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| Mountainair is less than ten miles from the geographical center of New Mexico on Manzano-Chupadera Mesa cordilleria at an altitude of 6495 feet. The climate consists of cool summers nights and Indian Summer days. Winter snows, not uncommon, are lasting only in the mountain areas. Native American lived in this area for thousands of years. The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument consists of three nearby pueblos: Abo, Quarai and Gran Quivira, one of the most complete complexes of 17th century ruins remaining in the United States. In the early 1600's large mission churches were built, as the Spanish moved into the area and converted the local population. No one knows exactly when the pueblos were abandoned, but the Spanish remained, and villages to the north became their homes: Manzano, Punta de Auga, Torreon, and Tajique. Earlier this century Torrance County was known for farms growing corn and beans: Mountainair was once known as the "Pinto Capital of the World." More recently the livestock industry has flourished and ranching has become a major buiness activity for the area. See our maps of the area (after viewing the maps, just close the new window which opened to return to this site).
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