Hachita Valley
Encyclopedia
The Hachita Valley, is a small valley in southwest New Mexico
. The valley is in the east of the New Mexico Bootheel
region and borders Chihuahua state, Mexico
. Hachita, New Mexico lies in the valley's northeast, where New Mexico State Road 9
traverses east-west across much of southern New Mexico. The large, and extensive north-south Playas Valley
borders to the west on the other side of the west perimeter mountain ranges.
The Hachita Valley lies in the northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert
, with the southeast of the valley draining southeast into desert regions of northern Chichuahua. The Hachita Valley is created because of the three surrounding mountainous regions; the north is more bajada-like, and extends north to foothills of higher elevation mountain regions, transitioning to the Continental Divide of the Americas.
The valley is located in Hidalgo County
, but the extreme north drains from north of Hachita in south Grant County
.
lower elevations in northern Chihuahua. The Apache Hills are the large section of the hills in the east and northeast causing the valley's curvature. A major central wash follows the valley's southeast; the north has no major wash, and instead drainages are towards a central bajada
landform region. The northern bajada extends north past Hachita, NM on the east and Old Hachita, NM on the west.
The southeasterly excursion of the valley is caused by the bordering Big Hatchet Mountains
on the southwest, which trend southeast; the valley narrows here, between the Apache Hills northeast, to between 5 to 7 mi wide. In the northwest where the valley widens, the Little Hatchet Mountains lie on the west perimeter. The site of Old Hachita is on the Little Burro's northeast; Playas, NM
lies on the northwest.
Twelvemile Wells is near the valley's center, and is just north of where the southeast valley excursion starts, near the beginning of the southeast washes. In the northeast of the Big Hatchet Mountains, bordering the southwest valley lies the Big Hatchet Mountains
Wilderness Study Area.
traverses the north section of the valley from Hachita, and goes southwest to the Playas Valley
through Hachita Gap, between the Little and Big Hatchet Mountains.
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...
. The valley is in the east of the New Mexico Bootheel
New Mexico Bootheel
New Mexico's Bootheel comprises the southwestern corner of New Mexico. As part of the Gadsden Purchase it is bounded on the east by the Mexican state of Chihuahua along a line at extending south to latitude 31°20′0″N at...
region and borders Chihuahua state, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Hachita, New Mexico lies in the valley's northeast, where New Mexico State Road 9
New Mexico State Road 9
State Road 9 is a long state road in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The highway spans Hidalgo, Grant, and Luna counties from to at the Doña Ana county line.-Route description:...
traverses east-west across much of southern New Mexico. The large, and extensive north-south Playas Valley
Playas Valley
The Playas Valley is a lengthy and narrow 60-mi long, valley located in Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua. Playas, NM is located in the northeast...
borders to the west on the other side of the west perimeter mountain ranges.
The Hachita Valley lies in the northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
, with the southeast of the valley draining southeast into desert regions of northern Chichuahua. The Hachita Valley is created because of the three surrounding mountainous regions; the north is more bajada-like, and extends north to foothills of higher elevation mountain regions, transitioning to the Continental Divide of the Americas.
The valley is located in Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.3% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.8% Two or more races*11.0% Other races*56.6% Hispanic or Latino...
, but the extreme north drains from north of Hachita in south Grant County
Grant County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*84.9% White*0.9% Black*1.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*9.8% Other races*48.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
Description
Hachita Valley is a north-south valley in its north region of about 20 mi in length; the south turns abruptly southeastwards for 15 mi to exit into the Chihuahuan DesertChihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
lower elevations in northern Chihuahua. The Apache Hills are the large section of the hills in the east and northeast causing the valley's curvature. A major central wash follows the valley's southeast; the north has no major wash, and instead drainages are towards a central bajada
Bajada
Bajada may refer to:*Bajada a festival common to the Canary islands* Bajada, a compound Alluvial fan* La Bajada, an escarpment of the Caja del Rio, New Mexico, USA* Clint Bajada , Maltese TV and radio personality...
landform region. The northern bajada extends north past Hachita, NM on the east and Old Hachita, NM on the west.
The southeasterly excursion of the valley is caused by the bordering Big Hatchet Mountains
Big Hatchet Mountains
The Big Hatchet Mountains are an 18 mi long, mountain range in southeast Hidalgo County, New Mexico, adjacent the northern border of Chihuahua state, Mexico....
on the southwest, which trend southeast; the valley narrows here, between the Apache Hills northeast, to between 5 to 7 mi wide. In the northwest where the valley widens, the Little Hatchet Mountains lie on the west perimeter. The site of Old Hachita is on the Little Burro's northeast; Playas, NM
Playas, New Mexico
Playas was a small unincorporated town in Hidalgo County, the "bootheel" of the southwestern part of the U.S. state of New Mexico.It is a former company town, named after a nearby former settlement along the Southern Pacific Railroad...
lies on the northwest.
Twelvemile Wells is near the valley's center, and is just north of where the southeast valley excursion starts, near the beginning of the southeast washes. In the northeast of the Big Hatchet Mountains, bordering the southwest valley lies the Big Hatchet Mountains
Big Hatchet Mountains
The Big Hatchet Mountains are an 18 mi long, mountain range in southeast Hidalgo County, New Mexico, adjacent the northern border of Chihuahua state, Mexico....
Wilderness Study Area.
Access
New Mexico State Road 8New Mexico State Road 8
New Mexico State Road 8 is a primarily north–south road from Route 62/Route 180 west of Hobbs to its junction with State Road 207 in Eunice.-Route description:State Road 8 begins at its junction with State Route 207 in Eunice...
traverses the north section of the valley from Hachita, and goes southwest to the Playas Valley
Playas Valley
The Playas Valley is a lengthy and narrow 60-mi long, valley located in Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua. Playas, NM is located in the northeast...
through Hachita Gap, between the Little and Big Hatchet Mountains.