San Patricio, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Patricio, New Mexico
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 San Patricio, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
San Patricio, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Lincoln |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
88348
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| Area code(s) | 575 |
San Patricio is a very small community in Lincoln County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is located on the Rio Ruidoso and U.S. Highway 70, between the communities of Hondo and Glencoe. It is just east of the Lincoln National Forest.
The community is the site of San Patricio Retreat Center, a Benedictine spirituality center recently purchased by the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Hurd-LaRinconada Gallery, owned by artist Michael Hurd, is located here. The gallery displays original works of art by the Wyeth and Hurd families and there are guest houses on the ranch.
History
Originally named Ruidoso for the river, in about 1870, the town was renamed when a Catholic church was built around 1875, and named La Iglesia de San Patricio. The village was also part of the Lincoln County War.
Geography
Location of San Patricio is 33°24′32″N 105°19′37″W / 33.40889°N 105.32694°W (33.408976, -105.326928).
The Elevation is 5436 feet (1657 m).
Major highways
- U.S. Route 70
Economy
The community and region are known for growing apples; the orchards were a major part of the economy until the mid-1900s. Other orchard fruits, like peaches, pears, and cherries, and more general agricultural products were also sold to truckers along with the apples.
Floods in 1941 and 1965, and the threat of cold weather have been the main dangers to these orchards. Early businesses of San Patricio included a general store, a grocery shop, a bar, a pool hall, a post office, and a gas station. In the early 2000s, only the post office is still operating.
Education
San Patricio built its first school before 1880. The school district included 70 students in 1880 and 153 in 1920. The four-room elementary school closed in 1960 after the smaller school districts in the area consolidated to Hondo's elementary school.
Geography and infrastructure
The coordinates of San Patricio are 33°24′32″N 105°19′37″W / 33.40889°N 105.32694°W (33.408976, -105.326928).
The elevation is 5436 feet (1657 m).
San Patricio is located near the confluence of Rio Ruidoso and Rio Bonito. Glencoe is to the west and Hondo to the east. After their confluence, the rivers become the Rio Hondo.
The Catholic community in Glencoe attends St. Jude's Church in San Patricio. This church incorporated the bells from the historical Glencoe and Hondo Catholic churches, and San Patricio Church.
U.S. Route 70 serves the town, which is a 16.5 mile drive from Sierra Blanca Regional Airport.
