kids encyclopedia robot

Pie Town, New Mexico facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Pie Town, New Mexico
Homesteader with dugout house in Pie Town, 1940 photograph by Russell Lee.
Homesteader with dugout house in Pie Town, 1940 photograph by Russell Lee.
Motto(s): 
America's Friendliest Little Town
Pie Town, New Mexico is located in New Mexico
Pie Town, New Mexico
Pie Town, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Pie Town, New Mexico is located in the United States
Pie Town, New Mexico
Pie Town, New Mexico
Location in the United States
Country United States
State New Mexico
County Catron County
Area
 • Total 57.3 sq mi (148.4 km2)
 • Land 57.3 sq mi (148.3 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
7,536 ft (2,297 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 111
 • Density 3/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP Code
87827
Area code(s) 575
GNIS feature ID 2584176

Pie Town is a small, unique community in New Mexico. It is located in Catron County along U.S. Highway 60. In 2010, about 186 people lived there.

The town got its name from a bakery that opened in the early 1920s. This bakery, started by Clyde Norman, was famous for its delicious dried-apple pies. Pie Town is known for its fun and unusual name.

Every September, Pie Town hosts a special "Pie Festival." The town is also near the Gila National Forest. Not far away, you can find the Very Large Array, a huge group of radio telescopes. These telescopes are used by scientists to study space.

Pie Town in Media

Photographs and Documentaries

Pie Town and its residents were captured in photos in 1940. Russell Lee, a photographer for the U.S. government, took these pictures. His photos showed what life was like in Pie Town during that time.

In 2005, Smithsonian magazine wrote an article about Pie Town. It featured Lee's photos and the local Daily Pie Cafe. Later, in 2014, a full-length documentary called Pie Lady of Pie Town was made. CBS News Sunday Morning also shared a story about the town in 2015.

Education

The local school district for Pie Town is called Quemado Schools.

Visiting Pie Town

Location and Travel

Pie Town is located on U.S. Highway 60. It is about 83 miles (134 km) west of Socorro. If you are coming from Phoenix, Arizona, it's about 290 miles (467 km) east. From Albuquerque, it's about 136 miles (219 km) northeast using other highways.

Continental Divide Trail Stop

The center of Pie Town is just 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the Continental Divide. This is a line that separates rivers flowing to the Atlantic from those flowing to the Pacific. Many visitors come to Pie Town while traveling the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). This trail is popular with cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists, and hikers.

Pie Town offers a welcome break for travelers on the CDT. You can find places to stay, supplies, and, of course, many unique flavors of pie! In 2007, three residents of Pie Town – Nita Larronde, Don Kearney, and Kathy Knapp – received an award for their kindness to trail users.

Ancient History and Finds

The area around Pie Town has many interesting things from Native American history. People have found pieces of Anasazi and Acoma pottery. They have also discovered ancient tools like grinding slicks and axe heads. You might even find petrified wood or fossilized bones on the ground. Ruins of old Native American communities, with one to many structures, are also in the area.

Annual Pie Festival

The Pie Town Annual Pie Festival is a big event. It includes a fun pie-baking contest where people show off their best pies. There are also games, races, music, food, and arts and crafts to enjoy.

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pie Town (Nuevo México) para niños

kids search engine
Pie Town, New Mexico Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.