Chama Life

Beautiful mountain scenery with streams, valleys, and color-changing trees along a train route from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado

Geographics

2.7 sq miles

65th largest city in New Mexico

10,348th largest city in the United States

120 miles north of Santa Fe, NM

Demographics

Population: 986

Hispanic: 54.39%

White: 29.43%

Native American: 12.48%

African American: 3.7%

Culture & Heritage

  • Originally inhabited by Indigenous Peoples, including the Anasazi and Puye People
  • Area was colonized by Spanish settlers in the late 1500s
  • Land grants were given to prominent citizens to establish Spanish rule throughout New Mexico
  • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo caused many landowners to lose their land and opened the Rio Chama Valley for Anglo land settlers. 
  • Railroad service to Chama began February 1881 causing Chama to become a boomtown
  • Main industries included logging, silver and natural gas mining, and sheep and cattle ranching
  • The Great Depression and the terrible winter of 1931-1932 nearly destroyed the sheep ranching industry
  • Due to the Sherman Act in 1893 and its devastating effect on the silver mining industry, the railroad became mostly stagnant. 
  • In 1969, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was given permission to abandon the railroad to Chama. 
  • Most of the track was dismantled but, in 1970, preservationists in Colorado and New Mexico were able to save the track leading from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO
  • Chama is now a primarily tourist town, with a unique blending of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo cultures. 

Relocation Guide

Visitor’s Guide


Distance to Chama

New Mexico

Miles

58

168

99

374

150

289

165

320

126

82

113

165

235

388

216

311

106

215

140

96

272

Estimated Time

1 Hour

3 Hours

1.5 Hours

7 Hours

3 Hours

4.5 Hours

3 Hours

6 Hours

2.5 Hours

1.5 Hours

2 Hours

3 Hours

5 Hours

6 Hours

4 Hours

6 Hours

2 Hours

4 Hours

3 Hours

2 Hours

5 Hours

Colorado

Miles

82

45

152

296

110

47

156

Estimated Time

1.5 Hours

1 Hour

2.5 Hours

5 Hours

2 Hours

1 Hour

3 Hours

Arizona

Miles

423

400

271

500

616

Estimated Time

7 Hours

6.5 Hours

4.5 Hours

8.5 Hours

9.5 Hours

Texas

Town

Amarillo

Miles

400

Estimated Time

6.5 Hours

Utah

Town

Moab

Miles

268

Estimated Time

4.5 Hours

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