Chama, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Chama is a village in Rio Arriba County
, New Mexico
, United States
. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. It is a small village, but tourism is starting to help the town's economy .
, the village has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all of it land.
, a steam-driven, narrow gauge
heritage railway
which carries visitors to and from Osier, CO and Antonito, CO during the summer months. It is the remaining 64 mile portion of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad's San Juan Extension built in the 1880s between Alamosa, CO and Durango, CO. The route was abandoned in the late 1960s and the tracks from Chama westward to Durango were torn up soon afterwards.
of 2000, there were 1,199 people, 467 households, and 312 families residing in the village. The population density
was 467.9 people per square mile (180.8/km²). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 234.5 per square mile (90.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 67.56% White, 1.58% African American, 2.67% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 25.10% from other races
, and 3.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.23% of the population.
There were 467 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $30,513, and the median income for a family was $31,983. Males had a median income of $27,167 versus $20,054 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,670. About 11.9% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*51.6% White*0.5% Black*16.0% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.3% Two or more races*28.2% Other races*71.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. It is a small village, but tourism is starting to help the town's economy .
Geography
Chama is located at 36°53′41"N 106°35′4"W (36.894777, -106.584406), on the Rio Chama. According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all of it land.
Transportation heritage
Chama is the western terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic RailroadCumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over the Cumbres Pass, the highest point on a US passenger railway....
, a steam-driven, narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
which carries visitors to and from Osier, CO and Antonito, CO during the summer months. It is the remaining 64 mile portion of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad's San Juan Extension built in the 1880s between Alamosa, CO and Durango, CO. The route was abandoned in the late 1960s and the tracks from Chama westward to Durango were torn up soon afterwards.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,199 people, 467 households, and 312 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 467.9 people per square mile (180.8/km²). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 234.5 per square mile (90.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 67.56% White, 1.58% African American, 2.67% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 25.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.23% of the population.
There were 467 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $30,513, and the median income for a family was $31,983. Males had a median income of $27,167 versus $20,054 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $16,670. About 11.9% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
See also:
- Chama, ColoradoChama, ColoradoChama is an unincorporated town and U.S. Post Office in Costilla County, Colorado, United States. The ZIP Code of the Chama Post Office is 81126.-History:...
- Rio Chama (Rio Grande)
- Cumbres PassCumbres PassCumbres Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The pass is traversed by State Highway 17 and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. The highway has a moderate 5.8% approach on the north side and a gentler, 4% approach on the south side...
- San Juan MountainsSan Juan MountainsThe San Juan Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado. The area is highly mineralized and figured in the gold and silver mining industry of early Colorado. Major towns, all old mining camps, include Creede, Lake City, Silverton, Ouray, and...
- San Juan ExpressSan Juan ExpressThe San Juan Express was a narrow gauge train that ran on the 3ft Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad route from Durango, Colorado via Chama, NM, Cumbres Pass and Antonito, CO to Pueblo, Colorado. The Express ran until the early 1950s and most of the narrow gauge trackage has since been abandoned...