Colfax County

Colfax County is an administrative division in northeastern New Mexico that stretches between the Great Plains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The territory contains prairies and alpine meadows with varied landscapes, and is governed from Raton as its administrative center.

The county was established in 1869 during the New Mexico gold rush and is named after Schuyler Colfax, the seventeenth Vice President under President Grant. Its founding occurred during a period of intense economic activity and settlement throughout the region.

Raton serves as the county seat today and shapes community life, while the names of earlier administrative centers like Elizabethtown and Cimarron remain part of local memory. These shifts show how economic changes influenced where people chose to settle and build their towns.

The county administration in Raton offers visitors and residents important services through various departments. Those seeking practical assistance or information can find support for financial matters, fire and rescue services, and air travel options.

The Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail passed through Raton Pass, the highest point of this historic trading route. This passage was crucial to the area's early development and settlement patterns.

Location: New Mexico

Inception: 1869

Capital city: Raton

Shares border with: Costilla County, Mora County, Las Animas County, Union County, Taos County, Harding County

Website: http://co.colfax.nm.us

GPS coordinates: 36.61000,-104.64000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:07