Pilar, New Mexico facts for kids

Pilar, seen from a nearby mountain. To the right is the Rio Grande; at the top of the "T" is the highway that connects Taos and Santa Fe.

A Staurolite cross, a special type of crystal found near Pilar.

Pilar is a small community in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. It used to be called Cieneguilla. This community is located right next to the famous Rio Grande river.

What's in a Name?

The first name for Pilar was Cieneguilla. This name comes from the Spanish word ciénaga, which means "marsh" or "swampy place." The area was marshy because several streams flowed into a flat area near a bend in the Rio Grande. Because of this constant water source, the Jicarilla Apache people often visited this area.

The community's current name, Pilar, was chosen when its post office opened in 1918. There are two main stories about how it got its name:

• One story says it was named after the daughter of the first postmaster. Her name was Pilar, and she was named after a special appearance of the Virgin Mary called Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain.
• Another, more common story suggests the name was given to honor an important local man named José Pilar Vigil. He was of Native American (Ute) and Hispanic heritage.

A Look Back in Time

Pilar has a long and interesting history.

Early History and Conflicts

In 1694, a Spanish leader named Diego de Vargas led a group to take back control of New Mexico. During this time, he burned an Apache village in the area. This happened after the Spanish had been forced out during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, a major uprising by Native American people.

Land Grants and New Settlers

In February 1793, twenty people were given control of this land. They received it as a "land grant" from King Charles IV of Spain. A land grant was a special gift of land from the king. This grant was given through his military governor in New Mexico, Don Fernando Chacón. This grant was known as the Cieneguilla Grant.

The Battle of Cieneguilla

A significant event happened near Pilar on March 30, 1854. The Battle of Cieneguilla took place in the hills a few miles from the town. This battle was fought between Jicarilla Apache warriors and soldiers from the U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment.