Catron County, New Mexico
93419
223144797
2008-07-02T19:37:39Z
69.150.163.1
/* Famous figures and events */
{{Infobox U.S. County|
county = Catron County|
state = New Mexico |
seal =
|
map size = 225|
founded = 25 February 1921 |
seat = [[Reserve, New Mexico|Reserve]] |
largest city = Reserve |
area_total_sq_mi =6929 |
area_land_sq_mi =6928 |
area_water_sq_mi =1 |
area percentage = 0.02% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 3543 |
density_sq_mi =
|web = www.catroncountynm.com |
|}}
'''Catron County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Mexico]]. As of 2000, the population is 3,543. Its [[county seat]] is [[Reserve, New Mexico|Reserve]]{{GR|6}}. Catron County is the largest county, by area, in New Mexico[http://mylocalgov.com/catroncountynm/index.asp].
==History==
Once located in the [[Santa Fé de Nuevo México]] and later in the [[Arizona Territory]], the area forming Catron County was a part of neighboring [[Socorro County, New Mexico|Socorro County]] until 1923, when Catron was formed. Before that point the county had a history indicative of many places in the [[Wild West]], replete with gunfights, shootouts, massacres, and gold mines.
===Famous figures and events===
The [[Mimbres culture]] was part of the [[Mogollon culture|Mogollon]] people who lived throughout the region where Catron County sits today. Their art is renowned for its beauty.
Sergeant [[James C. Cooney]] was the first person to find [[silver]] and [[gold]] ore in the mountains of Catron County. He was reportedly killed by [[Chiricahua]] [[Apaches]] led by [[Victorio]] in what became known as the "[[Alma Massacre]]". [[Cochise]] was another famous [[Chiricahua]] leader, while the infamous [[Goyaałé|Goyaałé (Geronimo)]] had several hideouts in the county.
Cowboy legend [[Elfego Baca]] was the hero of the so-called [[Frisco Shootout]] in [[San Francisco Plaza, New Mexico|San Francisco Plaza]] in 1884, while [[Butch Cassidy]] and his [[Wild Bunch]] gang holed up at a ranch near [[Alma, New Mexico]], around the turn of the century. Notorious outlaw [[Tom Ketchum]] also lived in Catron County.
[[The Lightning Field]], an art installation, brought national attention to [[Quemado, New Mexico|Quemado]] in the late 1970s.
==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 6,929 [[square mile]]s (17,946 [[km²]]), of which, 6,928 square miles (17,943 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.02%) is water.
Catron County is the largest county, by area, in New Mexico. At almost 7,000 square miles, Catron County is larger than a few Eastern states. With a population of only 3,400 people, the county is as sparsely populated as many an old West frontier area.
Within the boundaries of Catron County lie parts of the Gila National Forest, the Apache National Forest and the Cibola National Forest. The establishment of these national forests, in the past called "forest reserves," led to the name Reserve being given to a village on the San Francisco River.
Bordering Arizona, Catron County affords the shortest route between Albuquerque and Phoenix or Tucson. Reserve can also be reached by following [[U.S. Route 180]] north from [[Silver City, New Mexico|Silver City]] and [[N.M. Highway 12]] east for a total of 99 miles.
===Adjacent counties===
* [[Cibola County, New Mexico]] - north
* [[Socorro County, New Mexico]] - east
* [[Sierra County, New Mexico]] - southeast
* [[Grant County, New Mexico]] - south
* [[Greenlee County, Arizona]] - west
* [[Apache County, Arizona]] - west
===Natural features===
In Catron County there is a volcanic area that until recently contained sufficient heat to cause steam to rise after a slight rain. It is called [[Burning Mountain (New Mexico)|Burning Mountain]] and appears to have been used by the [[Apache]] for healing purposes.<ref>(nd) [https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Legacy/Sacred/ch4b.html Chapter 4, Section IV]. Native American Sacred Sites and the Department of Defense. Retrieved 6/12/07.</ref>
'''Mountains'''
* [[Black Mountain (Black Mountain quad, New Mexico)|Black Mountain]]
* [[Black Range]]
* [[Datil Mountains]]
* Diablo Range
* [[Gallo Mountains]]
* [[Mangas Mountains]]
* [[Mogollon Mountains]]
* [[Saliz Mountains]]
* San Francisco Mountains
* [[Tularosa Mountains]]
* [[Whitewater Baldy]]
'''Water'''
* [[Glenwood Hot Springs]]
* [[San Francisco River]]
* [[Middle Fork Hot Springs]]
* [[Jordan Hot Springs]]
* [[Turkey Creek Hot Springs]]
* [[Zuni Salt Lake]]
'''Forests'''
* [[Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest]]
* [[Blue Range Wilderness]]
* [[Cibola National Forest]]
* [[Gila Wilderness]]
* [[Gila National Forest]]
* [[Whitewater Canyon National Forest Recreation Area]]
'''Other'''
* [[Red Hill Volcanic Field]]
* [[Plains of San Agustin]]
==Points of interest==
* [[Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument]]
* [[Catwalk National Recreation Trail]]
* [[Ake Site]]
* [[Whitewater Canyon National Forest Recreation Area]]
* [[Bearwallow Park, New Mexico|Bearwallow Park]]
* [[Bearwallow Mountain Lookout Cabins and Shed]]
* [[Black Mountain Lookout Cabin]]
* [[El Caso Lake, New Mexico|El Caso Lake]]
* [[El Caso Lookout Complex]]
* [[Bat Cave (Horse Springs, New Mexico)|Bat Cave]]
* [[Mangas Mountain Lookout Complex]]
* [[Mogollon, New Mexico#Mogollon Historic District|Mogollon Historic District]]
* [[Mogollon Baldy Lookout Cabin]]
* [[Mogollon Pueblo]]
* [[Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary]]
==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 3,543 people, 1,584 households, and 1,040 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 0.51 people per square mile (0.20/km²). There were 2,548 housing units at an average density of 0.37 per square mile (0.14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.75% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.28% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.68% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.42% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.61% from two or more races. 19.16% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.
There were 1,584 households out of which 22.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.10% under the age of 18, 4.20% from 18 to 24, 19.50% from 25 to 44, 36.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 104.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $23,892, and the median income for a family was $30,742. Males had a median income of $26,064 versus $18,315 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,951. About 17.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.
==Localities==
===Village===
*[[Reserve, New Mexico|Reserve]]
===Other localities===
*[[Alma, New Mexico|Alma]]
*[[Apache Creek, New Mexico|Apache Creek]]
*[[Aragon, New Mexico|Aragon]]
*[[Clairmont, New Mexico|Clairmont]]
*[[Cooney, New Mexico|Cooney]]
*[[Cruzville, New Mexico|Cruzville]]
*[[Datil, New Mexico|Datil]]
*[[Glenwood, New Mexico|Glenwood]]
*[[Luna, New Mexico|Luna]]
*[[Mogollon, New Mexico|Mogollon]]
*[[Old Horse Springs, New Mexico|Old Horse Springs]]
*[[Pie Town, New Mexico|Pie Town]]
*[[Pleasanton, New Mexico|Pleasanton]]
*[[Quemado, New Mexico|Quemado]]
*[[Red Hill, New Mexico|Red Hill]]
*[[San Francisco Plaza, New Mexico|San Francisco Plaza]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Catron County}}
{{Catron County, New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico}}
{{coord|33.92|-108.42|display=title|type:adm2_region:US-NM_source:UScensus1990}}
[[Category:New Mexico counties]]
[[Category:Catron County, New Mexico| ]]
[[ar:مقاطعة كاترون، نيومكسيكو]]
[[de:Catron County]]
[[es:Condado de Catron]]
[[fr:Comté de Catron]]
[[bpy:ক্যাটরন কাউন্টি, নিউ মেক্সিকো]]
[[it:Contea di Catron]]
[[nl:Catron County]]
[[ja:カトロン郡 (ニューメキシコ州)]]
[[no:Catron County]]
[[nds:Catron County]]
[[pt:Condado de Catron]]
[[ru:Катрон (округ, штат Нью-Мексико)]]
[[sv:Catron County]]
[[zh:卡特倫縣 (新墨西哥州)]]