McKinley County, New Mexico

McKinley County is a county in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 71,492.[1] Its county seat is Gallup.[2] The county was created in 1901 and named for President William McKinley.[3]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,455 square miles (14,130 km2), of which 5,450 square miles (14,100 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (0.1%) is water.[4]

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 74,798 people, 21,476 households, and 16,686 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 26,718 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.72% Native American, 16.39% White, 0.46% Asian, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.47% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 12.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,476 households out of which 46.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 22.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.30% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44 and the average family size was 3.99.

Vaughn, New Mexico

Vaughn is a town in Guadalupe County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 446 at the 2010 census,[2] down from 539 at the 2000 census. It is located at an intersection of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroad lines.

Vaughn was established in the early 20th century as a Southern Pacific Railroad town. The town's importance grew when a second railroad, the Eastern Railway of New Mexico (an Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line from Belen to Clovis), was completed in 1907 with Vaughn as a division point. A large two-story depot, a roundhouse, and a Harvey House hotel were constructed shortly thereafter. Vaughn was incorporated in 1919 and in 1920 had a population of 888, according to the U.S. census.

The Guadalupe County Sheriff's Department, New Mexico Rangers,[3] the New Mexico State Police and Motor Transportation Police and the Vaughn Police Department[4] (presently a one-man agency) all patrol the town, which, according to the United States Homeland Security, is a known drug-smuggling route.

Vaughn is located in southwestern Guadalupe County at 34°36′5″N 105°12′23″W / 34.60139°N 105.20639°W / 34.60139; -105.20639 (34.601253, -105.206410).[5] U.S. Routes 54, 60, and 285 pass through the town as 8th Street. US 54 leads northeast 40 miles (64 km) to Santa Rosa, the Guadalupe County seat, and southwest 138 miles (222 km) to Alamogordo. US 60 leads east 118 miles (190 km) to Clovis and west 104 miles (167 km) to Interstate 25 in the Rio Grande valley. US 285 leads southeast 96 miles (154 km) to Roswell; to the west it follows US 60 16 miles (26 km) to Encino, then turns northwest and leads an additional 27 miles (43 km) to Interstate 40 at Clines Corners.

Cris Villanueva

Krishnamurti Villanueva (born May 23, 1971) is a Filipino actor in movies and television. He was a former matinee idol in the late 1980s. He was a cast member of That's Entertainment, a youth-oriented talent and variety show now defunct in the Philippines.

Villanueva started as commercial model of Coca-Cola until discovered by Deo Fajardo. He became a member of That's Entertainment. He received a nomination from FAMAS Awards (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences), Luna Awards (Film Academy of the Philippines), Star Awards for Movies (Philippine Movie Press Club) and Gawad Urian Award for Best Supporting Actor in Miguel/Michelle (1998). He starred as Filmmaker 2 in Bayaning 3rd World (1999), which Villanueva was nominated for Gawad Urian Best Actor.

He played as the father of Jillian Ward in Mars Ravelo's TV series Trudis Liit showed in GMA Network. In 2011, Cris Villanueva made a comeback in ABS-CBN as Rocco Amarillo in Mula Sa Puso - Rocco Amarillo is the biological father of Gabriel (JM De Guzman) who saved the life of Magda (Dawn Zulueta) under the direction of Wenn V. Deramas. He was included in the powerhouse cast of Kahit Puso'y Masugatan, TV series aired in ABS-CBN starring Iza Calzado, Gabby Concepcion, Andi Eigenmann and Jake Cuenca.

Waterflow, New Mexico

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.[1]

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;[3] 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.[4]

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.

Watrous (La Junta)

Watrous, also named La Junta, is a National Historic Landmark District near Watrous, New Mexico. It encompasses the historic junction point of the two major branches of the Santa Fe Trail, a major 19th-century frontier settlement route between St. Louis, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. La Junta, marked this junction point, as well as the first major indications of civilization before westbound travelers reached Santa Fe. The district includes a large area west of the modern community of Watrous, encompassing the confluence of the Mora and Sapello Rivers. Surviving buildings include the houses of early ranchers, as well as a stagecoach mailstop and inn. The district was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963.[2][3]

The Santa Fe Trail was one of the major routes by which the American West was settled. It had two major branches: the Mountain Branch, which skirted north of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and crossed southward at Raton Pass, and the Cimarron Cutoff, which ran a more direct route south of mountains but across desert that was also populated by hostile Native Americans. These two routes came together to the west of the confluence of the Mora and Sapello Rivers, which is just north of present-day Watrous. The Santa Fe Trail remained in use until the 1870s, when it was supplanted by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, whose route roughly follows the Cimarron Cutoff route. The railroad established the present-day community of Watrous east of the trail junction, after which the small community there was largely abandoned.[3]

The community at the trail junction was known as La Junta ("the junction" in Spanish), Tiptonville, or Watrous, the latter two based on the names of two early ranchers in the area, Samuel Watrous and William Tipton. There are 21 surviving structures or foundational remains in the district, most of which were built before 1870. Important surviving structures include the ranch house and store of Samuel Watrous (now on the Watrous Valley Ranch), a similar building belonging to William Tipton, and the rancho house of William Koenig. The Koenig House, built in the 1860s on what is now known as the Phoenix Ranch, is one of the state's finest examples of Territorial architecture. There are also three small cemeteries, and the remains of three structures associated with a horse corral managed by Fort Union.[3]

Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico

Zuni Pueblo (Zuni: Shiwinna, also Zuñi Pueblo and Pueblo de Zuñi) is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,302 as of the 2010 Census.[1] It is inhabited largely by members of the Zuni people.

The first contact with Europeans occurred in 1539 in the ancient village of Hawikku when Esteban, an Arab/Berber of Moroccan origin, entered Zuni territory seeking the fabled "Seven Cities of Cibola."[2]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 6,367 people, 1,488 households, and 1,334 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 720.0 people per square mile (278.1/km²). There were 1,622 housing units at an average density of 183.4 per square mile (70.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.03% Native American, 2.12% White, 2.01% Hispanic or Latino, 0.03% African American, 0.03% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races.

There were 1,488 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 31.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.3% were non-families. 9.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.26 and the average family size was 4.54.

Thoreau, New Mexico

Thoreau (Navajo: Dlǫ́ʼí Yázhí) is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,863 at the 2000 census. It is majority Native American, primarily of the Navajo Nation, as this community is located within its boundaries.

Practically all residents pronounce the town's name like "thuh-ROO" (similar to "through" or "threw") and not like "thorough" or "throw." A history of the town was compiled by local author Roxanne Trout Heath in her book Thoreau, Where the Trails Cross!, published in 1982, where she states that the town was named for Henry David Thoreau.

Thoreau is located at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, and 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) east of the continental divide. Thoreau is located in a broad valley beneath a large escarpment of Old Red Sandstone, which marks the southern boundary of the Colorado Plateau to the north. Mount Powell and Castle Rock are landmarks along this escarpment adjacent to Thoreau. The Zuñi Mountains are to the south.

Interstate 40 and the historic U.S. Route 66 pass near and through the community, respectively. New Mexico State highways 122, 371, and 612 also pass through or terminate here. Additionally, two natural gas pipelines and a major railway pass through the community.

Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico

Tierra Amarilla is Spanish for "Yellow Soil". The name refers to clay deposits found in the Chama River Valley and used by Native American peoples.[3]:352–353[4]Tewa and Navajo toponyms for the area also refer to the yellow clay.[3]:352–353

There is evidence of 5000 years of habitation in the Chama River Valley including pueblo sites south of Abiquiu. The area served as a trade route for peoples in the present-day Four Corners region and the Rio Grande Valley. Navajos later used the valley as a staging area for raids on Spanish settlements along the Rio Grande. Written accounts of the Tierra Amarilla locality by pathfinding Spanish friars in 1776 described it as suitable for pastoral and agricultural use. The route taken by the friars from Santa Fe to California became the Spanish Trail. During the Californian Gold Rush the area became a staging point for westward fortune seekers.[5]

The Tierra Amarilla Grant was created in 1832 by the Mexican government for Manuel Martinez and settlers from Abiquiu.[3]:352–353[4] The land grant encompassed a more general area than the contemporary community known as Tierra Amarilla.[3]:352–353 The grant holders were unable to maintain a permanent settlement due to "raids by Utes, Navajos and Jicarilla Apaches" until early in the 1860s.[4] In 1860 the United States Congress confirmed the land grant as a private grant, rather than a community grant, due to mistranslated and concealed documents.[6] Although a land patent for the grant required the completion of a geographical survey before issuance, some of Manuel Martinez' heirs began to sell the land to Anglo speculators. In 1880 Thomas Catron sold some of the grant to the Denver and Rio Grande Railway for the construction of their San Juan line and a service center at Chama. By 1883 Catron had consolidated the deeds he held for the whole of the grant sans the original villages and their associated fields. In 1950, the descendants of the original grant holder's court petitions to reclaim communal land were rebuked.[6]

In 1866 the United States Army established Camp Plummer just south of Los Ojos (established in 1860) to rein in already decreased Native American activity on the grant. The military encampment was deserted in 1869.[3]:57, 210, 352–353 Las Nutrias, the site of the contemporary community, was founded nearby c.1862. The first post office in Las Nutrias was established in 1866 and bore the name Tierra Amarilla, as did the present one which was established in 1870 after an approximately two-year absence.[3]:352–353 In 1877 a U.S. Army lieutenant described the village as "the center of the Mexican population of northwestern New Mexico".[4] The territorial legislature located Rio Arriba's county seat in Las Nutrias and renamed the village in 1880.[3]:352–353 The Denver and Rio Grande Railway's 1881 arrival at Chama,[7] about ten miles to the north, had profound effects on the development of the region by bringing the area out of economic and cultural isolation.[6]

Tijeras, New Mexico

Tijeras is located at 35°5′15″N 106°22′38″W / 35.08750°N 106.37722°W / 35.08750; -106.37722 (35.087550, -106.377354),[3] in central New Mexico, a few miles east of Albuquerque, on Interstate 40 (Exit 175) and U.S. Highway 66 (Route 66)/ New Mexico state highway 333. New Mexico State Road 14 leads north from the village, toward Cedar Crest, Sandia Crest, Madrid and Santa Fe. New Mexico State Road 337 leads south from Tijeras.(See Google map).[4]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 474 people, 191 households, and 131 families residing in the village. The population density was 559.5 people per square mile (215.3/km²). There were 210 housing units at an average density of 247.9 per square mile (95.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 65.82% White, 1.05% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 28.06% from other races, and 4.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 56.33% of the population.

There were 191 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village, the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.6 males.

Tohatchi, New Mexico

Tohatchi (Navajo: Tó Haachʼiʼ) is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,037 at the 2000 census. Tohatchi is located on the Navajo Nation.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,037 people, 292 households, and 225 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 167.8 people per square mile (64.8/km²). There were 345 housing units at an average density of 55.8 per square mile (21.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.36% Native American, 6.85% White, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.15% of the population.

There were 292 households out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.55 and the average family size was 4.18.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.