Orogrande, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orogrande
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 Orogrande, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Otero |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.68 sq mi (14.71 km2) |
| • Land | 5.68 sq mi (14.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,282 ft (1,305 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 35 |
| • Density | 6.16/sq mi (2.38/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 ([[Eastern Time Zone]|Eastern (Est)]]) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| FIPS code | 35-54500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2584170 |
Orogrande is a small community in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. It's located in the Jarilla Mountains, which are part of the Tularosa Basin. You can find Orogrande along U.S. Route 54 in New Mexico, between the cities of El Paso, Texas and Alamogordo, New Mexico. In 2020, only 35 people lived here.
A Look Back in Time
Orogrande started as a mining town in 1905. It was first called Jarilla Junction because it was close to the Jarilla Mountains. In 1906, its name changed to Orogrande, which means "big gold" in Spanish. Other mining towns nearby, like Brice and Ohaysi, are now completely abandoned ghost towns.
In 1905, many people rushed to Orogrande hoping to find gold. The town's population quickly grew to about 2,000 people. However, the gold wasn't as plentiful as everyone hoped. Because of this, the population quickly dropped, and almost everyone left. Today, you can still find many old, abandoned mines in the area. Some land around Orogrande is also part of a military reservation controlled by Fort Bliss.
Orogrande holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in New Mexico. It reached a scorching 116 degrees Fahrenheit!
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 35 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Schools and Learning
Students in Orogrande attend schools that are part of the Alamogordo Public Schools district. Younger students go to Yucca Elementary School. Middle school students attend Mountain View Middle School. For high school, students go to Alamogordo High School.
Before 1959, Orogrande had its own elementary school. High school students, however, already traveled to Alamogordo for their classes. On July 1, 1959, the Orogrande school became part of the Alamogordo school district. The district decided to close the Orogrande school to save money, and all students began attending school in Alamogordo.
Want to Learn More?
In Spanish: Orogrande (Nuevo México) para niños
