| Datil, New Mexico | |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New Mexico |
| Pushpin Label: | Datil |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of New Mexico |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Mexico |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Catron |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.87 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.87 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.85 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.84 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 50 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 26.74 |
| Population Density Km2: | 10.32 |
| Timezone: | Mountain (MST) |
| Utc Offset: | −7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −6 |
| Elevation Ft: | 7441 |
| Coordinates: | 34.1422°N -107.8425°W |
| Area Code: | 575 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 2584087 |
Datil is a census-designated place in Catron County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 54.[2] Located at the intersection of U.S. Route 60 and New Mexico State Road 12, Datil is on the edge of the Cibola National Forest. The Very Large Array is also nearby.
Datil is named after the nearby Datil Mountains. The name of the mountains came in turn from the Spanish word dátil, meaning “date”; the name most likely resulted from the fruit-like appearance of the seedpods of local yucca species.[3]
The town lay along the Magdalena Stock Driveway.[4] The driveway, which had wells spaced every ten miles along its length, was used by ranchers during the late 19th to mid-20th century as they drove cattle from Springerville, Arizona, to the railroad at Magdalena.[5] The Bureau of Land Management maintains a campsite, Datil Well Campground, at the location of one of the former wells.[6]
Datil is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 60 and New Mexico State Road 12. To the east lie the San Agustin Plains, the Very Large Array, and the village of Magdalena.
To the southwest, several populated subdivisions are accessible from State Road 12. The state highway continues past the local landmark Horse Mountain, a 9490feet peak,[7] and further through the small town Apache Creek until reaching the county seat of Reserve.
U.S. 60 travels westward from Datil, passing northwest through the Cibola National Forest and coming out the other side just outside Pie Town.
The school district is Quemado Schools.[8]
The district operates Datil Elementary School, a two-room schoolhouse with multi-level classes. Secondary students attend a K-12 school called Quemado Elementary and High School.[9]