Elizabethtown, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabethtown, New Mexico
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Elizabethtown, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Elizabethtown, New Mexico
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Colfax |
| Elevation | 8,485 ft (2,586 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 928727 |
Elizabethtown is a small, unincorporated community in Colfax County, New Mexico. It is located near New Mexico State Road 38. You can find it between the towns of Eagle Nest and Red River.
Elizabethtown sits just east of the Carson National Forest. This area was once a busy mining town. It is located northeast of Scully Mountain and west of Baldy Mountain.
Contents
History of Elizabethtown
Today, Elizabethtown is mostly a ghost town. It started in 1866 when gold and copper mines were discovered nearby. The Mystic Copper Mine was one of these early mines.
New Mexico's First Incorporated Town
Elizabethtown was special because it was New Mexico's first official town. Captain William H. Moore founded it. He was a commander from Fort Union. He named the town after his daughter, Elizabeth Catherine Moore.
People often called it "E-Town." The town grew very quickly. By 1870, over 7,000 people lived there. It became the first county seat for the new Colfax County. A county seat is the main town where the county government is located.
Decline and Revival of the Town
By 1872, the mines started to run out of gold and copper. Most people left, and only about 100 residents remained. The county seat then moved to Cimarron.
The town saw a small comeback in the early 1890s. This happened when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad built tracks nearby. This made it easier to transport minerals, so mining became possible again.
Elizabethtown was also part of the Colfax County War. This was a conflict over land and water rights in the area. In 1903, a big fire destroyed most of the town. By 1917, the mines had mostly closed for good, and the town became very quiet.
Important Roads Near Elizabethtown
New Mexico State Road 38
- New Mexico State Road 38 is an important highway. It connects Elizabethtown to other communities in the region.
