Elephant Butte, Sierra County, New Mexico facts for kids
Elephant Butte is a special place in New Mexico, United States. It's located on the southeast side of the huge Elephant Butte Reservoir in Sierra County. It's important not to mix it up with the modern city also called Elephant Butte, New Mexico, which is on the other side of the reservoir. This historic spot sits high up, about 4,465 feet (1,361 meters) above sea level. From here, you can see the famous Elephant Butte rock formation to the north, which is where all these places get their name!
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What is Elephant Butte?
Elephant Butte is more than just a name on a map. It was once a busy town! This town was built to house the many people who worked on constructing the massive Elephant Butte Dam. This dam is a very important structure that holds back the waters of the Rio Grande, creating the large reservoir.
A Town for Dam Builders
Imagine a town that popped up just for a big construction project! That's what Elephant Butte was. It provided homes and services for the engineers, workers, and their families who were building the dam. It was a lively place during the dam's construction.
A Short-Lived Post Office
The town of Elephant Butte even had its own post office! This post office was open for a short time, from 1919 to 1920. During those years, mail for the town was sent through Engle, a nearby community. This shows how important and active the town was during the dam's building phase.
The Elephant Butte Cemetery
On a hillside to the east of the old town site, you can find the Elephant Butte Cemetery. This cemetery is a quiet reminder of the people who lived and worked here. The earliest burials in the cemetery date back to 1912. The last known burial took place on June 20, 1989. It's a place where you can reflect on the history of the area and the lives of those who helped build the dam.
Elephant Butte Today
Today, the original site of Elephant Butte town is no longer a bustling construction camp. Instead, it's home to the Elephant Butte Dam Site Resort & Marina. This means the area has transformed into a place for relaxation and fun. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful reservoir and its surroundings.
