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Waterflow, New Mexico facts for kids

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Waterflow, New Mexico
Waterflow Post Office
Waterflow Post Office
Waterflow, New Mexico is located in New Mexico
Waterflow, New Mexico
Waterflow, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Country United States
State New Mexico
County San Juan
Area
 • Total 8.725 sq mi (22.60 km2)
 • Land 8.323 sq mi (21.56 km2)
 • Water 0.402 sq mi (1.04 km2)
Elevation
5,062 ft (1,543 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 1,670
 • Density 191.4/sq mi (73.90/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP Code
87421
Area code(s) 505
GNIS feature ID 902386
SanJuanGeneratingStation NM 2012
San Juan Generating Station (PNM) 2012. Mine is just to the right of this photo.

Waterflow is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States on the north side of the San Juan River. It is immediately west of Fruitland and north across the river from the Navajo Nation. It is east of Shiprock.

Geography

Waterflow is located at 36°45′40″N 108°29′37″W / 36.76117°N 108.49357°W / 36.76117; -108.49357.

Waterflow is a high desert valley with the highest point being a geological hogback called "Hogback". The San Juan River and Shumway Arroyo are important water resources in the area.

History

Waterflow Sweetmeat
Advertising for Original Sweetmeat Inc. The billboard includes the apparent modern Navajo name for the place.

The area now known as Waterflow is traditional Navajo territory. This place was called Chʼį́įdii Łichííʼ (Red Devil) in reference to Walter Stallings who operated a trading post in the area; nowadays, Tséyaa Akʼahí (beneath-rock oil) seems to be another designation in reference to the nearby oil fields, as can be seen on billboards in the area (pictured).

The early Anglo settlers in this area named the place "Jewett Valley", and established Jewett Valley Cemetery as early as 1886. Although some reports say these pioneers were predominantly Catholic, one of the earliest families to be buried in this cemetery, the Hunts, have long been LDS.

Catholicism in Waterflow, New Mexico dates from February 22, 1912, when the first Mass was celebrated there in makeshift quarters. Three young men, Joseph and Lorenzo Stallings of Kentucky and David Watson of Georgia, Catholics, were among the pioneer settlers of the region. They called on the Franciscan Fathers at Farmington for help in establishing a church at Waterflow, which they called “Kentucky Mesa.” Sacred Heart Church was dedicated May 16, 1917.

The town was named "Jewett" in P. F. Collier's atlas as early as 1923. The local Catholic church remained a mission of Farmington but began to have a resident pastor in 1945. Since 1982, the Latter-day Saints have serviced their people in this area through the Kirtland Stake which covers from Kirtland west to Shiprock, New Mexico and beyond.

Demographics

In 2010, Waterflow reported a total population of 1,670 people. 823 were male, and 807 were female. 809 identified themselves as White, 12 identified themselves as Black, 3 identified themselves as Asian, 171 were Hispanic, and 743 were Navajo. 620 speak a language other than English at home. With 551 housing units and a land area of 8.323 sq. miles, there are approximately 190 people per sq. mile in Waterflow.

Important area businesses

  • BHP Billiton
  • Bob French Navajo Rugs
  • Circle W Pawn
  • High Country Transportation CO
  • Hogback Shopping Center
  • Hogback Trading Co
  • Original Sweetmeat Inc., founded 1974
  • PNM San Juan Generating Station
  • San Juan Coal CO Inc
  • Thriftway Marketing Corporation NO 270
  • United States Post Office, zip code 87421
  • Valley Hair Care
  • Valley Trading Post
  • Wheeler Farms
  • Four Corners Generating Station

Education

Central Consolidated Schools serves Waterflow as well as other communities in western San Juan County.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Waterflow (Nuevo México) para niños

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