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The Traditional Village of Agua Fria
Welcome to the trad
itional village of Agua Fria, a community rooted, by history and values, to the resource –“Cool Water”– from which it takes its name. Archaeological digs show that this land was inhabited as far back as 3,000 B.C. The village itself considers its founding date to be 1640, the date of the first recorded settlement by the grandparents of Major Roque Madrid who received a land grant in 1693 from General Don Diego de Vargas in reward for his military service.
The village sits on an alluvial plain: a flat stretch of land with rich topsoil deposited over time by the Santa Fe River. Water, fertile soil and a slightly longer growing season made the spot attractive for farming. As more land was granted and more ditches connected from the Rive
r to the villager’s plots, Agua Fria became the bread basket for nearby Santa Fe, providing food and firewood to its bustling neighbor five miles away.
The two communities were connected by El Camino Real, now called Agua Fria Street. The waters of the Acequia de la Agua Fría ran along both sides of El Camino Real. You can still see a section of the old drainage channel around the State Supreme Courthouse.
Five miles was a long trip by wagon, so the village residents petitioned to have their own place of worship. A local donated the land, and in 1835, San Isidro, the beautiful church named for the patron saint of farmers, was built.
Just two miles square, the community, bounded on the east by Siler Road (or Maez Road, according to Neighborhood Scout); by Lopez lane on the West; by Rufina on the south; and by State Road 599 on the north, has fewer than 3,000 inhabitants, according to the 2010 census. But by dint of history, character and resources, the little village has had an outsized impact on greater Santa Fe.
Writing in the Green Fire Times, local resident William Henry Mee, said, “…without this tiny community, Santa Fe may not have prospered to the extent it has. …The land for the three major electric lines and the gas line entering Santa Fe, the major roads of Rodeo, Cerrillos, Rufina, Agua Fria, West Alameda, Zafarano and SR 599, as well as the sewer lines along Cerrillos Road, Rufina Street Agua Fria Road and Santa Fe River north, were “donated” by the people of Agua Fria.”
To preserve and honor the community’s heritage and character, local residents organized and, in 1995, succeeded in getting their community designated a “Traditional Historic Community.” To this day, villagers gather every May 15th for a feast day honoring the saint. The ceremony includes a traditional Blessing of the River.
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This post would not have been possible without the curiosity and photographic skills of Cliff Boltz, who agreed to visit the village with his camera and harvest its charms.
Visit the website of Agua Fria Village for historic photos, meeting minutes and community updates.
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How Do You Spell South Capitol?
How do you spell South Capitol? Or is it South Capital? South Cap is one of Santa Fe’s most beloved downtown neighborhoods. Look on the web and you’ll find the name spelled both ways. So which is it: capitAl or capitOl?
Although their spellings are almost the same, the two words refer to two different things: one, a city; the other, a building. A capital with an “a” is the seat of government for the state. Santa Fe is the capital of the state of New Mexico. The building where a state’s legislative body meets is known as “the capitol” with an “o.”
You know this. We learned about capitals and capitols in elementary school. So, why is everyone so confused?
Because both words refer to a location. The question is, are we describing the neighborhood for its location within the city, or relative to a specific landmark: the capitol? If we consider this neighborhood a place that falls in the southern sector of the capital city, it could be South Capital, with an “a.” But if the neighborhood is named for its location relative to the state’s capitol building, then it would be South Capitol, with an “o.”
Like many, we think the right answer is South CapitOl. Here’s why:
Although South Cap is one of Santa Fe’s older neighborhoods, and thus could have gotten its moniker back in the day when it was one of the few neighborhoods in the southern part of the capital city, it is just the first of many neighborhoods that are south of The Plaza. Lovato Grant and Sol y Lomas are two others. South Capitol is, however, the neighborhood most directly south of the capitol.
The official website for the Rail Runner, the commuter rail service that from Santa Fe to Belen, names the station between Alta Vista and Cordova “South Capitol.” That’s one official stance. On the other hand, the Santa Fe Multiple Listing Service spells the neighborhood South Capital?
How do YOU spell South Capitol?
Current Homes for Sale in South Capitol
- $539,000 : 210 Lugar de Monte Vista, Santa Fe3 beds, 2 baths
- $830,000 : 130 W Coronado Road, Santa Fe3 beds, 2 baths
- $599,000 : 831 DON CUBERO, Santa Fe2 beds, 1 bath
- $749,000 : 1414 Miracerros Lane South, Santa Fe3 beds, 3 baths
- $795,000 : 104 E Barcelona, Santa Fe4 beds, 2 baths
- $610,000 : 309 LOMITA, Santa Fe3 beds, 2 baths
- $225,000 : 1203 Galisteo Street, Santa Fe0 beds, 0 bath
- $480,000 : 293 Lomita St, Santa Fe6 beds, 4 baths
See all Real estate in the South Capital tract.
(all data current as of 8/13/2018)
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
