Buckman, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buckman, New Mexico
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 Buckman, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Buckman, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Santa Fe |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT |
| Area code(s) | 505 |
Buckman is a ghost town in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States of America. It's about 5 miles (8 km) south of San Ildefonso Pueblo. You would find it on the east bank of the Rio Grande river, within White Rock Canyon. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now it's mostly empty.
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The Story of Buckman: A Timber Town
Around 1888, a man named Henry F. Buckman, who worked with lumber, built a special bridge. This bridge crossed the Rio Grande river. It was built where a narrow-gauge railroad line, called the Chili Line, turned away from the river toward Santa Fe.
Why Was Buckman Built?
Mr. Buckman had a big plan. He wanted to cut down Ponderosa Pine trees on the nearby Pajarito Plateau. To do this, he needed a road. So, he had a road blasted (created with explosives) up a side canyon. He also brought in a sawmill to process the wood.
A Community Grows and Fades
A small town quickly grew around the railway stop. This community was supported by the timber business. A post office was even opened on July 22, 1888, with Mr. Buckman as the postmaster.
But by 1903, Mr. Buckman had cut down all the trees he was allowed to. Some say he cut down even more! After the trees were gone, he left. The post office closed on January 5, 1903, and the town slowly disappeared. The post office did open again for a while between 1913 and 1925.
The End of the Railway Era
Even after the town faded, the railway stop, the bridge, and the road were still used. They helped people living on the Plateau, and also the Los Alamos Ranch School and Bandelier National Monument.
However, in 1924, a new road bridge was built at Otowi, which was about 3 miles (5 km) north. After this, the Buckman bridge and its road were no longer needed. The railroad itself closed in 1941, and its tracks were removed the next year.
What Remains of Buckman Today?
Today, you would find almost no signs of the old town or the bridge. It's truly a ghost town.
Buckman's New Purpose: Water Supply
In 2001, the area was chosen for a new project called the Buckman Direct Diversion Project (BDDP). This project helps bring water to the city and county of Santa Fe. The BDDP started working in 2011, giving the old site a new and important role.
