Sofia, New Mexico facts for kids
Sofia is a small, unincorporated community located in Union County, New Mexico, in the northeastern part of the state of New Mexico, United States. It sits high up, about 6,221 feet (1,896 meters) above sea level.
Contents
What is Sofia?
Sofia is a special place because it was the very first farming community in the United States started by people from Bulgaria. It was founded in 1911. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
How Sofia Got Its Name
The community of Sofia was named after Sofia, which is the capital city of Bulgaria. This name was chosen in 1912 during a meeting. The founders also thought about other names like Georgetown or Tarnovo, which was another important old capital city in Bulgaria.
Starting a New Life: The First Settlers
The idea for Sofia came from two brothers, Dimitar and Ivan Kostadinov. They were from Bulgaria and decided to lease (or rent) a large piece of land, about 320 acres (1.3 square kilometers), to start their farm.
Growing the Community
More Bulgarian families came to Sofia in the spring of 1914. These new settlers included Gancho Belchev, Ivan Stoyanov, Hristo Naumov, Kosta Dimitrov, Risto Pochev, and Kolyu Iliev. The community slowly grew as more families arrived and started their own farms. By the end of World War I, which was in 1918, each of the eight Bulgarian families living there owned and farmed between 120 and 150 acres (0.49 to 0.61 square kilometers) of land.
What Did They Farm?
The farmers in Sofia grew many different crops. The most common crop they grew was beans. They also planted wheat, maize (which is corn), millet, and potatoes.
Sofia's Growth and Changes
By 1916, the families in Sofia began building their own houses. The state of New Mexico also helped by setting up a post office in the community. Soon, a few shops opened up, making Sofia a more complete place to live.
From Leased Land to Owned Farms
For a while, Sofia operated as a farming cooperative. This means the farmers worked together and shared resources. But in 1920, the farmers became the official owners of the land they had been leasing. This was a big step for them!
Why Did Sofia Decline?
After gaining ownership, some farmers decided to sell their land and move back to Bulgaria in the 1920s. The community of Sofia slowly became smaller and less active, especially after World War II ended in 1945.
