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33-516: The forest lies in southern Catron , northern Grant , western Sierra , and extreme northeastern Hidalgo counties in southwestern New Mexico. Forest headquarters are located in Silver City, New Mexico . There are local ranger district offices in Glenwood , Mimbres , Quemado , Reserve , Silver City , and Truth or Consequences . The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is located with

66-480: A female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.75. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.10% under the age of 18, 4.20% from 18 to 24, 19.50% from 25 to 44, 36.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

99-708: A slight rain. It is called Burning Mountain and appears to have been used by the Apache for healing purposes. The county is home to the Red Hill Volcanic Field as well as the Plains of San Agustin . As of the 2000 census of 2000, there were 3,543 people, 1,584 households, and 1,040 families living in the county. The population density was 0.51 people per square mile (0.20 people/km ). There were 2,548 housing units at an average density of 0.37 units per square mile (0.14/km ). The racial makeup of

132-658: A state until 1912, long after the Civil War and abolition of slavery. In 1880, Sergeant James C. Cooney was the first person to find silver and gold ore in the mountains of Catron County. He was reportedly killed by Chiricahua Apache led by Victorio that year, in what the European Americans called the " Alma Massacre ". His remains are buried at Cooney's Tomb . The foothills and canyons provided many hiding places for Apache warriors as they continued to resist American encroachment. During this time Cochise

165-1166: Is a threat to monarch butterfly habitat. ACP is a threat to ponderosa pines . The Gila River Forest Reserve was established on March 2, 1899, by the United States General Land Office , and was renamed the Gila Forest Reserve on July 21, 1905. The following year the forest was transferred to the U.S. Forest Service , and on March 4, 1907, it became a National Forest . Additions included Big Burros National Forest on June 18, 1908, Datil National Forest on December 24, 1931, and part of Crook National Forest on July 1, 1953. The Gila National Forest provides infinite opportunity for recreation . The forest includes 139 developed recreation sites, with 30 developed campgrounds, seven picnic areas, eight points of interest, and 94 trailheads. The forest provides limitless opportunities for dispersed camping along more than 3,300 miles of designated roads and 1,600 miles of designated non-motorized trails. The forest hosts three National Recreation Trails, including 248 miles of

198-482: Is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km ) (0.08%) is water. Catron County is the largest county, by area, in New Mexico. At almost 7,000 square miles (18,000 km ), Catron County is larger than four states. With a population of only 3,400 people, the county is as sparsely populated as many an old West frontier area. The elk population at some 12,000 head, is much larger than the sparse human population. Within

231-766: Is overwhelmingly Republican, last voting for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1964. School districts include: 33°55′N 108°25′W  /  33.92°N 108.42°W  / 33.92; -108.42 Dark-sky preserve A dark-sky preserve (DSP) is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory , that restricts or reduces light pollution or maintains and protects naturally dark night skies. Different terms have been used to describe these areas as national organizations and governments have worked independently to create programs. DarkSky International (DarkSky) uses "International Dark Sky Reserve" (IDSR) and "International Dark Sky Park" (IDSP) among others when certifying Dark Sky Places. DarkSky International

264-409: Is set up in a parking lot. Bordering Arizona, Catron County affords the shortest route between Albuquerque and Phoenix or Tucson. Reserve can also be reached by following U.S. Route 180 north from Silver City and New Mexico State Road 12 east for a total of 99 miles (159 km). In Catron County there is a volcanic area that until recently contained sufficient heat to cause steam to rise after

297-571: The Gila (western chub) genus , and the Gila woodpecker . Other notable species include black bear , bald eagle , cougar , Coyote , spotted owl , elk , white-tailed deer , osprey , peregrine falcon , bobcat , collared peccary , Gray fox , white-nosed coati , racoon , mule deer , wild turkey , beaver , desert bighorn sheep , and the endangered Sonoran Pronghorn and Mexican gray wolf , Hundreds of unregulated cattle roam freely in parts of

330-601: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 after being defeated in the Mexican–American War . In 1849, President Zachary Taylor proposed that New Mexico, including this region, immediately be admitted as a state in order to sidestep political conflict over the expansion of slavery in the territories. That did not happen. European-American settlers from the southern and eastern states began to arrive here, including some with enslaved African Americans. The territory did not become

363-436: The poverty line , including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 census , there were 3,725 people, 1,787 households, and 1,080 families living in the county. The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19 inhabitants/km ). There were 3,289 housing units at an average density of 0.5 units per square mile (0.19 units/km ). The racial makeup of

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396-517: The 16th century, Spanish explorers and colonists came to the region, declaring it in 1598 to be part of Santa Fé de Nuevo México , a province of New Spain in the Americas. The province remained in Spanish control until Mexico gained independence in 1821. Under the 1824 Constitution of Mexico , this became the federally administered Territory of New Mexico. Mexico ceded the region to the U.S. in

429-627: The Americas. During the Clovis period, between 10999 BC and 8000 BC, and Folsom period, between 7999 BC and 5999 BC, the Ake Site was occupied near Datil . Bat Cave , near Horse Springs , was occupied around 3,500 BC. The Mimbres culture was expressed by the Mogollon people. They lived throughout the Catron County area from AD 1000 to 1130. Their art is renowned for its beauty. In

462-539: The Catron County section of the forest. The forest's terrain ranges from rugged mountains and deep canyons to mesas and semi-desert. Due to the extremely rugged terrain, the area is largely unspoiled. There are several hot springs in Gila National Forest, including Middle Fork Hot Springs, Jordan Hot Springs, and Turkey Creek Hot Springs. Gila is home to namesake wildlife that includes the Gila monster , Gila trout , Gila topminnow , several members of

495-678: The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The 3.5 acre (1.4 ha) Cosmic Campground is ideal for star-gazing . In 2016, the campground has the claim of being the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in North America. Gila National Forest is probably best known for Wilderness , containing 789,385 acres within three designated wilderness areas: the Gila Wilderness, Aldo Leopold Wilderness, and Blue Range Wilderness. The Gila Wilderness

528-437: The Gila National Forest, consuming vegetation by rivers and streams and trampling habitats. In 2022, the U.S. Forest Service used helicopters to gun down 47 of these "feral cattle". The Forest Service proposes to use aerial gunning to kill more of these cattle again in 2023. In 2020, the U.S. Forest Service proposed allowing 21 herbicides within the forest, including dicamba , picloram and aminocyclopyrachlor (ACP). Dicamba

561-400: The Gila Wilderness. Catron County, New Mexico Catron County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico . As of the 2020 census , the population was 3,579, making it New Mexico's third-least populous county. Its county seat is Reserve . Catron County is New Mexico's largest county by area. Human settlement in the Catron County region dates to some of the earliest in

594-801: The International Dark Sky Community designation. This designation was retired in 2020. Further designations include "Dark Sky Nation", given to the Kaibab Indian Reservation , and "Parashant International Night Sky Province-Window to the Cosmos", given to Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument . As of January 2023, there are 201 certified Dark Sky Places globally: 38 Communities, 115 Parks, 20 Reserves, 16 Sanctuaries, 6 Developments of Distinction and 6 Urban Night Sky Places. Walnut Canyon National Monument / Wupatki National Monument Some regions, like

627-553: The State Legislature attempted to abolish both Socorro and Catron in order to create a new Rio Grande County. A court suit voided this act, and the two counties retained their independence. The Lightning Field , an art installation on the open earth, brought national attention to Quemado in this county in the late 1970s. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 6,929 square miles (17,950 km ), of which 6,924 square miles (17,930 km )

660-863: The boundaries of Catron County lie parts of the Gila National Forest , the Apache National Forest and the Cibola National Forest . The establishment of these national forests, in the past called "forest reserves," led to the name Reserve being given to a village on the San Francisco River , which also serves as the County Seat. There are no stop lights in the whole county, so when license tests are given in Reserve, an artificial portable stop light

693-593: The boundary, uses or designation. In the 1950s, the Forest Service improved Forest Road 150, the North Star Road, bisecting the Gila Wilderness and resulting in the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness boundaries we have today. Hundreds of miles of trail traverse through, over, and across these wilderness areas. The 100-mile Centennial Loop Trail was identified in 2024 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of

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726-418: The county was 87.75% White , 0.28% Black or African American , 2.20% Native American , 0.68% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 5.42% from other races , and 3.61% from two or more races. 19.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,584 households, out of which 22.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 7.60% had

759-551: The county was 89.8% white, 2.7% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 3.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 19.0% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were: Of the 1,787 households, 16.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.6% were non-families, and 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size

792-655: The first International Dark Sky Park. The Gabriela Mistral Dark Sky Sanctuary in the Elqui Valley of Chile was designated as the world's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2015. A dark-sky preserve, or dark-sky reserve, should be sufficiently dark to promote astronomy . The lighting protocol for a dark-sky preserve is based on the sensitivity of wildlife to artificial light at night. Canada has established an extensive and stringent standard for dark-sky preserves, that addresses lighting within dark-sky preserves and influences from skyglow from urban areas in

825-526: The following, are protected without any reference to an observatory or a park. In the Canadian program, lighting within the area must be strictly controlled to minimize the impact of artificial lighting on wildlife. These guidelines are more stringent than in other countries that lack the extensive wilderness areas that still exist in Canada. The management of a Canadian DSP extends their outreach programs from

858-436: The mid-1880s Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang holed up at a ranch near Alma . Notorious outlaw Tom Ketchum also lived in Catron County around this time. Socorro County included all of Catron County's territory from the creation of Santa Fé de Nuevo México until 1921. At that time, Catron County was organized and named for Thomas B. Catron , a leading figure in New Mexico statehood and its first US senator. In 1927,

891-553: The public that visit the site to include the promotion of better lighting policies in surrounding urban areas. Currently, dark-sky preserves have more control over internal and external lighting than other programs. With the increase in regional light pollution , some observatories have actively worked with cities in their region to establish protection zones where there is controlled light pollution. These areas may not yet have been declared dark-sky preserves. Although dark-sky preserve designations are generally sought by astronomers, it

924-488: The region. This was based on the work of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada . DarkSky International's Dark Sky Places program currently offers five types of designations: Dark Sky Developments of Distinction recognize subdivisions, master planned communities, and unincorporated neighborhoods and townships whose planning actively promotes a more natural night sky but does not qualify them for

957-476: Was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.57. The median age was 55.8 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 31,914 and the median income for a family was $ 40,906. Males had a median income of $ 46,304 versus $ 23,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 20,895. About 10.1% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. Catron County

990-417: Was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 104.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 23,892, and the median income for a family was $ 30,742. Males had a median income of $ 26,064 versus $ 18,315 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 13,951. About 17.40% of families and 24.50% of the population were below

1023-584: Was another well-known Chiricahua leader. Noted war chief Goyaałé (Geronimo) had several hideouts in the county. Later in 1880, Buffalo Soldiers led by Sergeant George Jordan defeated Chiricahua Apache warriors led by Victorio in the Battle of Fort Tularosa . Four years later, self-appointed sheriff Elfego Baca was the hero of the so-called Frisco shootout in San Francisco Plaza . The country also attracted European-American outlaws. In

Gila National Forest - Misplaced Pages Continue

1056-646: Was founded in 1988 to reserve public or private land for an exquisite outlook of nocturnal territories and starry night skies. Dark-sky preserves are specifically conserved for their cultural, scientific, natural, or educational value and public enjoyment. In 2007, the Mont Mégantic Observatory in Quebec was the first site to be certified as an International Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky. The same year, Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah became

1089-482: Was the first area to bear that designation in the country and the world. When it was designated on June 3, 1924, it included 755,000 at the core of the Gila National Forest. When the Gila Wilderness was designated in 1924, it was 40 years before the Wilderness Act established a national policy of wilderness preservation. As an administrative designation by the Forest Service, there was no law preventing changes to

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