30-611: Catron County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico . As of the 2020 census , the population was 3,579, making it New Mexico's third-least populous county. Its county seat is Reserve . Catron County is New Mexico's largest county by area. Human settlement in the Catron County region dates to some of the earliest in the Americas. During the Clovis period, between 10999 BC and 8000 BC, and Folsom period, between 7999 BC and 5999 BC,
60-480: 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
90-446: A new Rio Grande County. A court suit voided this act, and the two counties retained their independence. The Lightning Field , an art installation on the open earth, brought national attention to Quemado in this county in the late 1970s. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 6,929 square miles (17,950 km), of which 6,924 square miles (17,930 km) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km) (0.08%)
120-639: A province of New Spain in the Americas. The province remained in Spanish control until Mexico gained independence in 1821. Under the 1824 Constitution of Mexico , this became the federally administered Territory of New Mexico. Mexico ceded the region to the U.S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 after being defeated in the Mexican–American War . In 1849, President Zachary Taylor proposed that New Mexico, including this region, immediately be admitted as
150-567: A ranch near Alma . Notorious outlaw Tom Ketchum also lived in Catron County around this time. Socorro County included all of Catron County's territory from the creation of Santa Fé de Nuevo México until 1921. At that time, Catron County was organized and named for Thomas B. Catron , a leading figure in New Mexico statehood and its first US senator. In 1927, the State Legislature attempted to abolish both Socorro and Catron in order to create
180-686: A slight rain. It is called Burning Mountain and appears to have been used by the Apache for healing purposes. The county is home to the Red Hill Volcanic Field as well as the Plains of San Agustin . As of the 2000 census of 2000, there were 3,543 people, 1,584 households, and 1,040 families living in the county. The population density was 0.51 people per square mile (0.20 people/km). There were 2,548 housing units at an average density of 0.37 units per square mile (0.14/km). The racial makeup of
210-498: A state in order to sidestep political conflict over the expansion of slavery in the territories. That did not happen. European-American settlers from the southern and eastern states began to arrive here, including some with enslaved African Americans. The territory did not become a state until 1912, long after the Civil War and abolition of slavery. In 1880, Sergeant James C. Cooney was the first person to find silver and gold ore in
240-668: A whole needed reinforcement. To raise the estimated $ 400,000 needed to preserve Lightning Field , Larry Gagosian , whose gallery represents De Maria, and Miuccia Prada collaborated to lead the restoration effort. Work on the Lightning Field was to begin in early 2013, and the sculpture was to be reopened in June. A photograph of The Lightning Field was used as the cover image for Robert Hughes 's 1997 book, American Visions: The Epic History of Art in America . The work featured prominently in
270-555: Is maintained by the Dia Art Foundation as one of 12 locations and sites they manage. While the work's title, form and best-known photographs may suggest the installation attracts lightning strikes, in fact these happen rarely. The work was commissioned by Dia Art Foundation , which now maintains it. De Maria and his assistants Robert Fosdick and Helen Winkler traveled around California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Texas by truck for over five years before settling on this site for
300-535: Is overwhelmingly Republican, last voting for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1964. School districts include: 33°55′N 108°25′W / 33.92°N 108.42°W / 33.92; -108.42 List of counties in New Mexico See also: There are 33 counties in the U.S. state of New Mexico . The New Mexico Territory was organized in September 1850. The first nine counties in
330-449: Is provided in part by an endowment established by Ray A. Graham III and Lannan Foundation, which awarded a challenge grant in 1996. Financial support for the permanent preservation of the undeveloped grasslands surrounding the installation has been provided by Dia's Board of Trustees, the State of New Mexico , De Maria's assistant Helen Winkler Fosdick, and Gucci . By 2012, the structure as
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#1732852665380360-409: Is set up in a parking lot. 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 and New Mexico State Road 12 east for a total of 99 miles (159 km). In Catron County there is a volcanic area that until recently contained sufficient heat to cause steam to rise after
390-415: Is water. Catron County is the largest county, by area, in New Mexico. At almost 7,000 square miles (18,000 km), Catron County is larger than four states. With a population of only 3,400 people, the county is as sparsely populated as many an old West frontier area. The elk population at some 12,000 head, is much larger than the sparse human population. Within the boundaries of Catron County lie parts of
420-512: The Ake Site was occupied near Datil . Bat Cave , near Horse Springs , was occupied around 3,500 BC. The Mimbres culture was expressed by the Mogollon people. They lived throughout the Catron County area from AD 1000 to 1130. Their art is renowned for its beauty. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers and colonists came to the region, declaring it in 1598 to be part of Santa Fé de Nuevo México ,
450-769: 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 , which also serves as the County Seat. There are no stop lights in the whole county, so when license tests are given in Reserve, an artificial portable stop light
480-432: The poverty line , including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 census , there were 3,725 people, 1,787 households, and 1,080 families living in the county. The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19 inhabitants/km). There were 3,289 housing units at an average density of 0.5 units per square mile (0.19 units/km). The racial makeup of
510-400: The appearance of a level plane, the two-inch diameter poles were constructed to vary in height from 15 feet to 26 feet 9 inches. Each steel rod is set in its own concrete footing, three feet deep and one foot in diameter, buried one foot beneath the surface. They are designed to survive winds of up to 110 miles (180 km) an hour. Support for maintaining and operating The Lightning Field
540-418: The county was 87.75% White , 0.28% Black or African American , 2.20% Native American , 0.68% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 5.42% from other races , and 3.61% from two or more races. 19.16% of the population were Hispanic or 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 married couples living together, 7.60% had
570-550: The county was 89.8% white, 2.7% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 3.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 19.0% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were: Of the 1,787 households, 16.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.6% were non-families, and 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
600-534: The county. Later in 1880, Buffalo Soldiers led by Sergeant George Jordan defeated Chiricahua Apache warriors led by Victorio in the Battle of Fort Tularosa . Four years later, self-appointed sheriff Elfego Baca was the hero of the so-called Frisco shootout in San Francisco Plaza . The country also attracted European-American outlaws. In the mid-1880s Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang holed up at
630-471: The large installation. It is 11.5 miles (18.5 km) east of the continental divide , at an elevation of 7,200 feet above sea level. Set in the middle of an empty plateau about 40 miles from the nearest town, the work consists of 400 stainless steel poles arranged in the form of a grid. The grid measures 1 mile by 1 kilometer, and the poles are set 220 feet apart from one another. Accounting for natural ground-surface variance to create an isocephaly effect,
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#1732852665380660-534: The mountains of Catron County. He was reportedly killed by Chiricahua Apache led by Victorio that year, in what the European Americans called the " Alma Massacre ". His remains are buried at Cooney's Tomb . The foothills and canyons provided many hiding places for Apache warriors as they continued to resist American encroachment. During this time Cochise was another well-known Chiricahua leader. Noted war chief Goyaałé (Geronimo) had several hideouts in
690-560: The novel Blinded by the Light by Morgan Hunt . It may have influenced the imagery of author Cormac McCarthy 's epilogue in his book Blood Meridian . It is the subject of "Poles Apart" (2011), a New Yorker article by Geoff Dyer . David Ulin discusses the work as a narrative which "unfolds not as a fixed encounter but rather as something that gets inside us in a more sequential way." It inspired composer John Mackey 's piece which he entitled "The Lightning Field". Open for six months of
720-468: The population estimate for the state of New Mexico as of July 2011 was 2,082,224, and the area was 121,589 mi (315,194 km ). The Lightning Field The Lightning Field (1977) is a land art work in Catron County, New Mexico , by sculptor Walter De Maria . It consists of 400 stainless steel poles with solid, pointed tips, arranged in a rectangular 1 mile × 1 kilometre grid array. It
750-722: The territory to be created, in 1852, were Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Ana, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, and Valencia Counties. Mora County was created in 1860. Following the Gadsden Purchase of 1853–1854, the northeasternmost part of the New Mexico Territory was ceded to the new Colorado Territory in February 1861, before the western half was reorganized as the Arizona Territory in February 1863, establishing New Mexico's present-day boundaries. Grant County
780-490: The year, the installation can be visited only by making advance reservations that include an overnight stay in the accommodations at the site. The site is a long drive from a scheduled meeting place in Quemado to a log cabin in the area. The installation is intended to be viewed in isolation or with a very small group of people. A cabin on the site was restored to accommodate up to six people for this purpose. It has two bathrooms,
810-474: Was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.57. The median age was 55.8 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 31,914 and the median income for a family was $ 40,906. Males had a median income of $ 46,304 versus $ 23,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 20,895. About 10.1% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. Catron County
840-417: 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
870-494: Was created in 1868, followed by Colfax and Lincoln Counties in 1869. In 1876, Santa Ana County was absorbed by Bernalillo County. A further 14 counties were then created between 1884 and 1909, bringing the total number to 26. New Mexico was admitted to the Union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912. De Baca and Lea Counties were created in 1917, followed by Hidalgo County in 1920 and Catron and Harding Counties in 1921. Los Alamos County
900-514: Was created in 1949 and finally Cibola County in 1981, bringing the total number of counties to 33. The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each entry. New Mexico's code is 35, which when combined with any county code would be written as 35XXX. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county. For comparison,
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