Separ, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Separ
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 Separ
Location in New Mexico
Separ
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Grant |
| Elevation | 4,501 ft (1,372 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
88045
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| Area code(s) | 575 |
| GNIS feature ID | 899905 |
Separ is a small desert community in Grant County, located in the southwestern part of New Mexico, United States. It is an "unincorporated area," which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
Even though some people online call it a ghost town, Separ still has a small number of residents today. It sits in a unique area called the Guzmán Basin, where water doesn't flow out to the ocean. Because of this, the continental divide actually passes on both sides of Separ.
The community is right next to the Union Pacific train tracks. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Separ was a busy place. It was a stop where trains could get water and where livestock, like cattle, were loaded and unloaded. Today, Separ serves as a useful stop for cars and trucks traveling along Interstate 10. It's about 20 miles southeast of Lordsburg and 48 miles west of Deming.
A Look at Separ's Past
Separ was once an important stop on the Janos Trail. This trail was used to move copper ore south to processing factories in Chihuahua, Mexico. It also brought mining tools and other goods north to copper mines. The community was first known as Sepas. When the railroad arrived in the 1880s, it became a key place for loading cattle onto trains.
Notable Events in Separ's History
- 1896 Store Incident: On July 20, 1896, a group known as the High Five Gang visited a general store in Separ. They took about $250 in cash and items, including blankets, cigars, and whiskey. They also entered the Post Office nearby. Later, a blanket taken during the event was found in the Chiricahua Mountains.
- 1905 Incident: In March 1905, two individuals named George and Edwin Gates were killed in Separ.
