Raton

Raton is a town and county seat in Colfax County, located in northeastern New Mexico. The town spreads along gentle hills where mountain slopes gradually meet open grassland.

The settlement expanded after the railroad arrived in the 1880s, bringing trade and through traffic over the nearby pass. It became the official county administrative center in 1897.

The city name comes from a Spanish word meaning mouse, likely referring to the rocky terrain nearby. Locals gather at the downtown plaza, where historic buildings from the railroad era frame the main street.

A passenger train stops here on the route between Denver and Albuquerque, with the station serving as a landmark in the center. The regional airport sits south of town and connects travelers to smaller airfields in the area.

Geological layers south of town mark the boundary between the age of dinosaurs and the time after they disappeared. Researchers study a thin layer of iridium there, a rare element linked to the impact of a large celestial body.

Location: Colfax County

Elevation above the sea: 2,036 m

Website: http://ratonnm.gov

GPS coordinates: 36.89694,-104.44000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:14