Folsom, New Mexico
| Folsom, New Mexico | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Location of Folsom, New Mexico |
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 Folsom, New Mexico
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| Coordinates: 36°50′53″N 103°55′5″W / 36.84806°N 103.91806°WCoordinates: 36°50′53″N 103°55′5″W / 36.84806°N 103.91806°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Union |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2) |
| • Land | 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,391 ft (1,948 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 56 (2,010) |
| • Density | 112/sq mi (40/km2) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 88419 |
| Area code(s) | 575 |
| FIPS code | 35-26780 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0902249 |
Folsom is a village in Union County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 56 at the 2010 census, down from 75 in 2000. The town was named after Frances Folsom, the fiancee of President Grover Cleveland.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), all of it land.
Folsom is situated in a wide valley near the headwaters of the Cimarron River, locally known as the Dry Cimarron as it runs underground during part of its course through eastern New Mexico. The village is ringed by buttes, mesas, and old volcanic cones and lava flows. Most of the valley is rich grassland with a pinyon pine and juniper forest found on slopes and in rocky areas. Ponderosa pines are found in canyons and at higher elevations. Large ranches and cattle grazing are typical of the area although some irrigated agriculture is found downstream from Folsom. Hunting for deer, bear, elk, pronghorn, and turkey is popular on local ranches.
Capulin Volcano National Monument is located seven miles (11 km) south of Folsom. Rising to 8,182 (2,494 m) feet above sea level, Capulin is the highest mountain near Folsom. Folsom Falls are five miles (8 km) east of the city. The Cimarron River, only a small stream a few feet wide here, is stocked with trout annually. Eight miles (13 km) west of the city below Johnson Mesa is Wild Horse Arroyo where in 1908 a cowboy named George McJunkin discovered the bones of an extinct bison. This was the archaeological find that later proved ancient man had been in the Americas at least 10,000 years, far longer than earlier believed. See Folsom Site.
Folsom is commonly called a “ghost town” as it has hardly any active businesses. Most community life centers around the Folsom Museum, established 1966 in the Doherty Mercantile building. The museum, with a large collection of local artifacts, sponsors several events each year. It is open seven days a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
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Wikipedia