Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico
|
|
|---|---|
Eldorado at Santa Fe, 2013
|
|
Location of Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico.
|
|
 Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Santa Fe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.78 sq mi (53.82 km2) |
| • Land | 20.78 sq mi (53.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,683 ft (2,037 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 6,005 |
| • Density | 288.97/sq mi (111.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 505 |
| FIPS code | 35-22625 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408070 |
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 5,799 | — | |
| 2010 | 6,130 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 6,005 | −2.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Eldorado at Santa Fe, often called Eldorado, is a special community in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area identified for census purposes but isn't a city or town. Eldorado is part of the larger Santa Fe, New Mexico area. In 2010, about 6,130 people lived here.
Contents
Geography of Eldorado
Eldorado at Santa Fe covers an area of about 20.7 square miles (53.8 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Who Lives in Eldorado?
In 2010, there were 6,130 people living in Eldorado. This included about 2,887 households. Most people (about 94%) were White. About 12.7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The community has a mix of ages. About 16% of the people were under 20 years old. A large group, about 48.8%, were between 45 and 64 years old. About 21% of residents were 65 years or older. The average age in Eldorado was about 55 years.
Eldorado's Ancient Past
Early Native American Life
Long ago, Archaic Native Americans lived and hunted in the Eldorado area. Archaeologists have found ancient tools, like Clovis points, which show that people were here thousands of years ago.
Around 600 AD, Ancestral Pueblo people, also known as Anasazi, settled here. They built farms and small villages called pueblos. These communities thrived for many years, but around 1325, a severe drought forced them to leave the area. Some people might have moved to the Galisteo area, which was also later abandoned.
Archaeological Discoveries
Formal studies of these ancient sites began in 1914. A researcher named Nels C. Nelson from the American Museum of Natural History started digging at a site called Pueblo Alamo. Sadly, much of Pueblo Alamo was destroyed when the I-25 highway was built around 1971, though some rescue archaeology was done.
Another smaller pueblo, called Chamisa Locita or Pueblo Walls, is still mostly untouched on private land. It does not have official protection.
History of Eldorado at Santa Fe
Land Grants and Ranches
Eldorado is located entirely within a historic Spanish land grant called Canada de los Alamos Grant, which dates back to 1785. In 1883, this entire grant was sold for just $2,000. By 1894, the U.S. government officially recognized the grant as being about 12,068 acres (48.8 square kilometers).
In 1901, the Onderdonk Land & Cattle company bought this grant and another nearby one for $10,000. They operated both as a cattle ranch until the 1950s. The ranch was then sold to the Simpson family in 1956. The Simpsons continued ranching until 1969, when they sold the land to a company called American Realty and Petroleum Corporation (AMREP) for $3.2 million.
Developing the Community
AMREP decided to develop about 6,000 acres (24.3 square kilometers) of their land into Eldorado at Santa Fe. They started selling the first land lots in 1972. For the first ten years, not many houses were built, only about 200.
However, after 1983, when AMREP won a lawsuit about water rights, building sped up. Many houses were built using passive solar designs, which means they use the sun's energy to heat and light the homes. Because of this, Eldorado is known as the largest solar community in the USA. By 2007, most of the original lots in Eldorado were built on, with only a few empty ones left.
There are also newer communities nearby along U.S. Route 285. These often have larger lots and more expensive houses. Many of these communities share water services with Eldorado. Even though they are separate, people often refer to them as part of "Eldorado."
Education in Eldorado
Eldorado is part of the Santa Fe Public Schools district.
- Younger students (Kindergarten through 8th grade) attend El Dorado Community School.
- Older students go to Santa Fe High School.
The community also has its own library, the Vista Grande Public Library.
Getting Around Eldorado
Rail and Trails
The Santa Fe Southern Railway runs right through the middle of Eldorado. Sometimes, you can take fun excursion train rides from Eldorado to Santa Fe. There have been ideas to start a regular train service for people who commute.
Next to the railway, there's a great trail for biking, horseback riding, and walking. It stretches all the way from the town of Lamy to the Railyard in Santa Fe.
Bus Service
The North Central Regional Transit District provides bus service, connecting Eldorado with Santa Fe.
Arts and Culture
Eldorado is home to many artists. The Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association hosts an annual studio tour every May. In 2010, 117 artists showed their work in 83 different studios. You can find all sorts of art, including paintings, digital art, pottery, textiles, jewelry, and sculptures.
Artists who sell their work during the tour donate 5% of their sales to local organizations. This money helps the Eldorado Fire Department, Eldorado Elementary School, and the Vista Grande Public Library. In five years, the association has given about $15,000 to these important community groups.
Notable Residents
- Ned Bittinger (born 1951), a portrait painter.
- Hampton Sides (born 1962), a well-known author.
See also
In Spanish: Eldorado at Santa Fe para niños
