Lordsburg, New Mexico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lordsburg, New Mexico
City
Hidalgo County Courthouse in Lordsburg
Location of Lordsburg in New Mexico
Lordsburg, New Mexico Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Hidalgo
Founded	1880
Area
• Total	8.43 sq mi (21.82 km2)
• Land	8.43 sq mi (21.82 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	4,269 ft (1,301 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,335
• Density	277.15/sq mi (107.01/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes	88009, 88045
Area code(s)	575
FIPS code	35-42180
GNIS feature ID	2410872

Lordsburg is a city in Hidalgo County, New Mexico. It is the main city, also known as the county seat, of Hidalgo County. This county is in the southern part of New Mexico, right next to the Arizona border. In 2020, about 2,335 people lived in Lordsburg.

History of Lordsburg

Lordsburg was started in 1880. It was built along the path of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The famous Continental Divide Trail, a long hiking path, goes through Lordsburg. It starts nearby at the Crazy Cook Monument.

Some local stories say that Billy the Kid, a well-known figure from the Old West, worked washing dishes in hotels in Lordsburg when he was a teenager.

New Mexico's State Song

Lordsburg is where the official New Mexico state song, "O Fair New Mexico", was created. A resident of Lordsburg named Elizabeth Garrett wrote it. She was the daughter of the famous sheriff Pat Garrett.

In 1917, the governor signed a law making it the official state song. Later, in 1928, a famous composer named John Philip Sousa created a special musical version of the song. It told a story through music about the Native Americans, cavalry, Spanish, and Mexican people of New Mexico.

Lordsburg Municipal Airport

The Lordsburg Municipal Airport (KLSB) opened in the mid-1920s. It was actually the very first airport in New Mexico! At first, it was just a clear piece of land where planes could land and take off in any direction. Later, dirt runways were built.

In 1927, Lordsburg was a stop on Charles Lindbergh's big cross-country flight tour in his plane, the Spirit of Saint Louis. The airport is owned by the City of Lordsburg. It is located about one mile southeast of the city.

Lordsburg During World War II

Japanese internees from California at Camp Lordsburg in New Mexico during World War II. 1942-43

During World War II, Lordsburg had a special camp. This camp was run by the U.S. Army. It held up to 1,500 Japanese Americans. It also held captured German and Italian soldiers. The camp was open until July 1943.

A Popular Rest Stop

For many years, Lordsburg has been a popular place for travelers to stop and rest. People driving to and from the West Coast on Interstate 10 often stop here. Lordsburg is about 641 miles (1,032 km) from downtown Los Angeles. This means you can comfortably reach it by car in less than a day.

In the mid-1900s, Lordsburg was especially popular with black travelers. This was because it had one of the few motels in the Southwest that welcomed black guests. At that time, many places had rules that separated people by race. Lordsburg offered a welcoming place for everyone. Today, Lordsburg has 12 motels and hotels with over 300 rooms for guests.

Geography and Climate

Lordsburg is located in the northern part of Hidalgo County. It sits where Interstate 10 and U.S. Route 70 meet. Interstate 10 goes east to Deming (60 miles or 97 km) and Las Cruces (120 miles or 193 km). To the west, it leads to Tucson, Arizona (155 miles or 249 km). U.S. Route 70 also goes east with I-10 from Lordsburg, but it goes northwest to Globe, Arizona (153 miles or 246 km).

The city covers a total area of about 8.4 square miles (21.7 square kilometers), all of which is land.

Lordsburg's Weather

Lordsburg has a mostly dry climate. Summers are very hot during the day. Temperatures often go above 90°F (32°C) for many days. It can even reach over 100°F (38°C) about 30 days a year. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 114°F (46°C) in June 1994.

In late summer, the area gets more rain due to the monsoon season. This is when most of the year's rain falls, usually between July and early October. Winters are mild, with comfortable daytime temperatures. Nights can get cold, often falling below freezing. Snowfall is very rare in Lordsburg.

People of Lordsburg

In 2000, there were about 3,379 people living in Lordsburg. The city is home to many different groups of people. A large part of the population is of Hispanic or Latino background.

About one-third of the households in Lordsburg have children under 18 living there. The average age of people in the city was 33 years old.

Education in Lordsburg

Students in Lordsburg go to Lordsburg High School. Their school mascot is the Maverick, and their school colors are orange and black. Students can play many sports, including football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, and track and field. They also have a cheerleading team.

Media and Transportation

Lordsburg used to have two radio stations. One was KLHS, which later moved. Another station, KXKK, also broadcast from the area.

Getting Around Lordsburg

• Bus: Greyhound Lines has a bus station in Lordsburg.
• Airports:
  • Lordsburg Municipal Airport is used for private, charter, and military flights. It was New Mexico's first airport.
  • The closest public airports with regular passenger flights are Tucson International Airport (about 150 miles or 241 km west) and El Paso International Airport (about 170 miles or 274 km east).
  • Grant County Airport is also nearby, about 49 miles (79 km) northeast of Lordsburg.
• Major Highways:
  • I-10
  • I-10 Bus.
• Rail:
  • Amtrak's Sunset Limited /Texas Eagle train stops at Lordsburg station. This train comes through three times a week in each direction.
  • The Union Pacific Railroad and the Arizona Eastern Railway also have lines that serve Lordsburg.

See also

In Spanish: Lordsburg para niños