2024-6-23 Drive Home Day 1 DSC_1653 (Raton, NM - Colfax County Courthouse)
Located in northeastern New Mexico, Colfax County is named for Schuyler Colfax, who was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant.
New Mexico Territory had nine counties when it was established in 1852. In 1859, the eastern portion of Taos County was split off to become Mora County. On January 25, 1869, Colfax County was established from the northern portion of Mora County.
The original county seat of Colfax County was the goldmining town of Elizabethtown. In 1872, after the gold rush had died down, the county seat was moved to Cimarron. In 1881, the count seat was moved again, this time to Springer. After a bitter legislative fight, the set was moved to the coal mining town of Raton in 1897, where it remains today.
The 1936 WPA Art Deco courthouse in Raton is the second in Raton, and the (I'm guessing) fifth courthouse overall. The ones in Cimarron and Springer are still standing.
Some features of the current courthouse are the decorative panels of the brands of area ranches set around the entryway. There are also carved cattle heads and bas reliefs of farming and mining scenes.
2024-6-23 Drive Home Day 1 DSC_1653 (Raton, NM - Colfax County Courthouse)
Located in northeastern New Mexico, Colfax County is named for Schuyler Colfax, who was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant.
New Mexico Territory had nine counties when it was established in 1852. In 1859, the eastern portion of Taos County was split off to become Mora County. On January 25, 1869, Colfax County was established from the northern portion of Mora County.
The original county seat of Colfax County was the goldmining town of Elizabethtown. In 1872, after the gold rush had died down, the county seat was moved to Cimarron. In 1881, the count seat was moved again, this time to Springer. After a bitter legislative fight, the set was moved to the coal mining town of Raton in 1897, where it remains today.
The 1936 WPA Art Deco courthouse in Raton is the second in Raton, and the (I'm guessing) fifth courthouse overall. The ones in Cimarron and Springer are still standing.
Some features of the current courthouse are the decorative panels of the brands of area ranches set around the entryway. There are also carved cattle heads and bas reliefs of farming and mining scenes.