RATON, NEW MEXICO

'Raton' is a city in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 7,282 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is located just south of Raton Pass.

Contents

Name

History

Geography

Demographics

Transportation

Recreation

Annual Events

Photos of Raton

Notable Natives

External links

Name

Raton is a Spanish word for rat or mouse. Renamed from Willow Springs in the late 19th century.

History

Raton Pass had been used by Spanish explorers and Indians for centuries to cut through the rugged Rocky Mountains, but the trail was just too rough for wagons on the Santa Fe Trail. In 1866, "Uncle Dick" Wootton, a mountain man and Indian Scout, recognized a chance to serve his fellow man and make a little profit at the same time. He blasted his way through the mountains, set up a toll gate and charged everyone who passed. What if they didn't want to pay? No problem, they could just turn around their team of oxen and take the detour 100 miles to the east. Traveling Indians didn't have to pay the toll.
Raton was founded at the site of Willow Springs, a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The original 320 acres for the Raton townsite were purchased from the Maxwell Land Grant in 1880. In 1879, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway bought the toll road from "Uncle Dick" and established a busy rail line. Raton quickly developed as a railroad, mining and ranching center for the northeast part of the New Mexico territory, as well as the county seat and principal trading center of the area.
NE New Mexico Web 1. [1]

Geography

Raton is located at (36.897082, -104.439912).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.0 km² (7.3 mi²), all land.
Elevation: 6,680 ft (1,936 m)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,282 people, 3,035 households, and 1,981 families residing in the city. The population density was 383.1/km² (992.4/mi²). There were 3,472 housing units at an average density of 182.6/km² (473.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.04% White, 0.23% African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 16.19% from other races, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 56.96% of the population.
There were 3,035 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,028, and the median income for a family was $31,762. Males had a median income of $24,946 versus $18,433 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,223. About 14.8% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.^[1]

Transportation

'Railway'

★ Raton Amtrak Station is a stop on the Southwest Chief route.
'Airport'

★ Raton Municipal Airport. Single Engine, Small Plane
'Major Highways'

★ Interstate 25

Recreation

Sugarite Canyon State Park is located 12 miles (19 km) NE of Raton, NM. Elev. 8,800 ft (2,682 m). Camping, Fishing, Hiking.
NRA Whittington Center - Located 15 miles (24 km) SW of Raton, NM. Largest NRA shooting range in the US. National Competitions. High power rifle, skeet.
Philmont Scout Ranch

Annual Events

International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally - Hot Air Balloon Rally held around the Fourth of July.
Raton Rodeo Association Rodeo - Held Every summer in June.

Photos of Raton

Notable Natives

★ Tom W. Blackburn - Western writer who also wrote the lyrics to The Ballad of Davy Crockett.

★ John Morrow - United States Representative from New Mexico.

★ Robert W. Warren - Attorney General of Wisconsin

★ John R. Sinnock - US Mint engraver known for work on the FDR dime.

★ The Fireballs - Rock Band who had a number one hit with 1963's "Sugar Shack" and "Bottle of Wine, Fruit of the vine".

★ Ann Simovich Gatti - Local notable women who among many things, opened the first teachers lounge in the Raton School system and started the first Raton clothes bank.

External links

★ Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally

★ Raton Municipal Airport

★ NE New Mexico Website

★ Raton Chamber & Economic Development Council

★ Virtual Raton

★ Sugarite Canyon State Park

★ NRA Whittington Center