Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

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image_caption = Fresh snow in Eldorado, 2007


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico.


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Mexico
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Santa Fe
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 53.6
area_land_km2 = 53.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 20.7
area_land_sq_mi = 20.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5799
population_density_km2 = 108.2
population_density_sq_mi = 280.3

timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 2035
elevation_ft = 6677
latd = 35 |latm = 32 |lats = 9 |latNS = N
longd = 105 |longm = 55 |longs = 29 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 505
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 35-22625
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1867384
website =
footnotes =

Eldorado at Santa Fe is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,799 at the 2000 census.

This community is locally known as Eldorado (occasionally, El Dorado), after a former train station on the Santa Fe Railroad, and is reportedly the largest unincorporated community in the state. Eldorado's attractive physical setting, large areas of protected open space, protective covenants, reasonable prices and convenience to Santa Fe have made it a popular place to live in the Santa Fe area.

Geography

Eldorado at Santa Fe is located at coor dms|35|32|9|N|105|55|29|W|city (35.535926, -105.924596)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 20.7 square miles (53.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,799 people, 2,438 households, and 1,689 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 280.3 people per square mile (108.2/km²). There were 2,553 housing units at an average density of 123.4/sq mi (47.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.07% White, 0.60% African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.55% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.50% of the population.

There were 2,438 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 39.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $70,051, and the median income for a family was $76,930. Males had a median income of $50,588 versus $34,430 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $33,107. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Cost of living in Eldorado is estimated to be about 25% above the average for the USA. In 2006, the average home price in Eldorado was $371,000 http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Eldorado_at_Santa_Fe_NM-3522625000.aspx ] .

Prehistory

Archaic Indians lived and hunted in the Eldorado area; archaeologists and others have found Clovis points, but little detailed information is available about these earliest settlers.

Around 600 AD, Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) settlers established farms and small pueblos in the area. These settlements endured until about 1325 AD, when a disastrous drought forced abandonment of what became the Eldorado area. Some inhabitants probably moved to the Galisteo, New Mexico area, which itself was abandoned about 1450, as were all of the nearby pueblos except Pecos.

Formal archaeological investigations began about 1914 when Nels C. Nelson of the American Museum of Natural History partially excavated Pueblo Alamo (site LA-8) [ LA = Laboratory of Anthroplology, a division of the Museum of New Mexico ] , near the present-day junction of I-25 with US-285. Unfortunately, Pueblo Alamo was almost completely destroyed by the construction of I-25 around 1971, although some salvage archaeology was done.

Another, smaller pueblo, Chamisa Locita or Pueblo Walls (site LA-4) remains largely undisturbed on undeveloped private land, but it has no formal protection.

Source: Windmills and Dreams: A History of the Eldorado Community, 1997, ECIA, privately printed ]

History

Eldorado lies entirely within the Canada de los Alamos Grant, a Spanish land grant which dates back to 1785. In 1883, the entire grant was sold for US$2,000. As recorded in 1894, and patented by the US government, the size of the grant was about convert|12068|acre|km2|0.

In 1901, the Onderdonk Land & Cattle company bought both the Canada de los Alamos Grant and the adjacent Bishop John Lamy Grant for $10,000. The Lamy Grant was about convert|16546|acre|km2|0 when patented by the USA in 1874.

The Onderdonk Ranch operated both grants as a cattle ranch into the 1950s. The ranch was sold to the Simpson family in 1956, who continued to operate the ranch until 1969, when the Simpsons sold out to the American Realty and Petroleum Corporation (AMREP) for $3.2 million, or about $118.50/acre.

AMREP proceeded to develop about 6,000 acres (24 km²) of their convert|27000|acre|km2|0|sing=on purchase as Eldorado at Santa Fe, selling the first lots in 1972. For the first ten years, development was slow -- only about 200 houses were built. After 1983, when AMREP won a lawsuit over water rights, the pace of development quickened. Many passive solar houses were built, and Eldorado remains the largest solar community in the USA.

AMREP platted about 2700 lots in the original Eldorado subdivisions.At present (2007) the original Eldorado subdivisions are essentially built-out, with only a few vacant lots on the market. There are large areas of vacant private land adjacent, but concerns over an assured water supply have, so far, precluded any new large-scale deveolopments.

Source:

There are an additional 20 or so newer subdivisions along U.S. Route 285, locally called the 285 Corridor, between Eldorado at Santa Fe and Lamy. Most of these offer larger lots and more expensive houses than Eldorado. Most are served by the Eldorado community water utility. Informally, the adjacent subdivisions, such as Belicia, Dos Griegos and The Ridges, are also called "Eldorado", but they have different covenants and no formal ties to the original AMREP subdivision [ [http://www.fredraznick.com/community.html Highway 285 Corridor subdivisions] ] .

Education

The El Dorado Elementary School consistently draws top rankings from independent observers [ [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/nm/678 Eldorado elementary school ranking] ] .

Attractions

The Santa Fe Southern Railway passes through the center of Eldorado, and excursion train rides are offered to Santa Fe. There have been proposals to offer a commuter train service.

Arts

Eldorado has from its beginning been a favorite with local artists, as (until recently) housing costs were comparatively low.

The Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association holds an annual studio tour each year, in mid-May. The 2006 tour featured 94 artists showing their work in 61 studios. On sale are traditional paintings, digital art, ceramics, textiles, wearable art, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more.

All artists contribute 5 percent of sale proceeds to the Eldorado Fire Department, El Dorado Elementary School and the [http://www.vglibrary.org/ Vista Grande Public Library] . In the past five years, the association has contributed about $15,000 to these organizations [ [http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/43770.html Newspaper article on 2006 studio tour] ] .

Notable residents

The author Hampton Sides and his family lived in Eldorado until 2006.

ee also

*Santa Fe, New Mexico
*Lamy, New Mexico
*Galisteo, New Mexico
*Land grant
*Clovis culture

= Notes =

External links

* [http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Eldorado_at_Santa_Fe_NM-3522625000.aspx Demographics and community information] , from Sperling's Best Places
* [http://www.vglibrary.org/ Vista Grande Public Library] - Providing Library services to Eldorado and to the entire Southeast Corridor of Santa Fe County, New Mexico
* [http://www.fredraznick.com/eldorado.html Community profile] , by a longtime resident and realtor
* [http://eldoradocommunity.org/ Eldorado Community Improvement Association (ECIA)] , property owners association: enforces covenants and maintains amenities
* [http://www.ridgesla.org/RidgesHistory.pdf History of The Ridges subdivision]
* [http://www.eldoradowaterdistrict.com/ Eldorado Area Water and Sanitation District]
* [http://www.eldoradoarts.org/ Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association]