Magdalena is 24 miles west of Socorro at 6573' elevation, in the midst of some pretty desolate country, but also very pretty terrain in the area. The mountains there are especially scenic.
I guess Magdalena has been through some hard times and it looks like they are trying to recover. The population for 2007 was listed as 859, down a little bit since the 2000 census. The town looks very poor and rundown, and yet there are some newer art and craft stores, so it appears there are people opening businesses there and probably hoping the town will grow.
6 comments:
Hi Towanda, I'm from Magdalena living in Bastrop, Texas, and always looking for Magdalena stories. Nice to find you and almost know you.... I read and comment on Lou, Bag Blog, all the time. That old hotel almost went to ruin in the 50-60s and has been refurbished in the last 10 years I guess. Thanks for the memories.
Hi Jo - Thanks for your post! Now that I know someone from Magdalena is reading, I wish we had gotten more pictures while we were there -- it is beautiful country but just a little remote for me. I grew up in a small town the size of Magdalena though (in western NY state) and I know the memory and the attachment to them are a part of us forever.
I'm so glad the two of you met! I had been thinking I should introduce you. Jo will be doing an art show at Peppers Art Gallery in Magdalena in July.
I found your blog by searching "Santa Fe Tea Party" and then saw this piece on Magdalena. We live in Santa Fe but own some property on the outskirts of Madgalena, and my husband tried to talk me into moving there at one point.
Lou - Oh I am so happy to have met Jo! Looking forward to getting to know her better! Maybe we need to take a trip down to Magdalena in July to see her art work.
Brigette - THANKS for visiting my blog. I think my post about Magdalena is a little negative maybe, but I really felt at home in the town because it was so much like the little town where I grew up in NY. Hang on to that property -- I betcha Magdalena is going to grow.
I'm impressed by the architecture in Magdalena, which does not look typical New Mexican to me. Or maybe with my "foreign" eyes, I don't know what typical New Mexican looks like. Are the buildings brick or wood?
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