Red River, New Mexico

Red River, New Mexico
Town

The town of Red River, New Mexico

Location of Red River, New Mexico
Red River, New Mexico

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 36°42′23″N 105°24′19″W / 36.70639°N 105.40528°W / 36.70639; -105.40528Coordinates: 36°42′23″N 105°24′19″W / 36.70639°N 105.40528°W / 36.70639; -105.40528
Country United States
State New Mexico
County Taos
Area
 • Total 1.0 sq mi (2.7 km2)
 • Land 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 8,671 ft (2,643 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 484
 • Density 474.9/sq mi (183.4/km2)
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code 87558
Area code(s) 575
FIPS code 35-62200
GNIS feature ID 0910074
Website www.redriver.org
Red River Ski Area with the town of Red River in the background
Red River's main highway often swells with tourists in winter or summer
Town trolley in the annual Fourth of July parade
Looking northwest on Main Street
The Red River Valley historic marker west of the town

Red River is a resort town in Taos County, New Mexico, United States located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The population was 477 at the 2010 census.

History

The town of Red River began in earnest in the 1870s, when miners from nearby Elizabethtown in the Moreno Valley were drawn in by gold strikes in the area and trappers sought game. It was named after the perennial stream, Red River, that flowed through the town, coming from the northern slopes of Wheeler Peak. By 1895, Red River was a booming mining camp, with gold, silver and copper in some abundance, and a population estimated at three thousand. Mining hit its peak in 1897, and by 1905 the mining and the population dwindled but the town survived, gaining a reputation as a great getaway from hot weather and as a trout fishing paradise. The last serious mining efforts extended until 1931. By that time tourism had become the principal economic livelihood.[1]

Geography

Red River is located at 36°42′23″N 105°24′19″W / 36.70639°N 105.40528°W / 36.70639; -105.40528 (36.706311, -105.405271).[2] Red River is located in the southern Rocky Mountains, part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is completely surrounded by the Carson National Forest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), all land.

Climate

Climate data for Red River, NM
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 36.5
(2.5)		 39.0
(3.9)		 44.6
(7)		 53.7
(12.1)		 62.9
(17.2)		 73.1
(22.8)		 76.3
(24.6)		 74.2
(23.4)		 69.0
(20.6)		 58.5
(14.7)		 45.6
(7.6)		 38.0
(3.3)		 55.95
(13.31)
Average low °F (°C) 4.6
(−15.2)		 8.1
(−13.3)		 15.2
(−9.3)		 22.9
(−5.1)		 29.4
(−1.4)		 35.7
(2.1)		 41.2
(5.1)		 40.6
(4.8)		 34.2
(1.2)		 25.6
(−3.6)		 14.7
(−9.6)		 6.4
(−14.2)		 23.22
(−4.87)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.12
(28.4)		 1.26
(32)		 1.81
(46)		 1.82
(46.2)		 1.72
(43.7)		 1.37
(34.8)		 3.07
(78)		 3.08
(78.2)		 1.76
(44.7)		 1.55
(39.4)		 1.22
(31)		 1.17
(29.7)		 20.96
(532.4)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 20.3
(51.6)		 22.2
(56.4)		 29.5
(74.9)		 21.9
(55.6)		 7.6
(19.3)		 0.1
(0.3)		 0.4
(1)		 0
(0)		 0.7
(1.8)		 7.9
(20.1)		 16.6
(42.2)		 19.2
(48.8)		 146.5
(372.1)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center [3]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1980332—
199038716.6%
200048425.1%
2010477−1.4%
Est. 2015476[4]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 484 people, 234 households, and 138 families residing in the town. The population density was 474.9 inhabitants per square mile (183.2/km²). There were 880 housing units at an average density of 863.5 per square mile (333.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.56% White, 1.03% Native American, 3.72% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.30% of the population.

There were 234 households out of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.60.

In the town the population was spread out with 16.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 35.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,667, and the median income for a family was $39,792. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $19,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,883. About 5.4% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The main industry in Red River is tourism. Red River is located at the base of the Red River Ski Area, located 8,750 feet above sea level in the southern Rocky Mountains. Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. In summertime, visitors can hike, bike, fish, and ride horseback in the mountains. The town is serviced by a trolley and bus system which provides access into the upper valley.

References

  1. ↑ Pearson, Jim Berry (1986) The Red River-Twining area: a New Mexico mining story University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, ISBN 0-8263-0875-9
  2. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Climate Statistics for Lead, SD". Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Red River.

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