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List of ghost towns in New Mexico facts for kids

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This is a partial list of ghost towns in New Mexico in the United States of America.

Conditions

Ghost towns can include sites in various states of disrepair and abandonment. Some sites no longer have any trace of buildings or civilization and have reverted to empty land. Other sites are unpopulated but still have standing buildings. Still others may support full-time residents, though usually far less than at their historical peak, while others may now be museums or historical sites.

For ease of reference, the sites listed have been placed into one of the following general categories.

Barren site
  • Site is no longer in existence
  • Site has been destroyed, covered with water, or reverted to empty land
  • May have a few difficult to find foundations/footings at most
Neglected site
  • Little more than rubble remains at the site
  • Dilapidated, often roofless buildings remain at the site
Abandoned site
  • Building or houses still standing, but all or almost all are abandoned
  • No population, with the possible exception of a caretaker
  • Site no longer in use, except for one or two buildings
Semi-abandoned site
  • Buildings or houses still standing, but most are abandoned
  • A few residents may remain
Historic site
  • Buildings or houses still standing
  • Site has been converted to a historical site, museum, or tourist attraction
  • Still a busy community, but population is smaller than its peak years

Ghost towns

Town name   Other name(s)   County   Location Settled   Abandoned   Current status   Remarks   
Alamocita New Alamosa Sierra 1867 1880 Submerged Town was abandoned in 1880, due to change in the course of the Rio Grande, some ranches remained. Site was submerged by the Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Aleman Aleman Ranch Sierra 1868 1875 Historic site Buildings on the Bar Cross Ranch
Anaconda - Cibola 1952 1982 Barren site A former mining town that also once contained the only medical facility between Albuquerque and Gallup.
Baldy Town Baldy Mining Camp Colfax 1888 1940 Historic site The site is part of the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. It has stone ruins, mill foundations, a chimney, mine tailings, and a smelter slag pile.
Bard - Quay - - Abandoned site -
Blackdom - Chaves 1901 - - -
Bland - Sandoval 35°45'31.29"N 106°28'2.08"W 1893 early 1900s Barren site Destroyed in the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, some foundations remain.
Bonanza City - Santa Fe 1880 early 1900s Barren site -
Bramlett - Hidalgo - - - -
Cabezon - Sandoval - - - Private property. Several structures remain.
Cambray - Luna 1892 - Neglected site Private property. Structures remain in various states of disrepair.
Canta Recio - Socorro 1875 1920 Barren site Site was submerged by the Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Carpenter - Grant - - - -
Chise Chiz Sierra - - - Populated Place.
Chloride - Sierra 1881 1956 Historic site An unincorporated community
Clairmont - Catron - - - -
Cloverdale - Hidalgo - - - -
Cooney - Catron - - - -
Cuchillo Cuchillo Negro Sierra 1867-1871 - Historic site An unincorporated community. Name change came after the 1900 Census, it was recorded under its present name in the 1910 Census.
Cuervo - Guadalupe 1901 - Abandoned site -
Dawson - Colfax 1901 1950 Abandoned Site Once Large City, suffered two major mining incidents totaling some 400 casualties, Phelps Dodge Company cleared the town of relics and infrastructure
El Ojo Del Padre - - - - - -
Elephant Butte - Sierra - - - -
Elizabethtown - Colfax 1866 1917 Abandoned Site Once largest town in New Mexico. Ruins of one stone structure is all that remains, most wooden structures lost in 1903 fire.
Endee - Quay c.1885 - Abandoned site Founded as a supply center for ranches in the area.
Folsom - Union County - - - -
Gary - Hidalgo - - - -
Glenrio Rock Island Quay (partially in Deaf Smith County, Texas) - - - -
Hagan - Sandoval - - Neglected site -
Hermosa - Sierra - - - Mostly private property, but several structures remain. Ranch is owned by Ted Turner.
Jicarilla Lincoln 1892 1942 Abandoned site Half a dozen structures remain at the site, including both former schoolhouses.
Gage - Luna - - - -
Gobernador - Rio Arriba - - - -
Gran Quivira - - - - - (now part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument)
Kelly - Socorro - - - -
La Belle Labelle Taos 1894 1910 Barren site The town was founded as a result of a gold mine and ceased when the mining ended.
Lake Valley - Sierra - - Historic site -
Lanark - Doña Ana - - - -
Mentmore - McKinley - - - (still has post office and zip code 87319)
Montoya - Quay 1902 - Abandoned site Originally founded as a railroad stop in 1902. A Sinclair gasoline station operated from 1925 to the mid-1970s.
Mogollon - Catron - - - -
Mowry City - Doña Ana - - - -
Newkirk Conant (formerly) Guadalupe c. 1900-1910 - Semi-abandoned site In the 2010 census, Newkirk had a population of 7.
Old Hachita - Grant - - - Several structures remain, including mine headframes.
Paraje - Socorro 1857 1942 Barren site Site was submerged by the Elephant Butte Reservoir. Later exposed, some ruins and artifacts can be seen.
Pinos Altos (High Pines) - Grant 1860 - Historic site Still has some people there, located near Silver City
Pittsburg - Colfax - - - -
Red Hill - Catron - - - -
Road Fork - Hidalgo - - - -
Santa Barbara Hatch Doña Ana 1851, 1853 1851, 1860 Historic site The village was abandoned in 1851 because of Apache raids and in 1860 by a Navajo raid. It was not re-occupied until 1875 and was renamed as Hatch.
San Albino - Sierra 1869 1914 Barren site Site was submerged by the Elephant Butte Reservoir.
San José - Sierra 1869 1916 Barren site Site was submerged by the Elephant Butte Reservoir.
San Marcial - Socorro 1854, 1866 1866,1929 Neglected site Destroyed by flood 1866, rebuilt on opposite bank of the Rio Grande, destroyed by flood in 1929 and abandoned.
San Ygnacio de la Alamosa Alamosa, Cañada Alamosa Sierra 1859 1867 Barren site Abandoned after destruction by flooding in 1867. Site was submerged by the Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Santa Rita Santa Rita del Cobre Grant 1801, 1873 1838, 1967 Barren site Town site swallowed up by the open pit copper mine several times.
Shakespeare (Mexican Springs, Grant, Ralston City) Hidalgo 1862 1929 Historic site Currently part of a privately owned ranch, sometimes open to tourists.
Steins Stein's Pass Hidalgo 1880 1944 - -
Tejon - - - - - -
Twining - Taos - - - (site of Taos Ski Valley)
Tyrone - Grant - - - -
Valedon - Hidalgo - - - -
Vinegaroon - Otero - - - (east of La Luz, New Mexico; at the mouth of La Borcita)
White Oaks Lincoln 1879 Early 1900s Historic site
Zapata Zapato Sierra 1869 1908 Abandoned site Site was submerged by the Elephant Butte Reservoir.

See also

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List of ghost towns in New Mexico Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.