Magdalena, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Magdalena is a village in Socorro County
, New Mexico
, United States
. The population was 938 at the 2010 census.
"The Lady on the Mountain" is a rock formation on Magdalena Peak overlooking Magdalena. Spanish soldiers saw the face of a woman on the west face of the peak. A priest with them was reminded of a similar peak in Spain called "La Sierra de Maria Magdalena
", so he called the New Mexico one "La Sierra de Magdalena
". The natural pass to the south of the peak became known as Magdalena Gap, and when a town grew up it received the same name.
Magdalena has recently been trying to transform itself into an art center and cultural destination. The opening of at least a dozen art galleries, a woolery, the renovation of the Bank West Building and the Magdalena Hall Hotel have all made their mark on this mountain village. Several rock and mineral shops have been around since the mining boom days. The ghost town of Kelly and two important festivals, the Lady Magdalen Art Walk and the Old Timers Reunion and Rodeo, bring tourists to the area.
Newly-paved roads, additions to the large school, a public water system, trash disposal service and the opening of a new mini-mart and gas station have improved the quality of life for its citizens. In late 2010, a Family Dollar opened right next to the locally owned Trails End Market. In 2011 a tire shop and a blacksmith shop have also opened.
The Very Large Array
is located close to the community.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), all of it land.
, originally intended to ship cattle from the Plains of San Agustin, but which also proceeded to ship out ore from the Kelly Mine and others. The Kelly Mine was a significant producer of silver and zinc
. Magdalena was incorporated in 1913.
of 2000, there were 913 people, 372 households, and 244 families residing in the village. The population density
was 146.8 people per square mile (56.7/km²). There were 470 housing units at an average density of 75.6 per square mile (29.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 62.65% White, 0.55% African American, 9.97% Native American, 21.80% from other races
, and 5.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.30% of the population.
There were 372 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $22,917, and the median income for a family was $30,625. Males had a median income of $26,000 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $13,064. About 20.8% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.
Socorro County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*75.1% White*1.1% Black*11.7% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*8.1% Other races*48.5% 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...
. The population was 938 at the 2010 census.
"The Lady on the Mountain" is a rock formation on Magdalena Peak overlooking Magdalena. Spanish soldiers saw the face of a woman on the west face of the peak. A priest with them was reminded of a similar peak in Spain called "La Sierra de Maria Magdalena
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
", so he called the New Mexico one "La Sierra de Magdalena
Magdalena Mountains
The Magdalena Mountains are a small in area, but regionally high, mountain range in Socorro County, in west-central New Mexico in the southwestern United States. The highest point in the range is South Baldy, at 10,783 ft . The range runs roughly north-south and is about 18 miles long...
". The natural pass to the south of the peak became known as Magdalena Gap, and when a town grew up it received the same name.
Magdalena has recently been trying to transform itself into an art center and cultural destination. The opening of at least a dozen art galleries, a woolery, the renovation of the Bank West Building and the Magdalena Hall Hotel have all made their mark on this mountain village. Several rock and mineral shops have been around since the mining boom days. The ghost town of Kelly and two important festivals, the Lady Magdalen Art Walk and the Old Timers Reunion and Rodeo, bring tourists to the area.
Newly-paved roads, additions to the large school, a public water system, trash disposal service and the opening of a new mini-mart and gas station have improved the quality of life for its citizens. In late 2010, a Family Dollar opened right next to the locally owned Trails End Market. In 2011 a tire shop and a blacksmith shop have also opened.
The Very Large Array
Very Large Array
The Very Large Array is a radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of San Agustin, between the towns of Magdalena and Datil, some fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico, USA...
is located close to the community.
Geography
Magdalena is located at 34°6′45"N 107°14′16"W (34.112596, -107.237904).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 village has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), all of it land.
History
In 1883, about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Magdalena, the Kelly Mine opened in Kelly, New Mexico. In 1884, the village of Magdalena was named after Magdalena Peak when its post office opened. The next year the railroad completed a spur out from SocorroSocorro, New Mexico
Socorro is a city in Socorro County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It stands in the Rio Grande Valley at an elevation of . The population was 9,051 at the 2010 census...
, originally intended to ship cattle from the Plains of San Agustin, but which also proceeded to ship out ore from the Kelly Mine and others. The Kelly Mine was a significant producer of silver and zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
. Magdalena was incorporated in 1913.
Media
Magdalena has a local newspaper, the Mountain Mail, which is the only locally owned newspaper in Socorro County.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 913 people, 372 households, and 244 families residing in the village. 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 146.8 people per square mile (56.7/km²). There were 470 housing units at an average density of 75.6 per square mile (29.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 62.65% White, 0.55% African American, 9.97% Native American, 21.80% 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 5.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.30% of the population.
There were 372 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% 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, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $22,917, and the median income for a family was $30,625. Males had a median income of $26,000 versus $21,875 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 village was $13,064. About 20.8% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.