San Francisco Plaza, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Francisco Plaza, New Mexico
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The Frisco Store in Lower Frisco Plaza
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Location of San Francisco Plaza, New Mexico
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Catron |
| Elevation | 5,725 ft (1,745 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT |
| Area code(s) | 575 |
| GNIS feature ID | 923678 |
San Francisco Plaza was once the name for three different communities in Catron County, New Mexico. These towns were settled by Spanish families in the 1860s. They were all located in the beautiful San Francisco River Valley.
Today, these places have new names. What was once Middle San Francisco Plaza is now called Middle Frisco. Lower San Francisco Plaza is known as Lower Frisco. The third town, Upper San Francisco Plaza, was renamed Reserve when the U.S. Forest Service built its main office there.
Contents
Exploring San Francisco Plaza's Past
The area known as San Francisco Plaza has a rich history. It was first settled by Hispanic families. They chose this spot in the San Francisco Valley.
How Reserve Got Its Name
In 1874, the community now called Reserve was originally named Upper San Francisco Plaza. The Apache people often visited this area, as it was part of their traditional hunting grounds. Later, in the late 1870s, new settlers from other parts of the United States, often called "Anglo" settlers, began to arrive. They changed the name of Upper Frisco Plaza to Milligan's Plaza. This new name honored a local merchant and saloon owner.
The Story of Elfego Baca
Lower San Francisco Plaza is famous for an exciting event that happened in 1884. A young man named Elfego Baca became a deputy sheriff. He was involved in a legendary stand-off against a group of cowboys from Texas. This event, known as the Frisco shootout, quickly made Elfego Baca a local hero.
San Francisco Plaza in Books
The famous author Louis L'Amour even included Upper San Francisco Plaza in one of his adventure novels. In his book Conagher, he referred to the town simply as "The Plaza." This shows how well-known the area was.
Where Rivers Meet
The Tularosa River is another important waterway in the region. It flows into the San Francisco River right at the spot where Middle San Francisco Plaza is located. This meeting of rivers helped shape the landscape and life in the valley.
