Blackdom is a ghost town

Ghost town

A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...

 in Chaves County, New Mexico

Chaves County, New Mexico

-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*70.9% White*2.0% Black*1.2% Native American*0.6% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.2% Two or more races*22.0% Other races*52.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...

, that was founded by African-American settlers in 1901 and abandoned in the mid-1920s.

Geography

The Blackdom site is located at 33°9′49"N 104°30′30"W (33.1636, -104.5083), eight miles (13 km) west of Dexter, New Mexico

Dexter, New Mexico

Dexter is a town in Chaves County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,235 at the 2000 census. This town is also known, as Midway.-Geography:Dexter is located at ....

 and 18 miles (29 km) south of Roswell

Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...

. The altitude is 3,638 feet (1,108 m).

History

The town was settled by Frank and Ella Boyer and Daniel Keyes, who wanted to establish a self-sufficient settlement for African-American settlers. They recruited homesteaders from Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...

, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

, and Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

 to live in the 15000 acres (61 km²) of Blackdom. Eventually 300 black settlers would make their homes in Blackdom.

Blackdom was officially incorporated on December 5, 1911. A post office existed in Blackdom from 1913 to 1920, but declining water resources and drought forced the settlers to abandon the town, with many families moving to Vado, New Mexico

Vado, New Mexico

Vado is a census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 3,003 at the 2000 census. As of 5 May 2010, its lone ZIP code is 88072, its telephone Area Code is 575, and it is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Vado is located at ...

. The Blackdom Baptist Church building was sold in the 1920s and moved to Cottonwood, where it is now a private home.

Remembering Blackdom

October 26, 2002, was proclaimed Blackdom Day by the governor of New Mexico, and a historical marker was erected at a rest stop on Highway 285, between Roswell and Artesia

Artesia, New Mexico

Artesia is a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States, centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 82 and 285; the two highways serve as the city's Main Street and First Street, respectively...

. Former Blackdom residents and descendants of settlers were on hand for the dedication ceremony.

Local and state community leaders are working to establish a memorial site in or near Roswell to mark the existence of Blackdom.

External links

• Soul of New Mexico article on Frank Boyer; includes photographs of the Baptist church
• New Mexico Wanderings entry on Blackdom, including historical photograph of a Blackdom farm
• Ghost Towns.com entry on Blackdom