Fruitland, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Fruitland is an unincorporated community
in San Juan County
, New Mexico
, United States
, on the north side of the San Juan River. It is immediately west of central Kirtland
and north across the river from the Navajo Indian Reservation and Upper Fruitland
. It is east of Waterflow
.
territory. This place is called Bááh Díílid by the Diné
.
White settlers were allowed in 1877, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first settled in the area in 1878 and an organized group of settlers was sent there by the church in 1881 with Luther C. Burnham being prominent among them. Burnham was made bishop of the LDS ward there in 1883, which was named the Burnham Ward. From this time until the 1930s most of the residents called the area Burnham instead of Fruitland.
For a time Brigham Young, Jr.
maintained one of his residences at Fruitland.
In 1930 the Burnham Ward had 718 members, including unbaptized children under age eight.
The Young Stake was organized with headquarters at Burnham in 1912. By the 1970s the stake headquarters was Farmington. In 1982 a Kirtland Stake was formed, which today covers from Kirtland west to Shiprock, New Mexico
, and beyond.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in San Juan County
San Juan County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*51.6% White*0.6% Black*36.6% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*7.2% Other races*19.1% 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...
, on the north side of the San Juan River. It is immediately west of central Kirtland
Kirtland, New Mexico
Kirtland is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,190 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and north across the river from the Navajo Indian Reservation and Upper Fruitland
Upper Fruitland, New Mexico
Upper Fruitland is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 1,664 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. It is east of Waterflow
Waterflow, New Mexico
Waterflow is an unincorporated community in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States on the north side of the San Juan River. It is immediately west of Fruitland and north across the river from the Navajo Indian Reservation...
.
History
The area now known as Fruitland was traditional NavajoNavajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
territory. This place is called Bááh Díílid by the Diné
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
.
White settlers were allowed in 1877, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first settled in the area in 1878 and an organized group of settlers was sent there by the church in 1881 with Luther C. Burnham being prominent among them. Burnham was made bishop of the LDS ward there in 1883, which was named the Burnham Ward. From this time until the 1930s most of the residents called the area Burnham instead of Fruitland.
For a time Brigham Young, Jr.
Brigham Young, Jr.
Brigham Young, Jr. served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1899 until his death. His tenure was interrupted for one week in 1901 when Joseph F...
maintained one of his residences at Fruitland.
In 1930 the Burnham Ward had 718 members, including unbaptized children under age eight.
The Young Stake was organized with headquarters at Burnham in 1912. By the 1970s the stake headquarters was Farmington. In 1982 a Kirtland Stake was formed, which today covers from Kirtland west to Shiprock, New Mexico
Shiprock, New Mexico
Shiprock is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, on the Navajo reservation. The population was 8,156 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and beyond.