Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Eldorado at Santa Fe is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Santa Fe County
, New Mexico
, United States
. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,799 at the 2000 census.
This community is locally known as Eldorado (occasionally, El Dorado). Eldorado's attractive physical setting, large areas of protected open space
, protective covenants, relatively reasonable prices and convenience to Santa Fe have made it a popular place to live in the Santa Fe area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 20.7 square miles (53.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,799 people, 2,438 households, and 1,689 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 280.3 people per square mile (108.2/km²). There were 2,553 housing units at an average density of 123.4 per square mile (47.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.07% White, 0.60% African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.55% from other races
, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.50% of the population.
There were 2,438 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 39.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $70,051, and the median income for a family was $76,930. Males had a median income of $50,588 versus $34,430 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $33,107. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Cost of living in Eldorado is estimated to be about 25% above the average for the USA. In 2006, the average home price in Eldorado was $371,000.
Around 600 AD, Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) settlers established farms and small pueblo
s in the area. These settlements endured until about 1325 AD, when a disastrous drought forced abandonment of what became the Eldorado area. Some inhabitants probably moved to the Galisteo, New Mexico
area, which itself was abandoned about 1450, as were all of the nearby pueblos except Pecos
.
Formal archaeological investigations began about 1914 when Nels C. Nelson
of the American Museum of Natural History
partially excavated Pueblo Alamo (site LA-8), near the present-day junction of I-25 with US-285
. Unfortunately, Pueblo Alamo was almost completely destroyed by the construction of I-25 around 1971, although some salvage archaeology was done.
Another, smaller pueblo, Chamisa Locita or Pueblo Walls (site LA-4) remains largely undisturbed on undeveloped private land, but it has no formal protection.
Source:
which dates back to 1785. In 1883, the entire grant was sold for US$2,000. As recorded in 1894, and patented by the US government, the size of the grant was about 12068 acres (49 km²).
In 1901, the Onderdonk Land & Cattle company bought both the Canada de los Alamos Grant and the adjacent Bishop John Lamy Grant for $10,000. The Lamy Grant was about 16546 acres (67 km²) when patented by the USA in 1874.
The Onderdonk Ranch operated both grants as a cattle ranch into the 1950s. The ranch was sold to the Simpson family in 1956, who continued to operate the ranch until 1969, when the Simpsons sold out to the American Realty and Petroleum Corporation (AMREP) for $3.2 million, or about $118.50/acre.
AMREP proceeded to develop about 6000 acres (24.3 km²) of their 27000 acres (109 km²) purchase as Eldorado at Santa Fe, selling the first lots in 1972. For the first ten years, development was slow—only about 200 houses were built. After 1983, when AMREP won a lawsuit over water rights, the pace of development quickened. Many passive solar houses were built, and Eldorado remains the largest solar community in the USA.
AMREP platted about 2700 lots in the original Eldorado subdivision
s.
At present (2007) the original Eldorado subdivisions are essentially built-out, with only a few vacant lots on the market. There are large areas of vacant private land adjacent, but concerns over an assured water supply have, so far, precluded any new large-scale deveolopments.
Source:
There are an additional 20 or so newer subdivisions along U.S. Route 285
, locally called the 285 Corridor, between Eldorado at Santa Fe and Lamy. Most of these offer larger lots and more expensive houses than Eldorado. Most are served by the Eldorado community water utility
. Informally, the adjacent subdivisions, such as Belicia, Dos Griegos and The Ridges, are also called "Eldorado", but they have different covenants and no formal ties to the original AMREP subdivision.
. There have been proposals to offer a commuter train service.
The Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association holds an annual studio tour each year, in mid-May. The 2010 tour featured 117 artists showing their work in 83 studios. On sale are traditional paintings, digital art
, ceramics, textiles, wearable art, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more.
All artists contribute 5 percent of sale proceeds to the Eldorado Fire Department, El Dorado Elementary School and the Vista Grande Public Library. In the past five years, the association has contributed about $15,000 to these organizations.
and his family lived in Eldorado until 2006.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Santa Fe County
Santa Fe County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*76.2% White*0.9% Black*3.1% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*14.9% Other races*50.6% 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...
. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,799 at the 2000 census.
This community is locally known as Eldorado (occasionally, El Dorado). Eldorado's attractive physical setting, large areas of protected open space
Public space
A public space is a social space such as a town square that is open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic level. One of the earliest examples of public spaces are commons. For example, no fees or paid tickets are required for entry, nor are the entrants...
, protective covenants, relatively reasonable prices and convenience to Santa Fe have made it a popular place to live in the Santa Fe area.
Geography
Eldorado at Santa Fe is located at 35°32′9"N 105°55′29"W (35.535926, -105.924596).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 20.7 square miles (53.6 km²), all of it land.
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 5,799 people, 2,438 households, and 1,689 families residing in the CDP. 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 280.3 people per square mile (108.2/km²). There were 2,553 housing units at an average density of 123.4 per square mile (47.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.07% White, 0.60% African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.55% 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 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.50% of the population.
There were 2,438 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 39.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $70,051, and the median income for a family was $76,930. Males had a median income of $50,588 versus $34,430 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 CDP was $33,107. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Cost of living in Eldorado is estimated to be about 25% above the average for the USA. In 2006, the average home price in Eldorado was $371,000.
Prehistory
Archaic Indians lived and hunted in the Eldorado area; archaeologists and others have found Clovis points, but little detailed information is available about these earliest settlers.Around 600 AD, Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) settlers established farms and small pueblo
Pueblo
Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...
s in the area. These settlements endured until about 1325 AD, when a disastrous drought forced abandonment of what became the Eldorado area. Some inhabitants probably moved to the Galisteo, New Mexico
Galisteo, New Mexico
Galisteo is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 265 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
area, which itself was abandoned about 1450, as were all of the nearby pueblos except Pecos
Pecos National Historical Park
Pecos National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is located about east of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The site was originally designated Pecos National Monument on June 28, 1965. In 1990 new lands were added to the park and the official designation was...
.
Formal archaeological investigations began about 1914 when Nels C. Nelson
Nels C. Nelson
Nels Christian Nelson was a Danish-American archaeologist.-Biography:Nelson was born near Fredericia, in the Fredericia municipality in the eastern part of Jutland, Denmark. He was the eldest child in a poor family. He was sent to work on an uncle's farm in Minnesota in 1892. There he started...
of the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
partially excavated Pueblo Alamo (site LA-8), near the present-day junction of I-25 with US-285
U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285 is a north–south United States highway, running 845 miles through the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. The highway's northern terminus is in Denver, Colorado, at exit 201 on Interstate 25. Its southern terminus is in Sanderson, Texas at an intersection with U.S....
. Unfortunately, Pueblo Alamo was almost completely destroyed by the construction of I-25 around 1971, although some salvage archaeology was done.
Another, smaller pueblo, Chamisa Locita or Pueblo Walls (site LA-4) remains largely undisturbed on undeveloped private land, but it has no formal protection.
Source:
History
Eldorado lies entirely within the Canada de los Alamos Grant, a Spanish land grantLand grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
which dates back to 1785. In 1883, the entire grant was sold for US$2,000. As recorded in 1894, and patented by the US government, the size of the grant was about 12068 acres (49 km²).
In 1901, the Onderdonk Land & Cattle company bought both the Canada de los Alamos Grant and the adjacent Bishop John Lamy Grant for $10,000. The Lamy Grant was about 16546 acres (67 km²) when patented by the USA in 1874.
The Onderdonk Ranch operated both grants as a cattle ranch into the 1950s. The ranch was sold to the Simpson family in 1956, who continued to operate the ranch until 1969, when the Simpsons sold out to the American Realty and Petroleum Corporation (AMREP) for $3.2 million, or about $118.50/acre.
AMREP proceeded to develop about 6000 acres (24.3 km²) of their 27000 acres (109 km²) purchase as Eldorado at Santa Fe, selling the first lots in 1972. For the first ten years, development was slow—only about 200 houses were built. After 1983, when AMREP won a lawsuit over water rights, the pace of development quickened. Many passive solar houses were built, and Eldorado remains the largest solar community in the USA.
AMREP platted about 2700 lots in the original Eldorado subdivision
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
s.
At present (2007) the original Eldorado subdivisions are essentially built-out, with only a few vacant lots on the market. There are large areas of vacant private land adjacent, but concerns over an assured water supply have, so far, precluded any new large-scale deveolopments.
Source:
There are an additional 20 or so newer subdivisions along U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285 is a north–south United States highway, running 845 miles through the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. The highway's northern terminus is in Denver, Colorado, at exit 201 on Interstate 25. Its southern terminus is in Sanderson, Texas at an intersection with U.S....
, locally called the 285 Corridor, between Eldorado at Santa Fe and Lamy. Most of these offer larger lots and more expensive houses than Eldorado. Most are served by the Eldorado community water utility
Utility
In economics, utility is a measure of customer satisfaction, referring to the total satisfaction received by a consumer from consuming a good or service....
. Informally, the adjacent subdivisions, such as Belicia, Dos Griegos and The Ridges, are also called "Eldorado", but they have different covenants and no formal ties to the original AMREP subdivision.
Education
The El Dorado Elementary School consistently draws top rankings from independent observers.Attractions
The Santa Fe Southern Railway passes through the center of Eldorado, and excursion train rides are offered to Santa FeSanta Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
. There have been proposals to offer a commuter train service.
Arts
Eldorado has from its beginning been a favorite with local artists, as (until recently) housing costs were comparatively low.The Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association holds an annual studio tour each year, in mid-May. The 2010 tour featured 117 artists showing their work in 83 studios. On sale are traditional paintings, digital art
Digital art
Digital art is a general term for a range of artistic works and practices that use digital technology as an essential part of the creative and/or presentation process...
, ceramics, textiles, wearable art, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more.
All artists contribute 5 percent of sale proceeds to the Eldorado Fire Department, El Dorado Elementary School and the Vista Grande Public Library. In the past five years, the association has contributed about $15,000 to these organizations.
Notable residents
The author Hampton SidesHampton Sides
Hampton Sides is an American historian and journalist. He is the author of Hellhound on His Trail, Ghost Soldiers, Blood and Thunder, and other bestselling works of narrative history and literary non-fiction....
and his family lived in Eldorado until 2006.
See also
- Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
- Lamy, New MexicoLamy, New MexicoLamy is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States, to the south of the city of Sante Fe. The community was named for Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy, and lies within the Bishop John Lamy Spanish Land Grant, which dates back to the eighteenth century.Lamy is part of the...
- Galisteo, New MexicoGalisteo, New MexicoGalisteo is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 265 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Land grantLand grantA land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
- Clovis cultureClovis cultureThe Clovis culture is a prehistoric Paleo-Indian culture that first appears 11,500 RCYBP , at the end of the last glacial period, characterized by the manufacture of "Clovis points" and distinctive bone and ivory tools...
External links
- Demographics and community information, from Sperling's Best Places
- Vista Grande Public Library - Providing Library services to Eldorado and to the entire Southeast Corridor of Santa Fe County, New Mexico
- Community profile, by a longtime resident and realtor
- Eldorado Community Improvement Association (ECIA), property owners association: enforces covenants and maintains amenities
- History of The Ridges subdivision
- Eldorado Area Water and Sanitation District
- Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association