Cloudcroft, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cloudcroft, New Mexico
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Village
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Cloudcroft in the summer
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Location of Cloudcroft, New Mexico
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 Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Otero |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Land | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 8,676 ft (2,644 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 750 |
| • Density | 458.44/sq mi (177.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
88317, 88350
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| Area code(s) | 575 |
| FIPS code | 35-16280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413541 |
Cloudcroft is a small village in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. It is located inside the Lincoln National Forest. In 2020, 750 people lived there.
Cloudcroft is very high up, about 8,676 feet (2,644 meters) above sea level. This high elevation makes its summers cool and pleasant. The village is surrounded by beautiful, forested mountains. Because of this, it's a popular place for tourists from the nearby deserts. Tourism is the main way people in Cloudcroft make a living.
Contents
Cloudcroft's Interesting Past
How Cloudcroft Started
In the 1890s, two brothers, Charles and John Eddy, were building a railroad. They wanted to extend their El Paso and Northeastern Railroad north from Alamogordo. To do this, they needed a lot of wood.
In 1898, the Eddy brothers sent a team to explore the Sacramento Mountains. They wanted to see if a train track could go up the mountain to collect timber. The team found that it was possible. They also realized the area would be great for visitors. Someone suggested the name Cloudcroft, meaning "a pasture for the clouds." Soon, work on the new train line began.
Early Days and Resorts
By the end of 1898, the train line reached Toboggan Canyon. They started building a special place called "The Pavilion" at the top of the mountain. This was for the tourists they expected. It had a dining room, kitchen, and a hall for fun. There were also 40 tents on wooden platforms for people to sleep in.
In May 1899, the railroad reached Cox Canyon. In June 1899, "The Pavilion" officially opened. The first visitors rode the train part of the way, then took a stagecoach to finish their trip. News about Cloudcroft spread quickly, and it became a popular spot. Another fancy resort, "The Lodge," was built for people who wanted a more upscale stay.
The Train Arrives
The train line finally reached Cloudcroft in early 1900. In June 1900, the train station was finished. It was just west of The Pavilion. Watching the trains arrive became a daily event. Three trains came each day, bringing wood, mail, and passengers.
Fires and Changes
Sadly, "The Lodge" burned down in 1909. But it was rebuilt in 1911 in its current spot. "The Pavilion" also burned down twice in the 1920s. Each time, it was rebuilt to look like the original. Many famous guests stayed at The Lodge. In the 1930s, a well-known hotel owner named Conrad Hilton even managed it.
As cars became more popular, fewer people rode the train. Passenger train service stopped in 1938. The very last freight train ran in 1947. You can still see parts of the old train line, like the Mexican Canyon Trestle, near Cloudcroft. In 2010, a fire destroyed two buildings in downtown Cloudcroft.
Where Cloudcroft Is Located
Cloudcroft is a small village. It covers about 1.63 square miles (4.24 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the village limits.
Cloudcroft's Weather
Cloudcroft has a type of weather called a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. It's actually the southernmost place in North America with this kind of climate!
| Climate data for Cloudcroft, New Mexico, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1987–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) |
63 (17) |
70 (21) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
88 (31) |
88 (31) |
84 (29) |
80 (27) |
76 (24) |
67 (19) |
69 (21) |
88 (31) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 53.7 (12.1) |
56.0 (13.3) |
62.6 (17.0) |
67.7 (19.8) |
76.0 (24.4) |
82.8 (28.2) |
80.9 (27.2) |
77.7 (25.4) |
75.2 (24.0) |
70.1 (21.2) |
62.3 (16.8) |
55.5 (13.1) |
83.9 (28.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.4 (5.8) |
44.6 (7.0) |
50.8 (10.4) |
58.0 (14.4) |
65.9 (18.8) |
74.3 (23.5) |
72.2 (22.3) |
70.8 (21.6) |
67.3 (19.6) |
60.1 (15.6) |
50.6 (10.3) |
42.8 (6.0) |
58.3 (14.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.7 (−0.7) |
33.2 (0.7) |
38.2 (3.4) |
44.6 (7.0) |
52.0 (11.1) |
59.6 (15.3) |
60.1 (15.6) |
59.1 (15.1) |
54.8 (12.7) |
47.1 (8.4) |
38.0 (3.3) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
45.7 (7.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.0 (−7.2) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
38.1 (3.4) |
44.8 (7.1) |
48.0 (8.9) |
47.4 (8.6) |
42.2 (5.7) |
34.0 (1.1) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
19.4 (−7.0) |
33.1 (0.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 4.0 (−15.6) |
5.3 (−14.8) |
11.3 (−11.5) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
35.9 (2.2) |
42.0 (5.6) |
41.0 (5.0) |
32.5 (0.3) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
9.5 (−12.5) |
1.9 (−16.7) |
−1.6 (−18.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9 (−23) |
−20 (−29) |
4 (−16) |
11 (−12) |
17 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
34 (1) |
26 (−3) |
5 (−15) |
−4 (−20) |
−11 (−24) |
−20 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.59 (40) |
1.69 (43) |
1.45 (37) |
0.85 (22) |
1.22 (31) |
2.22 (56) |
5.53 (140) |
5.01 (127) |
3.23 (82) |
2.13 (54) |
1.38 (35) |
2.15 (55) |
28.45 (722) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 13.1 (33) |
13.3 (34) |
9.8 (25) |
3.7 (9.4) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.2 (8.1) |
7.3 (19) |
16.3 (41) |
66.8 (169.75) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 9.4 (24) |
9.3 (24) |
6.0 (15) |
1.4 (3.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.7 (4.3) |
4.1 (10) |
11.2 (28) |
11.2 (28) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.7 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 9.1 | 16.7 | 15.9 | 10.0 | 6.4 | 4.2 | 5.9 | 93.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 22.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Cloudcroft?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 251 | — | |
| 1960 | 464 | 84.9% | |
| 1970 | 525 | 13.1% | |
| 1980 | 521 | −0.8% | |
| 1990 | 636 | 22.1% | |
| 2000 | 749 | 17.8% | |
| 2010 | 675 | −9.9% | |
| 2020 | 750 | 11.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2020
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 750 people living in Cloudcroft. There were 348 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people in Cloudcroft are white. About 14% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 20% of the people were under 18 years old. Many people living in Cloudcroft are older, with 28% being 65 years or older. The average age was about 53 years old.
Fun Things to Do in Cloudcroft
Cloudcroft has several fun events at Zenith Park. These include:
- May Fair, held during the Memorial Day Weekend.
- July Jamboree.
- Oktoberfest.
You can find many shops, restaurants, and even a museum in Cloudcroft. The museum has old photos and items from the village's history. Many artists also live and work in Cloudcroft, selling their creations.
Learning in Cloudcroft
Cloudcroft is home to the Cloudcroft Municipal Schools. These schools also serve other communities nearby.
Getting Around Cloudcroft
The main road that goes through Cloudcroft is U.S. Route 82.
Famous People from Cloudcroft
- Ronny Cox, an actor, singer, songwriter, and storyteller.
See also
In Spanish: Cloudcroft para niños
