Golden, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Golden, New Mexico
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Henderson General Store
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Santa Fe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.73 sq mi (17.42 km2) |
| • Land | 6.73 sq mi (17.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,061 ft (2,152 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19 |
| • Density | 2.82/sq mi (1.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
87047
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| Area code(s) | 505 |
| Census Class Code | U5 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2584105 |
Golden is a small community in New Mexico, United States. It is located in Santa Fe County, between the towns of Cedar Crest and Madrid. Golden is known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined for gathering population information.
History of Golden
People lived in the Golden area long before American settlers arrived. Native Americans and Spaniards were here first. The town really started to grow when gold was found in 1825. This was years before the famous gold rushes in California and Colorado. Golden became the site of the first gold rush west of the Mississippi River.
Gold was first discovered in Tuerto Creek. This creek is on the southwest side of the Ortiz Mountains. In the late 1820s, two small mining camps grew there. They were called El Real de San Francisco and Placer del Tuerto. These camps formed because of the gold finds.
The area was quiet for many years. Then, large companies started investing in the mines. This brought many workers to the area. Many individual gold seekers also came. The San Francisco Catholic Church was built around 1830. This was shortly after the mining camps began.
A new town called Golden was forming just south of Tuerto. This new town soon included both El Real de San Francisco and Placer del Tuerto. Golden officially started in 1879. It was chosen as the main spot for the new gold-mining area. Soon, Golden had several saloons, businesses, a school, and even a stock exchange. In 1880, a post office opened in the town.
Mining continued on a small scale until about 1892. Ranching also remained a main part of the economy. In 1918, the Golden General Merchandise Store opened. This is the only business in town that is still open today. Locals now call it the Henderson General Store. They named it after its owner.
By 1928, very few people lived in Golden. The post office closed, and Golden officially became a ghost town. For many years, its abandoned buildings slowly fell apart. There were only a few occupied buildings left. During this time, some buildings were also damaged by people. However, a few old ruins still offer great places for photos.
Golden's most photographed building is the San Francisco Catholic Church. A historian and author named Fray Angelico Chavez restored it in 1960. He was the priest of the St Joseph Church in Los Cerrillos at the time. Across the highway, west of the church, you can see the ruins of another large building. There are also old mining remains.
Geography of Golden
Golden is located along the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway. It is about ten miles north of the Sandia Park junction on NM-14.
Population and Community
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 19 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Today, Golden has seen a small comeback. New residents have moved into the area. They are building new homes and fixing up old ones. Still, it remains a quiet village. It has clear reminders of its busier past. The Henderson Store is located here. It sells Native American jewelry and pottery.
Education
Golden is part of the Moriarty-Edgewood School District.
See also
In Spanish: Golden (Nuevo México) para niños
