Santa Fe, New Mexico

USA / New Mexico / Santa Fe /
 city, capital city of state/province/region, county seat
City with a population of 67,947 in 2010. State capital of New Mexico and county seat of Santa Fe County. Originally the site of Pueblo Indian villages settled in the 11th and 12th centuries. First explored by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. The area was first settled by the Spanish in 1598; the city itself was established in 1608. It was made the capital of the New Mexico province of New Spain in 1610. It remained capital of the province until Mexican independence in 1821, except for 1680-92, when the Pueblo Revolt drove the Spanish out of the province.

It became the Mexican provincial capital in 1821. When New Mexico became a territory in 1824 it retained its position as capital. When US forces captured the territory in 1846, the military government was based here. In 1850 New Mexico became a US territory; the capital remained here until statehood in 1912, when it became state capital.

Santa Fe is a beautiful, historic city. We have over 200 art galleries and tons of restaurants with really fabulous food. Downtown on the plaza you can shop, people watch or go to an excellent art museum. The town is backed by the Sangre De Cristo mountains which are easily accessible for hiking and skiing.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe,_New_Mexico
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   35°40'16"N   106°0'11"W

Comments

  • With all of the wonderful things the author wrote it bares mentioning that Santa Fe is also the oldest capital in the United States; having been a territorial capital during the Spanish Colonial era. Wonderful indeed!!!
  • Santa Fe is a very nice city. There are many Spanish and Native Ameriacan people who life there..