Taos, NM
Taos, NM and its surrounding areas is located 7,000' above sea level, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo range at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains. The population of Taos and the surrounding towns hovers around 22,000 people. The area is tri-cultural, made up of Native Puebloan, generational Hispanic and Caucasian. It is located 1.5 hrs. drive north of Santa Fe, 45 minutes south of the Colorado border and is overlooked by Taos Mountain and Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico at 13,167 ft.
Prominent Taos features include, the Taos Pueblo, the Rio Grande Gorge, the Earthship community spectacular sky lighting and dark-sky nights.
Ranchos de Taos, NM
Ranchos de Taos, designated an historical district in 1969, is 4 miles south of Taos, NM. It literally means the Ranches of Taos. Ranchos, like all of New Mexico was occupied by Native Americans for millennia until Spanish influence came during the 16th and 17th century conquests. The land remained part of Mexico until the American Mexican War. The San Francisco de Asis church in Ranchos was completed in 1817. This landmark continues to be a central aspect of Taos Valley culture
The Rio Grande de Taos runs through the Ranchos valley and is the source of an acequia system of ditches that divert water to land owners and is active to this day.