El Rito, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico facts for kids
El Rito is a small community in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. Its name means "The Little River" in Spanish. This name comes from the creek that flows through the village.
El Rito is located in the northern part of New Mexico. It sits about 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Española. It is also about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Ojo Caliente. The community is found along NM 554. El Rito is about 6,875 feet (2,096 meters) above sea level.
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History of El Rito
El Rito was one of the first Spanish settlements in this area. People settled here around 1807. This was in the lands of the Jicarilla Apache people, north of Santa Fe.
San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church
The San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church is an important building in El Rito. It was built between 1827 and 1832. This church was fixed up and made new again in the 1980s.
Life in El Rito
El Rito is home to several important places for the community. These include the Carson National Forest Service – El Rito Ranger District. There is also the El Rito Public Library. People can also find health care at Las Clinicas del Norte. A campus of Northern New Mexico College is also located here.
Artists in El Rito
El Rito is known for its growing number of artists. Many creative people live in this small New Mexico village. The El Rito Studio Tour happens every year in early October. This event lets visitors see the artists' work.
Some famous artists from El Rito include Nicholas Herrera. He is known as “The El Rito Santero.” Another well-known artist is David Michael Kennedy. Both of these artists have their work shown in the Smithsonian museums.
Natural Surroundings
El Rito is surrounded by the beautiful Carson National Forest. This forest offers many outdoor activities. The Tewa people have a special name for the El Rito region. They call it "pink below place." This name comes from the El Rito Mountains, which they call the pink mountains.
