Colfax County, County in northeastern New Mexico, United States.
Description
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.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Practical
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.
Did you know?
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.
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Raton Pass
44.6 km
Vermejo Park Ranch
31.8 km
Baldy Mountain
51.3 km
St. James Hotel
27.7 km
Folsom Site
59.1 km
Tooth of Time
37.5 km
Cimarron Canyon State Park
48.5 km
Eagle Nest Lake State Park
55.2 km
Sugarite Canyon State Park
45 km
Mount Phillips
48.8 km
Villa Philmonte
32.3 km
Eagle Nest Dam
53.4 km
Raton Downtown Historic District
36.9 km
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
61.5 km
Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge
6.9 km
Colfax County Courthouse
27.7 km
Casa del Gavilan
35.8 km
Cimarron Historic District
27.8 km
St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church
51.5 km
Mills House
28.5 km
Colfax County Courthouse
37.3 km
R.H. Cowan Livery Stable
28.2 km
El Raton Theatre
37.2 km
Columbian School
38 km
Longfellow School
36.9 km
Original Townsite Historic District
36.7 km
National Scouting Museum
32.9 km
Villa Philmonte
32.4 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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