Raton, New Mexico

Raton ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Colfax County in northeastern New Mexico, United States. The city is located just south of Raton Pass. The city is also located about 6.5 miles south of the New Mexico–Colorado border and 85 miles west of Oklahoma. At the 2020 census, its population was 6,041.

History

thumb|right|AT&SF rail yard in Raton, 1943

Ratón is Spanish for mouse.

Raton Pass had been used by Spanish explorers and Native Americans for centuries to cut through the rugged Rocky Mountains, and the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail cuts through the city, along what is now Business I-25.

The post office at this location was named Willow Springs from 1877 to 1879, Otero from 1879 to 1880, then renamed Raton in 1880.

Raton was founded at the site of Willow Springs, a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The original for the Raton townsite were purchased from the Maxwell Land Grant in 1880. In 1879, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway bought a local toll road 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.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The Raton Range and Raton Peak are located immediately north of the town. The Raton Range is a ridge that extends east from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Raton Pass and the Raton Basin are also named for the Raton Range.

Geology

The Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, also known as the K-Pg or K-T boundary, or the iridium layer, can be viewed in Raton. A well-preserved sequence of rocks spans the K-T boundary in Climax Canyon Park in Raton. The rocks have been studied for evidence of the iridium anomaly cited as evidence of a large meteorite impact at the end of the Cretaceous. It is interpreted to have caused the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, which killed off dinosaurs and many other species of flora and fauna 66 million years ago.

|date=December 2020

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Raton had a population of 6,041. The median age was 47.1 years. 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.0 males age 18 and over.

92.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 7.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,669 households in Raton, of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.8% were married-couple households, 24.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. the population of Raton was 6,885.

2000 census

As of the United States Census of 2000, 7,282 people, 3,035 households, and 1,981 families were residing in the city. The population density was . The 3,472 housing units averaged of 473.2 per square mile (182.6/km). The racial makeup of the city was 78.04% White, 0.23% African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 16.20% from other races, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 56.96% of the population.

Of the 3,035 households, 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 not families. About 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 distributed as 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 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.

Parks and recreation

Run to Raton, a motorcycle rally that includes camp-outs, vendors, free music, and a pin-up contest, takes place every July.

Raton was the site of New Mexico's first horse racetrack, La Mesa Park, which closed in 1992.

Raton hosts the International Balloon Rally, a hot-air balloon gathering, held on the Fourth of July weekend.

Infrastructure

thumb|[[Amtrak station]]

Transportation

Roads

I-25
US 64
US 87

Rail

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

Air

Raton Municipal Airport

Notable people

thumb|Historic buildings along Second Street

Tom W. Blackburn, writer who also wrote the lyrics to "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"
Edwin Fullinwider, Olympic fencer
Noel Mazzone, former offensive coordinator for the University of Arizona football team, current offensive coordinator for New Orleans Breakers of the new USFL
Paul L. Modrich received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015
John Morrow, United States Representative from New Mexico
John R. Sinnock, Chief Engraver United States Mint, designer of FDR dime, Franklin half dollar
Petro Vlahos, three-time Academy Award-winning Hollywood special-effects pioneer
Robert W. Warren, attorney general of Wisconsin
Bennie L. Woolley, Jr., racehorse trainer who won the 2009 Kentucky Derby
The Fireballs, a rock and roll group who sang "Bottle of Wine", originated in Raton.

References

External links

Raton Chamber and Economic Development Council