Taos, New Mexico

Taos calls itself the "Town of Taos" and was incorporated as such in 1934. As of the 2000 census, it population was 4,700.

Being located close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American village and tribe from which it takes its name, it is also the county seat of Taos County. The name also refers to the nearby ski resort of Taos Ski Valley.

The word 'Taos' means 'red willow' in the Tiwa language. Many people in Taos have experienced what is termed the Taos Hum, a low-frequency noise whose source and nature are still a mystery and for which a variety of theories have been advanced. The lore of this phenomenon has become part of the appeal of this unique community.

History

Taos was established following the Spanish conquest of the Pueblo villages.

During the 1770s Taos was repeatedly raided by Comanches who at that time lived in the plains of what is now eastern Colorado. Juan Bautista de Anza, governor of the Province of New Mexico, led a successful punitive expedition in 1779 against the Comanches.

After the U.S. takeover of New Mexico in 1846, Hispanics and Amerindians in Taos staged a mini-rebellion, known as the Taos Revolt, in which the newly appointed U.S. Governor, Charles Bent, was lynched.

Beginning in 1898, artists began to settle in Taos and created the "Taos Society of Artists". In time the Taos art colony developed. Many paintings were made of local scenes, especially of Taos Pueblo and activities there. Many of the artists used Native Americans from the pueblo as models in often fanciful paintings. Some of the artists' studios have been preserved and may be viewed by visitors to Taos. These include the Blumenschein House.

Other tourist attractions are the homes of Kit Carson and Mabel Dodge Luhan, along with the Rio Grande Gorge and Taos Ski Valley. Twenty miles northwest is the D.H. Lawrence Ranch, (originally known as the Kiowa Ranch and now owned by the University of New Mexico), the home of the English novelist, D.H. Lawrence in the 1920s. By all accounts he loved the ranch high up in the mountains, the only property he ever owned. It is believed that his ashes are buried there at the D.H. Lawrence Memorial. Just outside of Taos in Ranchitos is the Martinez Hacienda, the home turned museum of the late Padre Antonio José Martínez.

Taos Plaza is, for historical reasons, one of the few places in the country where the flag may properly be displayed continuously (both day and night).

Geography

Taos is located at (36.393979, -105.576705).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.9 km² (5.4 mi²), all land.

Just to the west of Taos is the Rio Grande Gorge, cutting through the basalt flows of the Taos Plateau volcanic field.

The elevation in Taos is 6950 feet

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,700 people, 2,067 households, and 1,157 families residing in the town. The population density was 337.9/km² (874.5/mi²). There were 2,466 housing units at an average density of 177.3/km² (458.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 68.04% White, 0.53% African American, 4.11% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 21.66% from other races, and 4.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.34% of the population.

There were 2,067 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.0% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,016, and the median income for a family was $33,564. Males had a median income of $27,683 versus $23,326 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,983. About 17.9% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 24.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city's public schools are operated by Taos Municipal Schools.

External links

Taos County, New Mexico | Cities in New Mexico | Towns in New Mexico

Taos | Taos

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History

Geography

Demographics

Education

External links