List of county courthouses in New Mexico explained

This is a list of current and former county courthouses in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Many of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places or other listings of historic places, as noted.

New Mexico's original nine counties were established in 1852, shortly after the organization of New Mexico Territory. The earliest county courthouses were generally small one- or two-story adobe buildings, often re-purposed homes or commercial buildings. Some counties did not even have a formal courthouse, with the district court (which was only in session a few days a year) renting rooms when necessary to conduct its business. A handful of early courthouses are still standing, including notable examples in Cimarron, Lincoln, and Mesilla.

New Mexico's public buildings began to grow in scale and ambition in the 1880s, spurred by the arrival of the railroad. With skilled workers, modern building materials, and more advanced construction techniques now available, larger and grander county courthouses emulating those in the eastern states were seen as points of civic pride. During the 1880s and 1890s, large brick or stone courthouses, many with elaborate Victorian architecture, were built in 13 counties. The only one of these still standing in its original form is the Old Colfax County Courthouse in Springer, though a few others exist in ruins.

The next wave of courthouse construction occurred between 1934 and 1942, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs made large amounts of federal funding available for public works projects. Thirteen counties took advantage of New Deal programs to replace their aging railroad-era courthouses, and the Eddy County Courthouse was remodeled. Courthouses from this period often featured Art Deco or Pueblo style architecture, and the majority of them remain in use.

Historically, the county courthouse housed all the administrative and judicial functions of the county government. As county governments have expanded with growing populations, many counties now have much more decentralized facilities. This list includes only buildings currently or formerly used by the New Mexico District Court.

KEYCourthouses with multiple historic designations are colored according to their highest designation within the following hierarchy.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a contributing property of a National Historic Landmark District
Listed individually on the NRHP
Listed as a contributing property of an NRHP Historic District
⁕ Listed individually on the State Register of Cultural Properties (SRCP)
⁑ Listed as a contributing property of an SRCP Historic District

Current

†As of 2017, the new Mora County facility is partially completed but construction is on hold due to funding problems.

Former

CourthouseImageLocationBuiltNotes
Bernalillo (1886–1926)Albuquerque
35.0942°N -106.6689°W
1886[6] Later used by San Felipe School; demolished in 1959.[7]
Bernalillo (1926–2001)Albuquerque
35.0872°N -106.6517°W
1926Remodeled in modernist style in 1964. Still houses county offices.
Catron (1921–1969)Reserve
33.7122°N -108.7578°W
1916Converted hotel; no longer standing
Chaves (1890–1910)Roswell
33.3969°N -104.5214°W
1890[8] Demolished in 1910
Cibola (1987–2016)Grants
35.1542°N -107.8542°W
School building converted to courthouse in 1987
Colfax (1872–1882)Cimarron
36.5047°N -104.9217°W
1870Contributing property in Cimarron Historic District
Colfax (1882–1897)Springer
36.3639°N -104.5953°W
1882NRHP-listed (refnum 87000883)
Colfax (1898–1937)Raton
36.9036°N -104.4425°W
1898No longer standing
Curry 1910–1936Clovis
34.4053°N -103.2061°W
1910Demolished in 1954[9]
Doña Ana (1852–1855)Doña Ana
32.3861°N -106.8158°W
c. 1840[10] One-story adobe building; contributing property in the Doña Ana Village Historic District.
Doña Ana (1855–1882)Mesilla
32.2742°N -106.795°W
c. 1850Contributing property in Mesilla Plaza Historic District
Doña Ana (1882–1883)Las Cruces
32.3072°N -106.7786°W
1866Later used as the Amador Hotel
Doña Ana (1883–1938)Las Cruces
32.3117°N -106.7839°W
1883Demolished c. 1940
Doña Ana (1938–2006)Las Cruces
32.3064°N -106.7794°W
1938[11] PWA project; three-story Pueblo-style building designed by Percy McGee. Currently vacant.
Grant (1883–1930)Silver City
32.7703°N -108.2806°W
1883No longer standing
Guadalupe (1893–1903)Puerto de Luna
34.8308°N -104.6211°W
1893[12] In ruins
Guadalupe (1909–1948)Santa Rosa
34.9417°N -104.6864°W
1909NRHP-listed (refnum 87000890)
Lea (1917–1936)Lovington
1917No longer standing
Lincoln (1869–1880)Lincoln
33.4919°N -105.3858°W
c. 1869Contributing property in the Lincoln Historic District
Lincoln (1880–1913)Lincoln
33.4936°N -105.3908°W
1874Converted store. Contributing property in the Lincoln Historic District
Lincoln (1913–1965)Carrizozo
1913[13] No longer standing
Los Alamos (1956–1967)Los Alamos
c. 1943Converted government building
Los Alamos (1967–2008)Los Alamos
35.8814°N -106.3039°W
1967Demolished in 2008
Luna (1910–2008)Deming
32.2622°N -107.7564°W
1910NRHP-listed (refnum 77000925). Still houses county administrative offices and probate court.
McKinley (1907–1939)Gallup
1907No longer standing
Mora (1861–1889)Mora
1861
Mora (1889–1939)Mora
35.9744°N -105.3317°W
1889Burned in the 1950s[14]
Mora (1939)Mora
35.9739°N -105.3319°W
1939Demolished
Otero (1901–1956)Alamogordo
32.9003°N -105.9583°W
1901No longer standing
Quay (1908–1939)Tucumcari
35.1767°N -103.7281°W
1908No longer standing
Rio Arriba (1855–1860)Los Luceros
39.1181°N -106.0408°W
1712[15] NRHP-listed (refnum 83004157)
Rio Arriba (1880–1918)Tierra Amarilla
c. 1880Converted one-story adobe house; remodeled and expanded to two stories in 1885.
Roosevelt (1904–1937)Portales
1904[16] Two-story concrete block building; no longer standing
San Juan (1902–1951)Aztec
36.8211°N -107.9925°W
1902No longer standing
San Juan (1951–1980)Aztec
36.8211°N -107.9922°W
1951Demolished
San Miguel (1852–1864)San Miguel del Vado
35.3644°N -105.4517°W
c. 1852Some foundations still present
San Miguel (1864–1881)Las Vegas
35.5939°N -105.2272°W
1864[17] One-story adobe building; no longer standing
San Miguel (1881–1885)Las Vegas
35.5925°N -105.2264°W
1881Contributing property in the Las Vegas Plaza Historic District
San Miguel (1885–1942)Las Vegas
1885[18] Two-story sandstone building[19] designed by E. J. Jenison; demolished.
San Miguel (1942–2006)Las Vegas
35.5917°N -105.2303°W
1942Still houses county administrative offices and probate court.
Sandoval (1903–1905)Corrales
35.23°N -106.6139°W
c. 1850[20] Converted house
Sandoval (1905–1926)Bernalillo
Converted two-story adobe house. Burned in 1926.[21]
Sandoval (1928–2005)Bernalillo
35.3064°N -106.5486°W
1928Frontal addition built in 1975. Still houses county offices.
Santa Fe (1886–1909)Santa Fe
35.6875°N -105.9358°W
1886Burned in 1909.[22] Parts of the walls and foundation were incorporated into the 1910 courthouse.
Santa Fe (1910–1939)Santa Fe
35.6875°N -105.9358°W
1910[23] Two-story building designed by Isaac Hamilton Rapp. Remodeled in the Territorial style and converted to office use; now known as the Coronado Building.
Santa Fe (1939–1975)Santa Fe
35.6886°N -105.9408°W
1939[24] Two-story building designed by John Gaw Meem. Still houses county administrative offices and probate court.
Santa Fe (1975–2013)Santa Fe
35.6908°N -105.9406°W
1937[25] Converted school building
Sierra (1892–1936)Hillsboro
32.9192°N -107.5694°W
1892In ruins
Socorro (1884–1939)Socorro
34.0556°N -106.8933°W
1884Demolished in 1939[26]
Taos (1852–1934)Taos
36.4075°N -105.5744°W
1839Two-story adobe building; burned in 1934
Taos (1934–1970)Taos
36.4075°N -105.5744°W
1934Contributing property in Taos Downtown Historic District
Taos (1970–2011)Taos
36.3969°N -105.5758°W
1970Demolished
Torrance (1910–1967)Estancia
34.7594°N -106.0617°W
1910[27] Demolished in 1967
Union (1895–1908)Clayton
36.4494°N -103.1878°W
1895Destroyed by tornado in 1908[28]
Valencia (1852–1872)Tome
c. 1850One-story adobe building on north side of Tome plaza;[29] no longer standing
Valencia (1872–1874)Belen
c. 1870Converted church[30]
Valencia (1875)Tome
34.7403°N -106.7308°W
1875Two-story adobe building; no longer standing. Adjacent jail was built of stone and is still intact.
Valencia (1876–1912)Los Lunas
1876[31] Two-story adobe building.[32] Burned in 1912.
Valencia (1913–1960)Los Lunas
1913Two-story brick building with attached jail.[33] Demolished in 1962.[34]
Valencia (1960–2008)Los Lunas
34.8022°N -106.7339°W
1960[35] Two-story Modernist style building designed by Lawrence Garcia. Still houses county administrative offices and probate court.

Notes and References

  1. News: Dedication held in Reserve for county courthouse . May 1, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . May 18, 1969 . D1 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Skeen to dedicate Lincoln courthouse . April 26, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . May 7, 1965 . A5 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Book: Torrez . Robert J. . Trapp . Robert . Rio Arriba: A New Mexico County . 2010 . Rio Grande Books . Los Ranchos, NM . 978-1-936744-85-5 . May 8, 2017.
  4. News: Roesler . Nico . New courthouse opens downtown . April 25, 2017 . Santa Fe New Mexican . June 10, 2013.
  5. News: Torrance builds courthouse . April 30, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . June 25, 1967 . D12 . Newspapers.com.
  6. Web site: History of Bernalillo County . Bernalillo County . April 24, 2017.
  7. News: Landmark passing . April 28, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . June 8, 1959 . A8 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Work starts on razing the old court house . May 1, 2017 . Roswell Daily Record . February 24, 1910 . 4 . Library of Congress.
  9. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Curry County Courthouse . National Park Service . April 24, 2017 . 1987.
  10. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form – Doña Ana Village Historic District . National Park Service . May 5, 2017.
  11. News: El Pasoans will attend dedication of Las Cruces courthouse . May 5, 2017 . El Paso Herald-Post . February 12, 1938 . 3 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: Making progress . May 2, 2017 . Santa Fe New Mexican . August 21, 1893 . 4 . Library of Congress.
  13. News: Carrizozo to have two big field days . April 26, 2017 . El Paso Herald . September 3, 1913 . 13 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Fort . Ruth . Mora County Notebook: Old Mora Courthouse has interesting history . April 25, 2017 . Las Vegas Optic . October 31, 2013.
  15. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Los Luceros Hacienda . National Park Service . May 8, 2017.
  16. News: A handsome court house . April 30, 2017 . Santa Fe New Mexican . June 10, 1905 . 3 . Library of Congress.
  17. News: From the old to the new . May 3, 2017 . Las Vegas Gazette . December 29, 1885 . 4 . Library of Congress.
  18. News: Accepted: The new court house and jail . May 3, 2017 . Las Vegas Daily Gazette . December 23, 1885 . 3 . Library of Congress.
  19. News: Vivian . Delma . San Miguel County's 100th birthday today . May 5, 2017 . Las Vegas Daily Optic . January 9, 1952 . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  20. News: Ortiz . Christopher . $1 million Corrales house on market boasts a touch of Disney (and ghost stories) . April 28, 2017 . Albuquerque Business First . October 17, 2016.
  21. News: County records at Bernalillo may be saved . April 28, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . March 30, 1926 . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  22. News: Voracious flames make lurid the heavens above Santa Fe . May 1, 2017 . Santa Fe New Mexican . February 8, 1909 . 1 . Library of Congress.
  23. News: New county court house is an ideal structure and credit to Santa Fe . May 1, 2017 . Santa Fe New Mexican . May 4, 1910 . 1 . Library of Congress.
  24. Web site: Santa Fe County Courthouse (Former) – Santa Fe NM . The Living New Deal . April 24, 2017.
  25. News: Hay . Kiera . Santa Fe County contemplates new life for judicial complex . April 25, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . November 12, 2013.
  26. News: Elfego Baca to get relics from old Socorro courthouse . April 30, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . November 26, 1939 . 13 . Newspapers.com.
  27. News: Jurors for December term District Court . April 30, 2017 . Estancia News . December 9, 1910 . 1 . Library of Congress.
  28. News: Clayton badly damaged by tornado yesterday . May 1, 2017 . Albuquerque Citizen . October 19, 1908 . 1 . Library of Congress.
  29. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Tome Jail . National Park Service . May 5, 2017.
  30. News: Pope . John W. . Dance Josefita Dance: A Short History of Valencia County Courthouses . May 5, 2017 . New Mexico Lawyer . 5.
  31. News: Valencia County Courthouse is destroyed . April 28, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . August 17, 1912 . 5 . Library of Congress.
  32. News: Courthouse dedication next Monday . April 28, 2017 . Belen News . August 28, 1913 . 1 . Library of Congress.
  33. News: Valencia County Courthouse . April 28, 2017 . Belen News . June 12, 1913 . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  34. News: Proposal to convert site to park goes to Valencia board . April 28, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . October 4, 1962 . B10 . Newspapers.com.
  35. News: New Valencia County Courthouse . April 28, 2017 . Albuquerque Journal . August 12, 1960 . A1 . Newspapers.com.