Villanueva, New Mexico Explained

Villanueva, New Mexico
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:New Mexico
Pushpin Label:Villanueva
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of New Mexico
Coordinates:35.2569°N -105.3722°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:New Mexico
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:San Miguel
Established Title:Founded
Established Title1:Platted
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:7.26
Area Land Sq Mi:7.26
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Area Total Km2:18.79
Area Land Km2:18.79
Area Water Km2:0.00
Elevation Ft:5853
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:207
Population Density Sq Mi:28.53
Population Density Km2:11.01
Timezone:MST
Utc Offset:-7
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:-6
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:87583
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:505
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS ID
Blank1 Info:2584233

Villanueva is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Known as La Cuesta until 1890, it is located along the Pecos River and New Mexico State Road 3. Villanueva has the ZIP code 87583. The 87583 ZIP Code Tabulation Area had a population of 234 in the 2010 United States census, compared to 267 in 2000. A total of 211 residents of Villanueva in 2010 identified themselves as Hispanic.[2] [3]

History

Prior to 1786, when a peace treaty was concluded with the Comanche, Spanish settlements in New Mexico were confined to the Rio Grande valley. The reduced threat from Comanche raids permitted the expansion eastwards of Spanish settlements onto the Great Plains. Villanueva was one of the settlements founded in the Pecos River Valley as part of that expansion. A principal reason for founding the Pecos Valley settlements was to defend the Spanish and Pueblan settlements in the Rio Grande valley from raids by Apache and other Indian peoples.[4]

Villanueva, a Spanish colonial village, was founded in 1808 and originally called La Cuesta (Spanish, hill or slope) because the village sits on top of a steeply sloping hill or cuesta overlooking the Pecos River.[5] La Cuesta was one of the communities located within the San Miguel del Vado Land Grant. The grant was approved by the Spanish government in 1794 and settlements established in the land grant area included Bernal, El Pueblo, Entrnosa, Guzano, La Cuesta, Las Mulas, Puertecito, San Jose del Vado, and San Miguel del Vado.[6]

Families from La Cuesta established the community of Anton Chico, on the Pecos River 18km (11miles) downstream from La Cuesta, in 1822 and El Cerrito, 5km (03miles) downstream from La Cuesta, from 1824-1827. A church, still existing, was built in La Cuesta in 1831. By 1835 and thereafter, La Cuesta was one of the most populous settlements in the Pecos Valley.[7] In 1845 La Cuesta probably had a population approaching 500 people.[8]

Many Ciboleros (buffalo hunters) and Comancheros (traders with the Plains Indians), of the 19th century originated from La Cuesta and other Hispano communities along the Pecos River.[9]

In 1890, the community was renamed to Villanueva, for a prominent local family.[5]

Geography

Climate

Villanueva has a BWk (Semi-arid cold steppe climate) under the Köppen climate classification system. Under the Trewartha climate classification Villanueva has a BSK (Semi-arid steppe with hot summers and cool winters). Precipitation in the community is concentrated from May to October although an average of 23inch of snow is received each winter.

Demographics

Area attractions

East of Villanueva is Villanueva State Park, a colorful canyon cut by the Pecos River.

Education

It is in the West Las Vegas Schools school district.[10] West Las Vegas High School is the area high school.

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 12, 2022.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  3. "Zip Code 87583 - Villanueva, New Mexico," https://www.zip-codes.com/zip-code/87583/zip-code-87583.asp, accessed 17 Mar 2019
  4. Ebright, Malcolm, "The Villanueva State Park," pp. 13-14, 19, http://dev.newmexicohistory.org/featured_projects/LandGrants/documents/Villanueva.pdf, accessed 17 Mar 2019
  5. http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/state/villanueva/home.html Geology of Villanueva area
  6. http://sanmiguel.nmgenweb.us/images/road-marker.jpg
  7. Ebright, Malcolm, "The Villanueva State Park," pp. 19, 22-23, http://dev.newmexicohistory.org/featured_projects/LandGrants/documents/Villanueva.pdf, accessed 17 Mar 2019
  8. Jenks, Kelly Lee (2011), Vecinos en la Frontera: Interaction, Adaptation, and Identity at San Miguel del Vado, New Mexico," Dissertation: University of Arizona, p. 87
  9. "The Cibolero Trail: Across the Plains of Eastern New Mexico." http://www.over-land.com/st_cibolero.html
  10. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Miguel County, NM. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-07-12.