses had flat roofs and strong outer doors.
"The little village of Anton Chico is built in a square, the houses fronting on the inner side, although there are strong doors, on the outer. The houses are of one story only, built of adobe...while the tops are flat. They have neither windows nor floors, and in point of comfort and convenience are only one degree removed from the modest wigwam of the Indian."
Life in Anton Chico
Anton Chico was close to the Great Plains, where large herds of bison lived. Many Ciboleros, who were bison hunters, came from Anton Chico. Also, Comancheros, who traded with the Plains Indians, were from this area. These activities were important to the community in the 1800s.
Anton Chico was at its busiest around 1890. It had about 900 people, mostly of Hispanic background. It was an important trading center for much of eastern New Mexico. However, its population and economy later declined. One reason for this was the change in Route 66. Before 1937, this major road passed near Anton Chico. After it was rerouted, Anton Chico was no longer on a main transportation route.
Geography and Climate
Where Anton Chico Is Located
Anton Chico covers an area of about 1.784 square miles (4.63 square kilometers). All of this area is land. In 1958, many houses in Anton Chico started using tin roofs instead of traditional adobe.
Anton Chico's Climate
Anton Chico has a cold steppe climate. This means it is generally dry with cold winters. Most of the rain falls during the warmer months of the year.
| Climate data for Anton Chico, New Mexico, USA. 35.195 -105.144. Elevation: 5,353 feet (1,632 m). | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.7 (53.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
17.8 (64.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
26.7 (80.0) |
31.7 (89.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
31.7 (89.0) |
28.3 (83.0) |
22.8 (73.0) |
16.1 (61.0) |
11.7 (53.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.5) |
4.7 (40.5) |
8.3 (47.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
16.9 (62.5) |
21.9 (71.5) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.1 (73.5) |
19.4 (67.0) |
13.3 (56.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
3.1 (37.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.6 (22.0) |
−4.4 (24.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.4 (58.0) |
10.6 (51.0) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−1.7 (29.0) |
−5.6 (22.0) |
3.9 (39.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 15 (0.6) |
13 (0.5) |
18 (0.7) |
20 (0.8) |
33 (1.3) |
41 (1.6) |
66 (2.6) |
66 (2.6) |
48 (1.9) |
30 (1.2) |
18 (0.7) |
20 (0.8) |
390 (15.3) |
| Source: "Anton Chico, NM," | |||||||||||||
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 161 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Anton Chico was 161 people.
National Register of Historic Places
The village of Anton Chico was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it is recognized for its important historical value.
Education in Anton Chico
Anton Chico is part of the Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools district. The community has two schools: Rita M. Marquez Elementary School and Anton Chico Middle School. Students who attend high school go to Santa Rosa High School, which is the only high school in the district.
Before 1973, the middle school in Anton Chico was closed. Middle school students then had to travel to Santa Rosa for school. This made many Anton Chico residents unhappy. The West Las Vegas School District offered to provide bus transportation for students from Anton Chico to their schools. They asked the state of New Mexico to pay for the bus costs. However, in 1973, the New Mexico State Board of Education said no to this request. At that time, Anton Chico Elementary School taught students from Kindergarten to 6th grade and had 154 students.
See Also
In Spanish: Antón Chico (Nuevo México) para niños
