Lamy, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lamy, New Mexico
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Train station in Lamy
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Location of Lamy, New Mexico
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Santa Fe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.59 sq mi (6.71 km2) |
| • Land | 2.59 sq mi (6.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,569 ft (2,002 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 210 |
| • Density | 81.08/sq mi (31.30/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
87540
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| Area code(s) | 505 |
| FIPS code | 35-38890 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408569 |
Lamy is a small community in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is known as a census-designated place, or CDP. In 2020, about 210 people lived there. Lamy is located about 18 miles (29 km) south of the city of Santa Fe.
Contents
Lamy's History: How It Got Its Name
Lamy is named after Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy. He was an important leader in the area. The land Lamy sits on was part of a Spanish land grant. This grant was given way back in the 1700s. Archbishop Lamy helped start Santa Fe's first English school. He also created other schools in the region.
Lamy Junction: An Ancient Site
The Lamy Junction Community is an interesting place. It has 14 ancient pueblos and other buildings. These structures are from a time called the Coalition Era. This important historical site is found near US Highway 285. It is also close to Santa Fe County Road 233.
Lamy's Location and Size
Lamy is a small area of land. According to the United States Census Bureau, it covers about 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2). All of this area is land, with no water.
Who Lives in Lamy?
Lamy is part of the larger Santa Fe, New Mexico, area. This is known as a Metropolitan Statistical Area.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 137 | — | |
| 2010 | 218 | 59.1% | |
| 2020 | 210 | −3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 137 people living in Lamy. They lived in 55 households. About 33 of these were families. The population was spread out. About 27.7% were under 18 years old. The average age of people in Lamy was 34 years.
Schools in Lamy
Students in Lamy attend schools in the Santa Fe Public Schools district. Younger students (Kindergarten through 8th grade) go to El Dorado Community School. This school is located in El Dorado. For high school, students attend Santa Fe High School.
Lamy's Important Railroad Connections
Lamy has always been important for trains. The old Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) line runs through Lamy. This line is now called the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF). The railroad was first planned to go to Santa Fe. But engineers found the hills around Santa Fe too difficult. So, they built the main line through Lamy instead.
In 1909, the railroad officially opened for passengers. Later, a smaller track, called a spur line, was built. This line finally connected Lamy to Santa Fe. In 1896, the Fred Harvey Company built a fancy hotel in Lamy. It was called the El Ortiz Hotel. This made Lamy a very important train stop. The El Ortiz Hotel was closed in 1947 and later taken down.
From 1992 to 2014, the Santa Fe Southern Railway used the spur line. They ran fun train rides between Santa Fe and Lamy. They used old passenger cars and modern freight cars.
Sky Railway: A New Train Adventure
In 2020, some people from Santa Fe started a new train company. One of them was the famous novelist George R.R. Martin. Their company is called Sky Railway. It offers fun train trips on the same route. Sky Railway started its operations in December 2021.
Lamy Railroad and History Museum
The Lamy Railroad and History Museum is a special place. It is located in the old "Legal Tender" restaurant building. The museum works to save local history. It focuses on how railroads changed the area. The museum buildings are very old. They include the Pflueger General Merchandise Store (built in 1881) and the Annex Saloon (built in 1884). These buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Legal Tender restaurant and museum reopened in 2012. It had been closed for 14 years. The restaurant and museum are run by volunteers. It is open from Thursday through Sunday.
Famous People from Lamy
Some well-known people have lived in Lamy:
- Eliza Gilkyson: A singer who lived in Lamy. She even wrote a song about it.
- Thom Ross: A talented artist who lives in Lamy.
- James Thomas Stevens: A poet who once lived in Lamy.
See also
In Spanish: Lamy (Nuevo México) para niños
