Hillsboro, New Mexico
| Hillsboro, New Mexico | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated community | |
|
Hillsboro New Mexico Community Center | |
  Hillsboro, New Mexico Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 32°55′N 107°34′W / 32.917°N 107.567°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Sierra |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.13 sq mi (5.5 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 124 |
| • Density | 58/sq mi (22/km2) |
| Time zone | Mountain |
| • Summer (DST) | Mountain (UTC) |
| ZIP code | 88042 |
| Area code(s) | 575 |
Hillsboro is a small unincorporated community in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States, located in the southwestern part of the state. It was founded in 1877, following the discovery of gold. The community was the county seat of Sierra County from 1884 until 1936 when Hot Springs (now called Truth or Consequences) became the county seat. Between 1893 and 1898, 100,000 troy ounces (3,000 kg) of gold were produced there.
Geology
The first house was built in August 1877 after two prospectors working in the area of the future Opportunity Mine, collected loose pieces of rock (float is the geologic term) assayed at $160 per ton in gold and silver. Soon, ore was discovered at the nearby Rattlesnake vein (geology) and a placer deposit of gold was found in November at the Rattlesnake and Wicks gulches. Ore was pulverized with arrastres located in Hillsboro, including a 10-stamp mill built in 1878. Total production prior to 1904 was about $6,750,000. Between 1911 and 1931, total production of gold, silver and copper was about $150,000.[1] In his report, Harley wrote, "The ore deposits of the Hillsboro or Las Animas mining district are of four general types as follows: (1) fissure veins in andesite flows, (2) disseminated deposits in monzonite porphyry, (3) replacement deposits in limestone, and (4) placer gold deposits."[2]
Notable people
- Physician and American Civil War veteran C.C. Crews
Popular Culture
- Mentioned in Eugene Manlove Rhodes' 1920 novel Stepsons of Light
- About 1986, the film Lewis & Clark & George was filmed in the vicinity.
Notes
References
- Harley, George Townsend, The Geology and Ore Deposits of Sierra County, New Mexico, New Mexico State Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Bulletin 10, 1934.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hillsboro, New Mexico. |
http://hillsborohistory.blogspot.com
- Hillsboro as a ghost town
- Hillsboro features and attractions
- Barbershop Plaza Motel link on Trip Advisor
- Hillsboro A Walking Tour Map City map showing locations of many historic buildings
Coordinates: 32°55′15″N 107°34′01″W / 32.92083°N 107.56694°W
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