Pastura is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Guadalupe County, New Mexico, United States, approximately halfway between Santa Rosa and Vaughn. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 23.[4]

Pastura, New Mexico
Pastura is located in New Mexico
Pastura
Pastura
Pastura is located in the United States
Pastura
Pastura
Coordinates: 34°47′06″N 104°56′32″W / 34.78500°N 104.94222°W / 34.78500; -104.94222
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountyGuadalupe
Area
 • Total0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2)
 • Land0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation5,289 ft (1,612 m)
Population
 • Total17
 • Density48.99/sq mi (18.91/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (DST)
ZIP code
88435
Area code575
FIPS code35-55550
GNIS feature ID2584173[2]

History

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It was established in 1901 as a watering spot for steam trains on the Southern Pacific Railroad.[5] In 1903 the US Postal Service built a post office in Pastura in response to its growth, and in 1907, the Southern Pacific Railroad built a 142-mile (229 km) wooden pipeline from the Sierra Blanca mountain range to Pastura.

The small town began to decline when it was bypassed by Route 66, which passed 20 miles (32 km) to the north. When the steam locomotives were replaced by diesel locomotives in the 1940s, the railroad no longer needed to use Pastura as a watering stop, and the town declined even further. Today the area is a small farming community.

The Chicano author Rudolfo Anaya was born in Pastura in 1937.

Geography

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Pastura is located southwest of the center of Guadalupe County along U.S. Route 54; it is 19 miles (31 km) southwest of Santa Rosa, the county seat, and 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Vaughn. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of 0.3 square miles (0.9 km2), all land.[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
202017
U.S. Decennial Census[6][3]

Education

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Vaughn Municipal Schools is the local school district.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pastura, New Mexico
  3. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pastura CDP, New Mexico". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 23, 2016.[dead link]
  5. ^ Northeast New Mexico – Pastura
  6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  7. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Guadalupe County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2022.