Colfax County, New Mexico, Place Names, N - Z

Colfax County

NARANJOS - Spanish for the Naranjo surname folks, or orange grove. The surname came to New Mexico in 1600. Settlement on NM 120, 20 miles northwest of Wagon Mound. Post Office 1886 to 1888 and 1913 to 1917.

NEW ABBOTT - See ABBOTT.

NIGGER CREEK - Named for a young Black man, whose name is unknown, arrived in Elizabethtown some time during the boom years of 1865-1890. He made his home apart from the whites on a little creek in the north end of the Moreno Valley, which leads into the Moreno River.

NINE MILE CREEK - In the south end of the Moreno Valley, flows into the Cieneguilla Creek, which then flows into Eagle Nest Lake. Named because it was 9 miles south of Elizabethtown, which in the early days, was the center not only of the Moreno Valley, but the northeastern part of the State during the hectic minig years between 1865 and 1890.

NORTH PONIL - Creek near Baldy Mountain. See PONIL.

OCATE CREEK - Rises in Colfax County then flows southeast through Ocate, below which it is diverted into the Upper Charette Lake and then into Canadian River.

OSHA - The name of an herb, wild angelica root, found in various parts of the state and used for medicinal purposes. Post Office 1894 to 1903; changed to BLACK LAKE

OSHA MOUNTAIN - Between taos and Colfax counties. See CUESTA DEL OSHA PEAK.

OSHA PASS - Near the Taos Colfax County line, 3 miles north of Osha Mouontain.

OTERO - The family name appeaars in 1659, when Pedro Otero is listed in marriage records in Santa Fe. Members of this family are found in 18th century records in Albuquerque and Tome. The famioly achieved prominence in this and the following century. In Colfax county it was a lively spot near the foot of raton Pass when AT&amp;SF RR reached there in 1878. After the division point was removed 5 mikles north of raton in 1879, most of the settlement moved with it.

PALO BLANCO - Soanish for white tree or white pole.

PALO BLANCO CREEK - Flows south to Holkeo Creek, 15 miles north of Gladstone, north of Palo Blanco Mountain. Named for Palo Blanco Mountain.

PALO BLANCO MOUNTAIN - 4 miles northwest of Malpie.

PALO BLANCO PEAK - 15 miles southwest of Capulin in the east end of Colfax county.

PALO FLECHADO - "tree pierced with arrows". Mountain pass near Agua Fria. Named because many arrows were found sticking in the trees. There is a Taos Native American custom of shooting the remaining arrows into a large tree after a buffalo hunt. At the summit of the mountain near the pass is the tree containing the arrows.

PALO FLECHADO CREEK - Rises in the Taos Mountains and flows east to Agua Fria where it joins Agua Fria Creek.

PARKER ARROYO - 1 mile west of Hebron; connects with Canadian Red River in north central part of Colfax County.

PARTON - Formerly TROYBURGH. Post Office, 1884 to 1886; mail to Raton.

PATTON CREEK - Small stream which flows into Canadian Red River at its source near the AColfax County - Colorado state line in the northwest part of Colfax County.

PECK'S MESA - North of Holkeo Creek in the extreme southeast corner of Colfax County. Named for an early family in the neighborhood.

PENA FLOR - post Office shown on a 1936 Department of Interior map, as 4 miles south of Colorado State line on the Upper Vermejo River. Post Office 1888 to 1901; mail to Catskill.

PERRYVILLE - Locality in Cimarron Canyon. Post Office 1894 to 1895; mail to Elizabethtown.

PHILMONT SCOUT CAMP - A Boy Scout Camp and game refuge covering 55 square miles. Established in 1938, as a gift of Waite Phillips, owner of nearby Philmonte ranch.Covers 128,000 acres and stretches north and south of Cimarron about 25 miles. First named PHILTURN.

PHILTURN - See Philmont Scout Camp.

PIGGLY WIGGLY CANYON - Northeast of Johnson Mesa.

PINA - Spanish for pine tree.

PINE CREEK - Flows out of the pine covered mountainside in the NorthMoreno Valley and joins the Moreno River which flows into Eagle Nest Lake.

PINON HILLS - 10 miles west of Springer in the Maxwell Land Grant.

PITTSBURG - Once a community 25 miles east of Springer in center of a farming district. Post Office 1924 to 1932.

POINT OF ROCKS - A mound of syenite rocks, rising from the prairies, from which runs a clear, crystal spring. At the eastern end of the Colfax County line near Ute Creek. A noted battlegorund and landmark of the Santa Fe Trail.

POND CREEK - Rises in Colfax County and flows south to junction of Carisso Creek.

PONIL - Post Office 1879 to 1913.

PONIL CREEK - Has 3 baranches, north, middle and south. They all arise north of Cimarron in adjacent canyons, join and flow to the Cimarron River, 2 miles east of the town, from the Vermejo Park area.

PONIL PARK - In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, at the head of Ponil Creek; about 3 by 6 miles in size.

POTATO CANYON - Begins about 4 miles up Canadian red River and extends southwest 7 miles. An eastern farmer settled here and raised potatoes, selling them to the minerss in Blossburg; hence the name

POTATO MOUNTAIN - 5 miles east of raton.

PRAIRIE DOG CANYON - Small canyon extends north from the mouth of the Caliente Canyon, which is off the Vermejo River Canyon, 8 miles north of Dawson.

PRESTON - On the Ute Division of the AR&amp;SF RR, 10 miles southwest of Raton, where the track branches for Van Houten. Established in 1900.

PUERTECITO - Spanish for small mountain pass.

RAEL - A Spanish surname. Post Office 1901 to 1902; mail to Springer.

RAILROAD CANYON - Extends from Raton to the Raton Tunnel on AT&amp;SF RR, about 8.5 miles running north and south. The tracks follow this canyon to the highest point on the system, 7,622 feet.

RATON - Spanish for mouse, field mouse or prarie dog. On US 85 and 87, and NM 72, 8.5 miles south of Raton Pass. Started in 1879, with the arrival of AT&amp;SF RR. Now is the County seat.

RATON CREEK - First called WILLOW ARROYO, then WILLOW CREEK. Flows south of Railroad Canyon, north of raton across Crow Creek Flats to join Una del Gato River, 7 miles south of Raton, and then into Canadian red River.

RATON MOUNTAINS - form part of the long range which divides northeastern NM from Colorado. Named for numerous rodents which fed here on the pinon nuts.

RATON PASS - Famed from days of covered wagon caravans on the Santa Fe Trail. The highest point is 7,622 feet.

RATON PEAK - Central and tallest peak of the range, directly north of Raton, almost at the Colorado state line.

RAYADO - Spanish for streaked. Certain Native American tribes were called "rayados" by the Spanish because of horizontal lines painted on their faces. This was a trading point on NM 21, 23 miles west of Springer. Post Office 1873 to 1881 and intermittently to 1919.

RAYADO CREEK OR RIVER - passes through Rayado and joins Urreca Creek 11 miles west of Springer.

RAYADO MESA - 14 miles west of Springer in the Maxwell Land Grant.

RAYADO PEAK - On the Rayado River near Rayado Pass.

RAYADO STATION - 5 miles south of Springer.

RED LAKES - Former community 10 miles sothwest of Black Lakes on NM 38.

RED RIVER CANYON - Begins at Red River Peak, 4 miles south of Raton and flows into Canadian Red River at the northwest corner of Colfax county.

RED RIVER PASS - At the Taos Colfax County line. at the north end of the Moreno Valley where Nm 38 crosses the mountains into Red River Country.

RED RIVER PEAK - Small pointed peak at the mouth of the Little Red River Canyon. Named before the stage coaches came across Raton mountains.

REED CANYON - Ghost town near site of Elkins at the head of theVermejo River. Named for "Cump" Reed from Missouori, an early settler in 1875.

RING - At one time in Ponil Park on North Ponil Creek in the Maxwell Land Grant. So calledbecause the Ring Road ended in a circle where an enginecould be turned.

RIO DEL PLANO - Anglicized "river of the plains or flats". Northeast of Springer and flows into the Canadian Red River

RIO PLANO - Flows west from Chico to enter the Canadian River north of Springer; course is over high, relatively smooth terrain, explaining the descriptive name.

RITO BERNAL - Rito is spanish for little river. In the northwest corner of Colfac County, flows into the Vermejo River.

RITO DEL ORO. Spanish for Little golden river. In the northwest part of Colfax county, flows into the Vermejo river.

RITO LEANDRO - Leandro is a spanish given name. In the nlfax county, flows into the Vermejo River.

RITO PRESA - Spanish for little river that has been controlled, ie a ditch, trench or dam. A small tributary of the Cimarron River. Perhaps named for an irrigation or fishing dam in the stream.

Colfax County end 

Harding County

OJO DE LAS GALLINAS - Spanish for "wild fowl spring". Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring.

PLEASANT VALLEY - 6 miles southeast of Buena Vista.

REYES - Spanish for kings. In the northeastern part of Harding county on NM 171, and 57, 35 miles northeast of Mosquero. A Christian name formerly common to both men and women in honor of the three kings of the epiphany, also a surname. Post Office 1910 to 1918.

RIDGE CREEK - See ARROYO DEL CESITA

Harding County end

Mora County

NOLAN - Community on US 85 and AT&amp;SF RR, 11 miles north of Wagon Mound. The majority of the inhabitants were railroad employees. Post Office 1908 to 1944.

OCATE - Local spanish for "white pine". Ranching, lumbering, and dry farming community on NM 120, 24 miles northwest of Wagon Mound, on Ocate Creek and 5 miles south of Colfax County line. Post Office 1866 to present day.

OCATE CRATER - 18 miles northeast of Mora, at the west end of Ocqte Mountain.

OCATE CREEK - Rises in Colfax County then flows southeast through Ocate, below which it is diverted into the Upper Charette Lake and then into Canadian River.

OCATE CREEK, SOUTH FORK - Small stream at the Schiele Ranch above Ocate.

OCATE GRANT - On October 15, 1837, Manuel Alvarez petitioned Governor Armijo for land to introduce Merino sheep, and on October 16, the governor approved the grant, confirming it on December 5, 1845.

OCATE MESA - Large mesa extending 10 or 12 miles, starts 3 miles northwest of Wagon Mound.

OCATE MOUNTAIN - 18 miles northeast of Mora.

OJITA - Spanish for "little spring" or "small leaf".

OJO FELIZ - Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring. Feliz is the spanish for happy. Ranching and lumbering community 1 mile east,of Nm 21, 57 miles west of Wagon Mound. Post Office 1922 to present day. OJO ZARCO - Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring."clear blue".

OPTIMO - Spanish for"best or very good". Farming and ranching community 1 mile east of US 85 and 9 miles southwest of Wagon Mound. Formerly called TIPTON. The railroad imported settlers from Pennsylvania who were called Dunkards, a sect of the German American Baptists. They settled on land east of the railroad right of way and attempted farming. Post Office 1909 to 1947.

OSHA CANYON - The name of an herb, wild angelica root, found in various parts of the state and used for medicinal purposes.

PANCHUELA CREEK, WEST - Heads across the divide from Panchuela Creek, and constitutes the headwaters of Frijoles Creek, which flows past Cundiyo to Santa Cruz Lake. PECOS BALDY - Peak located in southwest tip of Mora County in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

PECOS BALDY LAKE - At the eastern bassse of Pecos Baldy Mountain, 7 miles north of Cowles.

PIEDRA LUMBRE ARROYO, CREEK - Flows east into the Canadian River at the Mora Harding County line.

PINKERTON - Post Office 1881 to 1882; changed to WAGON MOUND.

PORVENIR - Post Office 1896, intermittently to 1922. See EL PORVENIR.

POT CREEK - North Fork of the Little Rio Grande into which it empties, a short distance below US Hill.

RAINSVILLE - Farming community 2 miles east of NM 21, 8 miles east of Mora. Formerly called COYOTE. Post Office 1921 to present day.

RINCON RANGE - Extends north and south in western Mora County, from Lucero to the Colfax Mora county line, west of Coyote Creek.

RIO DE LA CASA - Also known as RIO LA CASA, Lower and Upper. Rises in the west central part of Mora County, and flows southeast to join the Mora River. Named for the beaver houses or dams, along the stream.

RIO DEL PUEBLO PLAZA - River of the Town Square. RIO EN MEDIO also called RIO DEL MEDIO and MEDIO CREEK- "middle river" or midway river. Mountain stream heading on the northwest side of Pecos Baldy and flowing west for 18 miles to the Santa Cruz River.

RIO FRIJOLES - Refers to the bean growing patches irrigated by the streams flow.

RIO LA JUNTA - See Watrous

RIO LUCIA - Close to Penasco, on the west side of the mountains; at the entrance of the Picuris Pueblo. Post Office 1921 to 1923.

RIO MORA - See Mora River

RIO VALDEZ - Nortj Fork of the Mora Pecosin the southwest cornerf Mora County, joining that stream at the upper end of Mora Flats and crossing into San Miguel County.

RITO AZUL - Rito is spanish for little river, "lttle blue river". Fork of the Rito de los Chimayoses, south of Truchas Peak.

RITO DE LOS CHIMAYOSES - Rito is spanish for little river, little river of the Chimayo people. The biggest fork of the Rito del Padre or Beatty's Fork of the Pecos River; heads aginst the east side of Truchas Peak. RITO DE LOS ESTEROS - Rito is spanish for little river of the flooded marshes or estuaries. Small fork of the Mora Pecos entering from the east at the lower end of the Mora Flats, 5 miles northeast of Cowles.

RITO DEL OSO - Rito is spanish for little river. Oso is bear. Fork of the Mora Pecos, along Rociada Trail.

RITO DEL PADRE - Spanish for father or priest's little river. Also known as BEATTY'S FORK of the Pecos River. Extends from Beatty, up to the source at Truchas Peak.

RITO MAESTAS - Maestas is a spanish surname. Little river of the Maestas folks. East fork of the Rito del Padre in the upper Pecos country, 15 miles west of Mora.

RITO PERRO - Dog's little river. East fork of the Panchuela Creek; just below Pecos Baldy Peak.

Mora County end

Quay County

NARA VISA - The spanish surname "Narvis"  may be the corruption of the spanish surname "Narvaez", which residents in the area pronounce "Nara Visa". The settlement is on US 54 and NM 18, and also the CRI&amp;P RR. Established in 1902 with the building of CRI&amp;P RR through tQuay County to Tucumcari. Named for the creek. Post Office 1902 to present day.

NARA VISA CREEK - Tributary of the Canadian River. Named for Spanish sheep herder "Narvis", who lived on the creek in the late 1800's.

NORTON - Former ranching and farming community on NM 88, 20 miles southeast of Tucumcari. Named for Michael J. Norton, who established a store here in 1907 and became the first postmaster, Post Office 1907 to 1941.

OBAR - Settlement on NM 54, 8 miles southwest of Nara Visa. Formerly called PERRY, then Obar for the Circle ABar Ranch, whose brand is a circle with a bar under it. The owner of the ranch was named Howrey. Settlement started 1906-1907. Prior to that, the spot was a switch on CRI&amp;P RR. Post Office 1908 to 1953.

OGLE - Settlers by this name operated a grocery store whenthere was a post office there, 15 miles southwest of Tucumcari, Post Office, 1906 to 1913.

OIL SPUR - OJO DEL CARNERO - Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring. Carnero is the term for sheep. In the Plaza Larga arrea of east Tucumcari. Named because of the wild sheep that came to water here.

ORTON - Post Office 1908 to 1911; changed to LUCILLE.

PAJARITO CREEK - Pajarito is spanish for small bird. It is also a Native American surname in the Cebolleta land Grant area. Creek rises in Guadalupe County and flows northeast to the Canadian River.

PALOMAS - "doves or pidgeons". 15 miles west of Tucumcari. Railroad switch for passing trains when CRI&amp;P RR built its line in 1901-1902 between Dalhart, Texas, and Santa Rosa.

PALOMAS HILLS - 1 mile south of Palomas

PERRY - Post Office 1907 to 1908. See OBAR

PETRIFIED FORET - 6 miles southwest of Tucumcari, and 1 mile south of US 66. Logs and fragments of petrified wood lie on the ground although they have been greatly depleted by souvenir hunters.

PLAZA - Spanish for town square. Post Office 1908 to 1911; mail to Tucumcari.

PLAZA LARGO CREEK - Spanish for long or large town square. Runs north from center of Quay county to join Revuelto River at US 66, between Tucumcari and San Jon. Named for its appearance of a dry flat. However, in rainy seasons it becomes a raging stream.

PLEANO - Post Office 1907 to 1914.

PLEASANT VALLEY - 17 miles east of Atarque.

PORTER - On NM 392, 8 miles north of San Jon. Named for a family that began settlement here. First postmaster, Mary Porter. Post Office 1908 to 1915.

PRAIRIE VIEW - Post Office 1908 to 1915.

PUERTO - 18 miles southeast of Tucumcari. Post Office 1901 to 1918.

QUAY - Ranching community on NM 18, 17 miles south of Tucumcari. Established in 1902 by Mr. Adams. It is not known whether the place was named for the county or for Quay Flat on which it is located. The town was moved 1 mile southeast of its first location in 1917. Post Office 1904 to present day.

QUAY COUNTY - Created January 28, 1903. The name of Matthew S Quay, US Senator from Pennsylvania, 1887-1904, seems to have played a part in all of these names.

RAGLAND - Formerly CAPROCK. Trading point on NM 18, 25 miles south of Tucumcari. Named in 1906 for a Mr. Ragland, who filed a claimon which a small store and post office were erected. First postmaster, Maud Ragland. Post Office 1908 to 1917.

RANA - Spanish for "grog". Settlement 28 miles northeast of Tucumcari, and 12 miles northwest of Glenrio. Said to be one name of the ranch upon which the post office was established. 1908 to 1925.

RANA CANYON - Heads north of Bard; runs northeast into the Canadian River.

REVUELTO - Spanish for overturn or scrambled. Post Office 1897 to 1916. See Hudson.

REVUELTO CREEK - Flows north into Revuelto River 6 miles east of Lesbia.

REVUELTO RIVER - Flows northeast into the Canadian River near Logan.

RICE - First postmaster, Clara S Rice. Post Office 1907 to 1908; changed to HUDSON

Quay County end

Union County

NIGGER MESA - On the Colorado state line with union County between Branson and Folsom. Named by the cowboys after a fight between a Black Man and a cowboy, which happened at the foot of the mesa in the early 1880's.

NORTH CANADIAN - See CORRUMPAW, or CANADIAN RIVER

NORTH DES MOINES - Post Office 1909 to 1916.

OAK CANON CREEK, 4 miles south of Emery Gap.

PASAMONTE - Spanish "pass or opening between the mountains". On NM 58, 33 miles west of Clayton. Lies between rolling hills. Established in 1899 by Carl Gilg, the first postmaster. Post Office, 1899 to 1947.

PASAMONTE LAKE - North and west of Pasamonte.

PATTERSON - First postmaster, Gertie Patterson. Post Office 1910 to 1918.

PEACOCK CANYON - Prong of Cimarron Canyon 35 miles northeast of Folsom. A famiily of thie name located here in the early 1870's. See DRIPPING SPRINGS.

PENNINGTON - 17 miles southwest of Mt. Dora. Post Office 1914 to 1921.

PENRITH - On C&amp;S RR, 3 miles southeast of Mt. Dora. Once a blind siding and shipping point for cattle. Now grazing land.

PERICO - Spanish for parrot or parakeet. Also, a family name. Post Office 1886 to 1888; changed to CLAYTON.

PERICO CANYON -  Rises near Tripod Mountain, flows east, passes 6 miles south of Mt. Dora and 5 miles south of Clayton into Texas.

PINABETE ARROYO - Lear Creek flows into it.

PINABETITOS CREEK - "Little fir trees". Rises southwest of Pasamonte and joins Major Long's Creek below Stead.

PLEASANT - Former settlement and school district in farming region, 10 miles east of Des Moines. Also called PLEASANT VALLEY. Post Office 1914 to 1915.

RABBIT EAR CREEK - First called RABBIT EARS CREEK, later renamed CIENAGA CREEK, and still later BIG SPRING. Name for the Mountain Ridge to the east, "Las Orejas de Conejo" "Ears of the Rabbit". Freighters on the Santa Fe Trail called it CIENEGA DEL BURRO or "jackass swamp". Known today as SENECA Creek. It flows east between Rabbit Ear Mountain and Clayton, continuing into Texas.

RABBIT EAR MOUNTAIN - 6 miles north of Clayton, near US 87. Named for a Comanche Chief, called Rabbit Ears, because his ears had been frozen. He was killed in battle and buried on themountainside. In 1717, at this place, a volunteer army of 500 Spaniards killed several hundred Comanches, and took 700 prisoner, after which a long truce followed.

RAFAEL CREEK - Rises southeast of Sierra Grande Mountain and empties into Corrumpaw Creek (now the North Canadian). Said to have been named by US Senator Stephen W Dorsey of Arkansas, who sojourned in NM in the 1880's.

RAMON - Post Office 1911 to 1914.; changed to DAVID.

REESE HILL - On NM 18.5 miles south of US 64 at Clayton. Named for a family who lived near the foot of the hill. NM 18, leading from Cimarron River Canyon south to Clayton, emerges from the canyon at this point.

Union County end

Source: New Mexico Place Names, A Geographical Dictionary. T.M. Pearce, Ina Sizer Cassidy, Helen S pearce; The University of New Mexico Press, 1965. LCCC No. 64-17808.