New Mexico State Road 32
Encyclopedia
State Road 32 is a state highway
in Catron County
in the U.S. state
of New Mexico
. It is 41.323 miles (66.503 km) long, and stretches from Apache Creek
in the south to Quemado
in the north.
. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with State Road 12 in the community of Apache Creek
. From there, the road heads north, winding through the Gallo Mountains, before reaching its northern terminus in the town of Quemado
at in intersection with U.S. Route 60.
. When the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926, much of this route was taken over by U.S. Route 666 (now U.S. Route 491
). What is now State Road 32 is a remnant of the former route that was not renumbered as a U.S. Highway.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Catron County
Catron County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.8% White*0.4% Black*2.7% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*3.7% Other races*19.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. It is 41.323 miles (66.503 km) long, and stretches from Apache Creek
Apache Creek, New Mexico
Apache Creek is an unincorporated community in eastern Catron County, New Mexico, United States. Located three miles northeast of Cruzville, it is located at the convergence of Apache Creek and the Tularosa River. The Apache Creek Pueblo, also called the Apache Creek Ruin, is near the town...
in the south to Quemado
Quemado, New Mexico
Quemado is an unincorporated community in Catron County, New Mexico, United States. Walter De Maria's 1977 art installation, The Lightning Field, is between Quemado and Pie Town, New Mexico....
in the north.
Route description
Much of State Road 32 runs through the Apache-Sitgreaves National ForestApache-Sitgreaves National Forest
The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is a United States National Forest which runs along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains in east-central Arizona and extending into New Mexico, USA. Both forests are managed as one unit by USDA Forest Service from the forest headquarters in Springerville,...
. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with State Road 12 in the community of Apache Creek
Apache Creek, New Mexico
Apache Creek is an unincorporated community in eastern Catron County, New Mexico, United States. Located three miles northeast of Cruzville, it is located at the convergence of Apache Creek and the Tularosa River. The Apache Creek Pueblo, also called the Apache Creek Ruin, is near the town...
. From there, the road heads north, winding through the Gallo Mountains, before reaching its northern terminus in the town of Quemado
Quemado, New Mexico
Quemado is an unincorporated community in Catron County, New Mexico, United States. Walter De Maria's 1977 art installation, The Lightning Field, is between Quemado and Pie Town, New Mexico....
at in intersection with U.S. Route 60.
History
When the state highways were first posted in the early 20th century, State Route 32 was originally much longer, extending as far north as ShiprockShiprock, 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....
. When the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926, much of this route was taken over by U.S. Route 666 (now U.S. Route 491
U.S. Route 491
U.S. Route 491 is a north–south U.S. Highway serving the Four Corners region of the United States. One of the newest designations in the U.S. Highway System, it was created in 2003 as a renumbering of U.S. Route 666...
). What is now State Road 32 is a remnant of the former route that was not renumbered as a U.S. Highway.