Northern New Mexico facts for kids
Northern New Mexico is a special part of the state of New Mexico. It's known for its strong Spanish history and culture. Many people who settled here long ago were from Spain. This area is mostly in the north-central part of New Mexico.
The biggest cities in Northern New Mexico include Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Española, Los Alamos, and Raton.
Contents
Cultural Identity of Northern New Mexico
Culturally, Northern New Mexico has a unique identity. Its southern edge is often seen as a cliff called La Bajada, near Santa Fe. The other borders are not as clear.
This area includes counties like Rio Arriba, Los Alamos, Taos, and Colfax. It also covers parts of Sandoval, Santa Fe, San Miguel, and Mora Counties. To the west is the famous Four Corners region. To the east are the flat high plains of Eastern New Mexico.
Río Arriba and Río Abajo
Northern New Mexico is also called the río arriba. This Spanish phrase means "upper river area." It refers to the upper part of the Rio Grande river valley. Many Hispanic families settled here during colonial times.
There's also a "lower river" area called río abajo. This distinction between "río arriba" and "río abajo" started long ago. It still marks a cultural and language difference among Hispanic people in New Mexico today.
How New Mexico's Government Defines the Region
The New Mexico state government divides the state into four main areas. These are Eastern, Central, Southwestern, and Northern New Mexico.
For government purposes, Northern New Mexico includes the Four Corners area. It also covers the cultural area we just talked about. However, it does not include Sandoval County. The Northwest Region is often called the "Four-Corners Region."
Northern New Mexico for Tourists
When you look at New Mexico for tourism, it's divided into six regions. Northern New Mexico is split into three of these: the north central, northeast, and northwest regions.
Sandoval County is considered part of the central region for tourists. The north central region is where you'll find the main part of culturally rich Northern New Mexico.
Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area
A special place in Northern New Mexico is the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. It's located in the upper Rio Grande Valley. This area is recognized by the U.S. government as a National Heritage Area.
It's important because Puebloan peoples have lived here for thousands of years. Their history goes back to the early Pre-Columbian era, long before Europeans arrived.
Images for kids
-
Northern New Mexico
-
Blue hatched area shows approximate region culturally known as northern New Mexico
-
Blue hatched area shows region called Northern New Mexico in New Mexico state documents
