ALGODONES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (ANAI)
Spring -Summer 2022
Upcoming Events
ANAI Meeting
Thursday May 19th 6:00 PM
1439 Highway 313 Algodones NM 87001
Neighborhood Trash Pickup
Saturday May 21st
Please use the link below to submit your ideas, concerns and thoughts anonymously.
History
Algodones is a peaceful countryside farming village on the historic Camino Real of the Spanish Colonial period which later became the 1926 to 1937 alignment of Route 66 next to the Rio Grande.
The Valley of the Rio Grande River has been inhabited for more than 10,000 years. The Native American farmers reached this area around 1200 AD, they speak an eastern dialect of the Keresan languages. They originally lived in Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde but moved here escaping climate change and warfare. They built their pueblos along the Rio Grande and used its water to irrigate their crops. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado explored the area in the 1540s and named the native people "Pueblo", after the Spanish word for "village". In 1598 Juan de Oñate reported several Pueblo villages along the native trade route that bordered the Rio Grande River.
Origin of the name Algodones The name is a Spanish word that means "cotton". And may be due to the fact that cotton was grown in this area (Keres and Tiwa districts) and sold to the other pueblos in the 1700s. But drought and less land available for cultivation plus the raids of the Apachesled to its demise.
The Spanish "Camino Real" (or Royal Highway) followed the Rio Grande and linked it to Santa Fe in the north and Mexico City in the south. A great rebellion (Pueblo Revolt) took place in 1680 and the natives expelled the opressive Spanish. But freedom would be short lived. The Spaniards returned in 1692 and resettled the area.
This area was part of the province known as Tiguex by the Spanish. Until the early 1800s, the town was very probably known as Bernalillo.
After its independence from Spain, Nueva Mexico passed on to Mexico, but lost it after the Mexican - American War (1846-48), ceding it to the United States. During this war, Algodones was described as follows: "the city of Algodones, containing 1000 inhabitants... is one of the handsomest towns in New Mexico. The vineyards, yards, pleasure grounds, orchards and gardens are walled in neatly."
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad reached the area in the 1880s and built a stop. Later, in 1926 Route 66 was aligned through Algodones between Santa Fe and Albuquerque bringing tourists and prosperity. But it would not last for long. in 1937 the Mother Road was realigned along a shorter alignment, the "Santa Fe Cut-off" left Algodones in the backwaters again.
ANAI not only a Neighbrohood Assoiciation.
