Magdalena, New Mexico | |
|---|---|
 Main Street in Magdalena (2007) | |
 Location within Socorro County and New Mexico | |
| Coordinates: 34°07′25″N 107°14′10″W / 34.12361°N 107.23611°W[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Socorro |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.22 sq mi (16.12 km2) |
| • Land | 6.22 sq mi (16.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,664 ft (2,031 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 806 |
| • Density | 129.50/sq mi (50.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code | 87825 |
| Area code | 575 |
| FIPS code | 35-46310 |
| GNIS ID | 2413570[1] |
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 profile 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 pass to the south of the peak became known as Magdalena Gap, and when a town grew up it received the same name.[4][5]
Magdalena continues to be a ranching community while strengthening its art, astronomy and geology venues. The reopening of the Magdalena Hall Hotel (circa 1917) and the renovation of other historical buildings allow visitors to connect to the past. The Magdalena Public Library and Boxcar Museum are housed in the old railroad depot. Several rock and mineral shops have been around since the mining boom days. The ghost town of Kelly and two festivals, the "Open Studio and Gallery Tour" and the "Old Timers Reunion and Rodeo", bring tourists to the area. The "Enchanted Skies Star Party" in early fall brings astronomers and astro-photographers together under its very dark skies.
The Very Large Array lies 24 miles (39 km) due west of the community. The Magdalena Ridge Observatory lies 25 miles (40 km) southeast at an elevation of 10,600 feet (3,200 m). Magdalena is located 26 miles (42 km) west of Socorro.
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Magdalena, New Mexico
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnlywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Historic Markers on the Information Superhighway: Magdalena" New Mexico Department of Tourism, from Internet Archive of September 27, 2007
- ^ Everleth, Robert W. (2006) "Our Lady on the Mountain—history, folklore, and geology of Magdalena Peak"New Mexico Geology 28(2): pp. 43-51,53