Villanueva, New Mexico

Villanueva is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States.[1] Known as La Cuesta until 1890, it is located along the Pecos River and New Mexico State Road 3. Villanueva has the ZIP code 87583. The 87583 ZIP Code Tabulation Area had a population of 234 in the 2010 United States census, compared to 267 in 2000. A total of 211 residents of Villanueva in 2010 identified themselves as Hispanic.[2][3]

Villanueva, New Mexico
Unincorporated community
Villanueva
Location within the state of New Mexico
Coordinates: 35°16′0″N 105°21′39″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountySan Miguel
Elevation5,869 ft (1,789 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total234
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
87583
Area code505
FIPS code35-83130 [1]
GNIS ID915912 [1]

History
Church at Villanueva, ca. 1915.

Prior to 1786, when a peace treaty was concluded with the Comanche, Spanish settlements in New Mexico were confined to the Rio Grande valley. The reduced threat from Comanche raids permitted the expansion eastwards of Spanish settlements onto the Great Plains. Villanueva was one of the settlements founded in the Pecos River Valley as part of that expansion. A principal reason for founding the Pecos Valley settlements was to defend the Spanish and Pueblan settlements in the Rio Grande valley from raids by Apache and other Indian peoples.[4]

Villanueva, a Spanish colonial village, was founded in 1808 and originally called La Cuesta (Spanish, hill or slope) because the village sits on top of a steeply sloping hill or cuesta overlooking the Pecos River.[5] La Cuesta was one of the communities located within the San Miguel del Vado Land Grant. The grant was approved by the Spanish government in 1794 and settlements established in the land grant area included Bernal, El Pueblo, Entrnosa, Guzano, La Cuesta, Las Mulas, Puertecito, San Jose del Vado, and San Miguel del Vado.[6]

Families from La Cuesta established the community of Anton Chico, on the Pecos River 18 kilometres (11 mi) downstream from La Cuesta, in 1822 and El Cerrito, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) downstream from La Cuesta, from 1824-1827. A church, still existing, was built in La Cuesta in 1831. By 1835 and thereafter, La Cuesta was one of the most populous settlements in the Pecos Valley.[7] In 1845 La Cuesta probably had a population approaching 500 people.[8]

Many Ciboleros (buffalo hunters) and Comancheros (traders with the Plains Indians), of the 19th century originated from La Cuesta and other Hispano communities along the Pecos River.[9]

In 1890, the community was renamed to Villanueva, for a prominent local family.[5]

Climate

Villanueva has a BWk (Semi-arid cold steppe climate) under the Köppen climate classification system. Under the Trewartha climate classification Villanueva has a BSK (Semi-arid steppe with hot summers and cool winters). Precipitation in the community is concentrated from May to October although an average of 23 inches (580 mm) of snow is received each winter.

Climate data for Villanueva, New Mexico 1,789 metres (5,869 ft) above sea level
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 10.0
(50.0)		 11.7
(53.0)		 15.6
(60.0)		 20.0
(68.0)		 24.4
(76.0)		 31.1
(88.0)		 31.7
(89.0)		 30.6
(87.0)		 27.2
(81.0)		 21.1
(70.0)		 15.0
(59.0)		 8.9
(48.0)		 20.6
(69.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5)		 3.9
(39.0)		 6.9
(44.5)		 10.6
(51.0)		 15.8
(60.5)		 21.1
(70.0)		 23.1
(73.5)		 22.2
(72.0)		 18.3
(65.0)		 12.5
(54.5)		 6.7
(44.0)		 1.7
(35.0)		 12.1
(53.8)
Average low °C (°F) −5
(23)		 −4
(25)		 −2
(29)		 1
(34)		 7
(45)		 11
(52)		 14
(58)		 14
(57)		 9
(49)		 4
(39)		 −2
(29)		 −6
(22)		 3.6
(38.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 13
(0.51)		 13
(0.51)		 18
(0.71)		 25
(0.98)		 40
(1.57)		 41
(1.61)		 66
(2.60)		 74
(2.91)		 41
(1.61)		 30
(1.18)		 17
(0.67)		 24
(0.94)		 401
(15.80)
Source: [10]

Area attractions
The Pecos River at Villanueva.

East of Villanueva is Villanueva State Park, a colorful canyon cut by the Pecos River.

References
  1. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for Villanueva, New Mexico; United States Geological Survey (USGS); November 13, 1980.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "Zip Code 87583 - Villanueva, New Mexico," , accessed 17 Mar 2019
  4. Ebright, Malcolm, "The Villanueva State Park," pp. 13-14, 19, , accessed 17 Mar 2019
  5. Geology of Villanueva area
  6. "Settlements of the San Miguel Del Vado Land Grant;" Official Scenic Historic Marker.
  7. Ebright, Malcolm, "The Villanueva State Park," pp. 19, 22-23, , accessed 17 Mar 2019
  8. Jenks, Kelly Lee (2011), Vecinos en la Frontera: Interaction, Adaptation, and Identity at San Miguel del Vado, New Mexico," Dissertation: University of Arizona, p. 87
  9. "The Cibolero Trail: Across the Plains of Eastern New Mexico." http://www.over-land.com/st_cibolero.html
  10. "Climate Villanueva, , accessed 16 Mar 2019

Further reading
  • The Villanueva, New Mexico story; F. Stanley; 24 pages; 1970.
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