Springer, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Springer, New Mexico
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Downtown Springer (2008)
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Location within Colfax County and New Mexico
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Colfax |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.26 sq mi (5.84 km2) |
| • Land | 2.20 sq mi (5.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,784 ft (1,763 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 931 |
| • Density | 422.41/sq mi (163.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes |
87729, 87747
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| Area code(s) | 575 |
| FIPS code | 35-74800 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413321 |
Springer is a small town located in Colfax County, New Mexico, in the United States. A town is a place with a local government, bigger than a village but smaller than a city. In 2020, about 931 people lived there.
Contents
History of Springer
Springer was founded in 1877. A man named William T. Thornton asked Melvin Whitson Mills to plan and lay out a new town. Mills chose a spot near the Cimarron River.
The town was first called Maxwell. This was after the Maxwell Land Grant, a huge piece of land in New Mexico. But by 1883, the town's name changed to Springer. It was named after two brothers: Charles and Frank Springer. Charles was a rancher, and Frank was a lawyer for the Maxwell Land Grant Company.
Springer was once the main town, or county seat, for Colfax County. This was from 1882 to 1897. The old courthouse building is now a museum. The town was chosen because it was a good spot for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to pass through. It was also halfway between two important parts of the old Santa Fe Trail.
The Springer Correctional Center is a prison located near the town. It opened in 1909 as the New Mexico Boys' School.
Where is Springer Located?
Springer is in the southern part of Colfax County. It sits in the valley of the Cimarron River. This river flows into the Canadian River about 6 miles (10 km) east of town.
A major highway, Interstate 25, runs along the west side of Springer. You can get to the town from exits 412 and 414. Interstate 25 goes north about 40 miles (64 km) to Raton. Raton is the current county seat of Colfax County. The highway also goes southwest about 68 miles (109 km) to Las Vegas.
Two other important roads, U.S. Route 56 and U.S. Route 412, start in the center of Springer. These roads go east together for about 82 miles (132 km) to Clayton.
The total area of Springer is about 2.26 square miles (5.84 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 550 | — | |
| 1920 | 915 | 66.4% | |
| 1930 | 957 | 4.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,314 | 37.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,558 | 18.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,564 | 0.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,574 | 0.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,657 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,262 | −23.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,285 | 1.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,047 | −18.5% | |
| 2020 | 931 | −11.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The number of people living in Springer has changed over the years. In 1910, there were 550 residents. The population grew steadily until the 1970s and 1980s. The highest population was in 1980, with 1,657 people.
Since then, the population has slowly decreased. In 2000, there were 1,285 people. By 2010, the population was 1,047. The most recent count in 2020 showed 931 people living in Springer.
Famous People from Springer
Some notable people have connections to Springer:
- Fred Graham – He was an athlete and later became an actor.
- Antonio M. Fernandez – He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for New Mexico from 1943 to 1956.
- Ernest Medina – He was a captain in the United States Army.
- Antoun Saadeh – A Lebanese politician who founded the Syrian Social Nationalist Party.
See also
In Spanish: Springer (Nuevo México) para niños
