Chimayo, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chimayo, New Mexico
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El Santuario
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El Potrero Santificado, Chima
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Location of Chimayo, New Mexico
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 Chimayo, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Chimayo, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| Counties | Rio Arriba, Santa Fe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.74 sq mi (20.05 km2) |
| • Land | 7.74 sq mi (20.04 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,067 ft (1,849 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,077 |
| • Density | 397.75/sq mi (153.57/km2) |
| • Demonym | Chimayoan |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
87522
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| Area code(s) | 505 |
| FIPS code | 35-14950 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408026 |
Chimayo is a special place in New Mexico, a state in the United States. It's not a city, but a "census-designated place" (CDP), meaning it's a community that the government counts for population. Chimayo is located in two counties: Rio Arriba and Santa Fe.
The name Chimayo comes from a Tewa word for a nearby hill, Tsi Mayoh. This community is made up of many small neighborhoods, often called plazas or placitas. Two well-known ones are El Potrero de Chimayó and Plaza del Cerro. Chimayo is about 25 miles north of Santa Fe. In 2010, about 3,177 people lived there.
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Exploring Chimayo's History
One of the most famous spots in Chimayo is a Catholic church called El Santuario de Chimayó. It's known around the world! A local person built this chapel by 1816. Later, in 1929, it was given to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
This chapel is famous because many people believe dirt from a special room inside can help heal sickness and problems. Because of this, it's sometimes called the "Lourdes of America." Every year, about 300,000 visitors come here, with up to 30,000 during Holy Week before Easter. It's considered a very important Catholic pilgrimage site in the U.S. In 1970, it was named a National Historic Landmark.
Chimayo has a long history of amazing weaving. Between 1920 and 1940, a special style of weaving developed here, named after the town. This Chimayó style often features strong bands and a detailed design in the middle, usually shaped like a diamond or hourglass.
The Ortega and Trujillo families are especially famous for their weaving skills. They have been creating beautiful textiles for many generations, following old Spanish traditions. You can find their weaving businesses near the Plaza del Cerro. Besides weaving, people in Chimayo also practice other traditional crafts like working with tin, carving wood, and making religious paintings. These crafts, along with the unique buildings and green fields, make Chimayo a popular place for tourists.
Chimayo's Unique Culture
Chimayo is also known for its special type of chile called the Chimayo pepper. This pepper has been grown here for over 300 years! In 2003, a project called the Chimayo Chile Project started. Its goal was to help grow more of these traditional peppers and bring back the local chile farming industry.
The project began planting in 2005 and still helps local farmers get seeds. The farmers even formed a group called Chimayo Chile Farmers, Inc. In 2009, they were able to officially register the name "Chimayo" for their special chile. A book about the history of the Chimayo chile was also published in 2009.
Chimayo is also mentioned in an opera called Now Eleanor's Idea by Robert Ashley. The opera talks about Chimayo as a very important place for the "lowrider" car culture. Lowriders are special cars that are customized to ride very low to the ground.
Where is Chimayo?
Chimayo is located in a valley within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It's about 24 miles (38.4 km) north of Santa Fe. The town is approximately 6,075 feet (1,852 meters) above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the total area of Chimayo is about 5.5 square miles (14.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Chimayo
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 3,077 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Chimayo was 3,077 people. In 2000, there were 2,924 people living there. Most of the people in Chimayo have a Hispanic or Latino background, making up about 90.8% of the population in 2000.
In 2000, about 25.3% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age of people in Chimayo was 36 years.
Learning in Chimayo
Children in Chimayo attend schools run by Española Public Schools. The local elementary school is Chimayo Elementary. For high school, students go to Española Valley High School.
There are also a couple of small private schools that have been in the area. The John Hyson Memorial School (which closed in 2002) served students from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. Another school is the Camino de Paz School and Farm, which uses the Montessori method for grades six to nine.
Getting Around Chimayo
Buses from the North Central Regional Transit District help people travel around Chimayo and to nearby areas.
See also
In Spanish: Chimayó para niños
