Organ, New Mexico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Organ, New Mexico
Census-designated place
Organ as seen from the San Agustin Pass looking north/west
Organ, New Mexico Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Dona Ana
Founded	1883
Area
• Total	0.86 sq mi (2.23 km2)
• Land	0.86 sq mi (2.23 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	5,056 ft (1,541 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	242
• Density	280.42/sq mi (108.31/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (DST)
Area code(s)	575
FIPS code	35-54430
GNIS feature ID	2584169

Organ is a small community in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it's not officially a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's managed by the county. It's also a "census-designated place," which means the government counts its population for official records. In 2020, about 242 people lived there.

History of Organ

Organ's old schoolhouse, May 2010

Organ started as a mining camp even before the American Civil War. It became an official community in 1883. That year, President Chester A. Arthur approved a special land grant. This grant gave about 40 acres (16 hectares) of land to the Organ Mining Corporation.

Mining in Organ

Mines near Organ produced valuable minerals. These included gold, lead, iron, and silver. The biggest mine was known as the "Torpedo Mine." However, mining was not allowed directly within the Organ town site. In 1885, Organ was a busy place with over 1,500 people. It had its own school, post office, and even a hotel. There were also large furnaces for smelting ore and an office for testing minerals.

Changes Over Time

In the 1930s, mining stopped in the area. This was because the mines filled with water and the Great Depression made mining too expensive. But Organ started to grow again in 1945. This happened when the White Sands Missile Range opened nearby. The testing of nuclear weapons brought many military and government workers to the area. Organ became a place where these people could live and find services. Today, Organ still supports the military and White Sands Missile Range.

Community Life in Organ

Organ is not an official city, so Doña Ana County manages it. This was decided in the original presidential order from 1883. The state of New Mexico recognizes Organ as a "Traditional Historic Community." This means no nearby city can take over Organ.

Organ has its own water and sewer services. Other services are provided independently. The Organ Community Center was improved in 2008. It is still located on the land of the original town square. The roads in Organ are paved, and improvements continue under county supervision. The Organ Post Office is still open, and there are a few businesses. The local cemetery is called "Slumbering Mountain Cemetery." It has both new and old graves. Children in Organ attend schools in Las Cruces, which are part of the Las Cruces Public Schools. The original Organ schoolhouse is no longer in use. Organ remains an active community with a rich history. There are about 100 households in the area today.

Geography

Organ is located at the southwest base of the San Augustin Mountains. These mountains are the southern part of the larger San Andres Mountains. If you travel across San Augustin Pass on US 70, you will find the Organ Mountains to the south.

Population Data

See also

In Spanish: Organ (Nuevo México) para niños