Santa Cruz, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Santa Cruz 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 423 at the 2000 census.
The broader contribution to the Spanish settlement at Santa Cruz encompasses the small geographical area in which it's situated. The nearby, and unsuccessful, Spanish colony at San Gabriel established by the explorer Juan de Oñate
at Ohkay Owingeh in 1598 produced numerous Spanish haciendas and ranchos throughout the locality. However, after the 1680 revolt, it was decided by the new Spanish governor in 1695 under Diego de Vargas
to establish a new Spanish villa for the recent settlers that had arrived from Mexico City to help settle and campaign against the rebellious natives. The native pueblos of San Lazaro
and San Cristobal, along with its population of Tano Pueblo Natives, were relocated farther away to accomidate the new town where the settlement of Villa Nueva de Santa Cruz de los Españoles Mejicanos del Rey Nuestro Señor Carlos Segundo took root.
had been forbidden under the former Spanish government, but now enterprising Anglo-Americans began pouring down the Santa Fe Trail
, bringing a new prosperity to the region
In 1835, Mexico's new provincial governor, Albino Pérez
, was met in the capital of Santa Fe
with suspicion and opposition on the basis of rumors of aggressive new tax collections. Outright revolt broke out in 1837 when Pérez jailed the mayor of Santa Cruz, and a militia that was formed there and led by influential members of the community won a decisive battle over quickly mustered loyalist troops. Chaos and turmoil resulted and Albino Pérez was murdered, but authority was reinstituted under New Mexico native Manuel Armijo
. This event became known as the Revolt of 1837.
The arrival of the American Army under Stephen W. Kearny
in 1846 ended the twenty-five years of Mexican rule in New Mexico. However, not every resident in New Mexico was pleased with the transition. In January 1847, rebellious forces murdered the first U.S. assigned Governor, Charles Bent
, at his home in Taos
, beginning the Taos Revolt
. Occupying forces in Santa Fe quickly moved an army north under Colonel Sterling Price
to stop the rebellion. Colonel Price's troops first met armed resistance at Santa Cruz against a poorly armed and trained force of rebels which they subdued with cannon. The skirmish would become known as the Battle of Cañada
.
. The growth of the new city eventually encompassed the old Spanish community and has largely concealed it. Once considered the second most important settlement in New Mexico, the town is now masked by its popular tourist neighbors Taos and Santa Fe.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 423 people, 147 households, and 108 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 608.3 people per square mile (233.3/km²). There were 172 housing units at an average density of 247.4 per square mile (94.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.63% White, 0.95% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.47% Pacific Islander, 24.35% from other races
, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 91.73% of the population.
There were 147 households out of which 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples
living together, 32.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.5% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $21,438. Males had a median income of $23,924 versus $10,833 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $10,278. About 23.9% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
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 423 at the 2000 census.
Colonial period
Juan de Oñate
Don Juan de Oñate y Salazar was a Spanish explorer, colonial governor of the New Spain province of New Mexico, and founder of various settlements in the present day Southwest of the United States.-Biography:...
at Ohkay Owingeh in 1598 produced numerous Spanish haciendas and ranchos throughout the locality. However, after the 1680 revolt, it was decided by the new Spanish governor in 1695 under Diego de Vargas
Diego de Vargas
Diego de Vargas Zapata y Luján Ponce de León y Contreras , commonly known as Don Diego de Vargas, was a Spanish Governor of the New Spain territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, today the U.S. states of New Mexico and Arizona, titular 1690 – 1692, effective 1692 – 1696 and 1703 – 1704...
to establish a new Spanish villa for the recent settlers that had arrived from Mexico City to help settle and campaign against the rebellious natives. The native pueblos of San Lazaro
San Lazaro
San Lazaro is an archaeological site of pueblos in the U.S. state of New Mexico.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964. At that time it was declared:-External links:*, at Historic American Building Survey...
and San Cristobal, along with its population of Tano Pueblo Natives, were relocated farther away to accomidate the new town where the settlement of Villa Nueva de Santa Cruz de los Españoles Mejicanos del Rey Nuestro Señor Carlos Segundo took root.
Mexican period
Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth century, frontier settlement at Santa Cruz had produced a rustic and self-reliant population. With news of Mexican independence in 1821, the town was hardly affected with the exception of the new government's laws and office appointments. Trade with the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had been forbidden under the former Spanish government, but now enterprising Anglo-Americans began pouring down the Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
, bringing a new prosperity to the region
In 1835, Mexico's new provincial governor, Albino Pérez
Albino Pérez
Albino Pérez was a Mexican soldier and politician.Pérez was appointed Governor of New Mexico in 1835. He was assassinated near the city of Santa Fe in 1837 during the Revolt of 1837 after he tried to impose taxes ordered by President Antonio López de Santa Anna.In June 2007 a monument...
, was met in the capital of Santa Fe
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...
with suspicion and opposition on the basis of rumors of aggressive new tax collections. Outright revolt broke out in 1837 when Pérez jailed the mayor of Santa Cruz, and a militia that was formed there and led by influential members of the community won a decisive battle over quickly mustered loyalist troops. Chaos and turmoil resulted and Albino Pérez was murdered, but authority was reinstituted under New Mexico native Manuel Armijo
Manuel Armijo
Manuel Armijo was a New Mexican soldier and statesman who served three times as governor of New Mexico. He was instrumental in putting down the Revolt of 1837, he led the force that captured the Texan Santa Fe Expedition and he surrendered to the United States in the Mexican-American War.-Early...
. This event became known as the Revolt of 1837.
Territorial period
Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen Watts Kearny surname also appears as Kearney in some historic sources; August 30, 1794 October 31, 1848), was one of the foremost antebellum frontier officers of the United States Army. He is remembered for his significant contributions in the Mexican-American War, especially the conquest...
in 1846 ended the twenty-five years of Mexican rule in New Mexico. However, not every resident in New Mexico was pleased with the transition. In January 1847, rebellious forces murdered the first U.S. assigned Governor, Charles Bent
Charles Bent
Charles Bent was appointed as the first Governor of the newly acquired New Mexico Territory by Governor Stephen Watts Kearny in September 1846....
, at his home in Taos
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
, beginning the Taos Revolt
Taos Revolt
The Taos Revolt was a popular insurrection in January 1847 by Mexicans and Pueblo allies against the United States' occupation of present-day northern New Mexico during the Mexican–American War. In two short campaigns, United States troops and militia crushed the rebellion of the Mexicans and...
. Occupying forces in Santa Fe quickly moved an army north under Colonel Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
to stop the rebellion. Colonel Price's troops first met armed resistance at Santa Cruz against a poorly armed and trained force of rebels which they subdued with cannon. The skirmish would become known as the Battle of Cañada
Battle of Cañada
The Battle of Cañada was part of the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the American occupation of New Mexico by Mexicans and Pueblo Indians...
.
Statehood through present
Santa Cruz has continued to maintain much of its traditions and history especially through the Catholic Church. The mission church, built after the first fell into disrepair in the early eighteenth century, remains active and vibrant with a large and dedicated congregation. The arrival of the railroad in the 1880s brought the growth of a new town named EspañolaEspañola, New Mexico
Española also known as Espanola , is a city primarily in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, in the United States. A portion of the central and eastern section of the city is in Santa Fe County. Española was founded in 1880 as a railroad village, incorporated as a city in 1925. The city is situated in...
. The growth of the new city eventually encompassed the old Spanish community and has largely concealed it. Once considered the second most important settlement in New Mexico, the town is now masked by its popular tourist neighbors Taos and Santa Fe.
Geography
Santa Cruz is located at 35°59′37"N 106°2′31"W (35.993730, -106.042015).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 0.7 square miles (1.8 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 423 people, 147 households, and 108 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 608.3 people per square mile (233.3/km²). There were 172 housing units at an average density of 247.4 per square mile (94.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.63% White, 0.95% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.47% Pacific Islander, 24.35% 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 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 91.73% of the population.
There were 147 households out of which 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% 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, 32.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.5% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $21,438. Males had a median income of $23,924 versus $10,833 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 $10,278. About 23.9% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.