Hondo, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hondo, New Mexico
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 Hondo, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Hondo, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Lincoln |
| Elevation | 5,230 ft (1,590 m) |
| Population
(July 2007)
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| • Total | 1,081 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
88336
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| Area code(s) | 575 |
| GNIS feature ID | 923610 |
Hondo is a small, unincorporated community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA. It's about 35 miles east of Ruidoso Downs. Here, two rivers, the Rio Bonito and the Rio Ruidoso, meet to form the Rio Hondo river. Hondo is also where two main roads, U.S. Route 70 and U.S. Route 380, come together and then continue east. Hondo has had its own post office since 1900.
Contents
History of Hondo
Early Settlement and Name Changes
Hondo was started by Hispanic settlers from the Rio Grande valley in the 1880s. This happened after the U.S. Army had brought peace to the area, which was once home to the Apache people. The community was first called La Junta. This name means "the junction" in Spanish, because it's where the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso rivers meet. Later, the name changed to Hondo, which means "deep" in Spanish, named after the river.
Life for Early Settlers
Before the settlers arrived, the Apache people lived in this area. Even after Fort Stanton was built nearby, small fights sometimes happened. Early settlers, who arrived before 1861, lived in special homes called placitas. These were adobe family compounds built with walls for defense. You can still see how these old homes influenced the way Hondo is laid out today. The first settlers raised animals and farmed the land. They sometimes traded goods with Fort Stanton.
Hondo in the 1930s
By the 1930s, U.S. Route 70 was built. This important road passed just north of Hondo. At that time, the community had a school, buildings for community events, and many family homes.
Community Events
The Hondo Fiesta Celebration
In May 1948, Fermín S. Montes and his wife, Cirenia, started a special event. It was a fiesta that celebrated the beautiful springtime flowers and traditional Mexican dances. This event is now known as the Hondo Fiesta or Fiesta de Hondo.
Every year since then, the people of Hondo come together for this celebration. It's a time to honor the town's history and culture. The fiesta includes delicious food, performances by children, and traditional music and dancing. The Hondo Fiesta is open to everyone and is a wonderful way to experience the town's heritage.
