Raton

History

Ratón is Spanish for mouse.

Raton Pass had been used by Spanish explorers and Native Americans for centuries to cut through the rugged Rocky Mountains, and the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail cuts through the city, along what is now Business I-25.

The post office at this location was named Willow Springs from 1877 to 1879, Otero from 1879 to 1880, then renamed Raton in 1880.

Raton was founded at the site of Willow Springs, a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The original 320 acres (129.5 ha) for the Raton townsite were purchased from the Maxwell Land Grant in 1880. In 1879, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway bought a local toll road and established a busy rail line. Raton quickly developed as a railroad, mining, and ranching center for the northeast part of the New Mexico territory, as well as the county seat and principal trading center of the area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km2), all land. The Raton Range and Raton Peak are located immediately north of the town. The Raton Range is a 75-mile-long (121 km) ridge that extends east from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Raton Pass and the Raton Basin are also named for the Raton Range.

Geology

The Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, also known as the K-Pg or K-T boundary, or the iridium layer, can be viewed in Raton. A well-preserved sequence of rocks spans the K-T boundary in Climax Canyon Park in Raton. The rocks have been studied for evidence of the iridium anomaly cited as evidence of a large meteorite impact at the end of the Cretaceous. It is interpreted to have caused the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, which killed off dinosaurs and many other species of flora and fauna 66 million years ago.

Climate

Raton has a cold, semiarid (BSk) climate under the Köppen climate classification.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Raton had a population of 6,041. The median age was 47.1 years; 20.0% of its residents were under 18 and 24.5% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 97.0 males 18 and over.

About 92.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 7.1% lived in rural areas.

Of the 2,669 households in Raton, 23.4% had children under 18 living in them, 33.8% were married-couple households, 24.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 age or older.

The city had 3,286 housing units, of which 18.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.

2010 census

In the 2010 United States census, the population of Raton was 6,885.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 7,282 people, 3,035 households, and 1,981 families were residing in the city. The population density was 992 inhabitants per square mile (383/km2). The 3,472 housing units averaged of 473.2 per square mile (182.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.04% White, 0.23% African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 16.20% from other races, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 56.96% of the population.

Of the 3,035 households, 30.7% had children under 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were not families. About 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the age distribution was 25.1% under 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income in the city for a household was $27,028 and for a family was $31,762. Males had a median income of $24,946 versus $18,433 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,223. About 14.8% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under 18 and 10.4% of those 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Run to Raton, a motorcycle rally that includes camp-outs, vendors, free music, and a pin-up contest, takes place every July.

Raton was the site of New Mexico's first horse racetrack, La Mesa Park, which closed in 1992.

Raton hosts the International Balloon Rally, a hot-air balloon gathering, held on the Fourth of July weekend.

Infrastructure

Transportation

I-25

US 64

US 87

Raton Amtrak Station is a stop on the Southwest Chief route.

Raton Municipal Airport

Notable people

Tom W. Blackburn, writer who also wrote the lyrics to "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"

Edwin Fullinwider, Olympic fencer

Noel Mazzone, former offensive coordinator for the University of Arizona football team, current offensive coordinator for New Orleans Breakers of the new USFL

Paul L. Modrich, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2015)

John Morrow, United States representative from New Mexico

John R. Sinnock, chief engraver for the United States Mint, designer of the FDR dime and Franklin half dollar

Petro Vlahos, three-time Academy Award-winning Hollywood special-effects pioneer

Robert W. Warren, Attorney General of Wisconsin

Bennie L. Woolley, Jr., racehorse trainer whose horse won the 2009 Kentucky Derby

The Fireballs, rock-and-roll group (hit song "Bottle of Wine"), originated in Raton