List of county courthouses in New Mexico
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.
KEY
Courthouses 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[]
| Courthouse | Image | Location | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo (1886–1926) | Albuquerque 35°05′39″N 106°40′08″W / 35.09417°N 106.66889°W |
1886[6] | Later used by San Felipe School; demolished in 1959.[7] | |
| Bernalillo (1926–2001) | 
|
Albuquerque 35°05′14″N 106°39′06″W / 35.08722°N 106.65167°W |
1926[6] | Remodeled in modernist style in 1964. Still houses county offices.[6] |
| Catron (1921–1969) | Reserve 33°42′44″N 108°45′28″W / 33.71222°N 108.75778°W |
1916 | Converted hotel;[1] no longer standing | |
| Chaves (1890–1910) | Roswell 33°23′49″N 104°31′17″W / 33.39694°N 104.52139°W |
1890[8] | Demolished in 1910[8] | |
| Cibola (1987–2016) | 
|
Grants 35°09′15″N 107°51′15″W / 35.15417°N 107.85417°W |
School building converted to courthouse in 1987 | |
| Colfax (1872–1882)⁕
|
|
Cimarron 36°30′17″N 104°55′18″W / 36.50472°N 104.92167°W |
1870 | Contributing property in Cimarron Historic District |
| Colfax (1882–1897)⁕
|
|
Springer 36°21′50″N 104°35′43″W / 36.36389°N 104.59528°W |
1882 | NRHP-listed (refnum 87000883) |
| Colfax (1898–1937) | 
|
Raton 36°54′13″N 104°26′33″W / 36.90361°N 104.44250°W |
1898 | No longer standing |
| Curry 1910–1936 | Clovis 34°24′19″N 103°12′22″W / 34.40528°N 103.20611°W |
1910 | Demolished in 1954[9] | |
| Doña Ana (1852–1855)
|
Doña Ana 32°23′10″N 106°48′57″W / 32.38611°N 106.81583°W |
c. 1840[10] | One-story adobe building; contributing property in the . | |
| Doña Ana (1855–1882)#⁕
|
|
Mesilla 32°16′27″N 106°47′42″W / 32.27417°N 106.79500°W |
c. 1850 | Contributing property in Mesilla Plaza Historic District |
| Doña Ana (1882–1883)⁕ | Las Cruces 32°18′26″N 106°46′43″W / 32.30722°N 106.77861°W |
1866 | Later used as the Amador Hotel | |
| Doña Ana (1883–1938) | 
|
Las Cruces 32°18′42″N 106°47′02″W / 32.31167°N 106.78389°W |
1883 | Demolished c. 1940 |
| Doña Ana (1938–2006)⁕ | 
|
Las Cruces 32°18′23″N 106°46′46″W / 32.30639°N 106.77944°W |
1938[11] | PWA project; three-story Pueblo-style building designed by Percy McGee.[11] Currently vacant. |
| Grant (1883–1930) | 
|
Silver City 32°46′13″N 108°16′50″W / 32.77028°N 108.28056°W |
1883 | No longer standing |
| Guadalupe (1893–1903)⁕ | Puerto de Luna 34°49′51″N 104°37′16″W / 34.83083°N 104.62111°W |
1893[12] | In ruins | |
| Guadalupe (1909–1948)⁕
|
|
Santa Rosa 34°56′30″N 104°41′11″W / 34.94167°N 104.68639°W |
1909 | NRHP-listed (refnum 87000890) |
| Lea (1917–1936) | Lovington |
1917 | No longer standing | |
| Lincoln (1869–1880)#
|
|
Lincoln 33°29′31″N 105°23′09″W / 33.49194°N 105.38583°W |
c. 1869 | Contributing property in the Lincoln Historic District |
| Lincoln (1880–1913)#⁕
|
|
Lincoln 33°29′37″N 105°23′27″W / 33.49361°N 105.39083°W |
1874 | Converted store. Contributing property in the Lincoln Historic District |
| Lincoln (1913–1965) | Carrizozo |
1913[13] | No longer standing | |
| Los Alamos (1956–1967) | Los Alamos |
c. 1943 | Converted government building | |
| Los Alamos (1967–2008) | 
|
Los Alamos 35°52′53″N 106°18′14″W / 35.88139°N 106.30389°W |
1967 | Demolished in 2008 |
| Luna (1910–2008)⁕
|
|
Deming 32°15′44″N 107°45′23″W / 32.26222°N 107.75639°W |
1910 | NRHP-listed (refnum 77000925). Still houses county administrative offices and probate court. |
| McKinley (1907–1939) | Gallup |
1907 | No longer standing | |
| Mora (1861–1889) | Mora |
1861 | ||
| Mora (1889–1939) | 
|
Mora 35°58′28″N 105°19′54″W / 35.97444°N 105.33167°W |
1889 | Burned in the 1950s[14] |
| Mora (1939) | Mora 35°58′26″N 105°19′55″W / 35.97389°N 105.33194°W |
1939 | Demolished | |
| Otero (1901–1956) | 
|
Alamogordo 32°54′01″N 105°57′30″W / 32.90028°N 105.95833°W |
1901 | No longer standing |
| Quay (1908–1939) | Tucumcari 35°10′36″N 103°43′41″W / 35.17667°N 103.72806°W |
1908 | No longer standing | |
| Rio Arriba (1855–1860)⁕
|
|
Los Luceros 39°07′05″N 106°02′27″W / 39.11806°N 106.04083°W |
1712[15] | NRHP-listed (refnum 83004157) |
| Rio Arriba (1880–1918) | Tierra Amarilla |
c. 1880 | Converted one-story adobe house; remodeled and expanded to two stories in 1885.[3] | |
| Roosevelt (1904–1937) | 
|
Portales |
1904[16] | Two-story concrete block building;[16] no longer standing |
| San Juan (1902–1951) | Aztec 36°49′16″N 107°59′33″W / 36.82111°N 107.99250°W |
1902 | No longer standing | |
| San Juan (1951–1980) | 
|
Aztec 36°49′16″N 107°59′32″W / 36.82111°N 107.99222°W |
1951 | Demolished |
| San Miguel (1852–1864) | San Miguel del Vado 35°21′52″N 105°27′06″W / 35.36444°N 105.45167°W |
c. 1852 | Some foundations still present | |
| San Miguel (1864–1881) | Las Vegas 35°35′38″N 105°13′38″W / 35.59389°N 105.22722°W |
1864[17] | One-story adobe building; no longer standing | |
| San Miguel (1881–1885)
|
|
Las Vegas 35°35′33″N 105°13′35″W / 35.59250°N 105.22639°W |
1881 | Contributing 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;[18] demolished.[19] |
| San Miguel (1942–2006) | 
|
Las Vegas 35°35′30″N 105°13′49″W / 35.59167°N 105.23028°W |
1942 | Still houses county administrative offices and probate court. |
| Sandoval (1903–1905)⁕ | Corrales 35°13′48″N 106°36′50″W / 35.23000°N 106.61389°W |
c. 1850[20] | Converted house | |
| Sandoval (1905–1926) | Bernalillo |
Converted two-story adobe house. Burned in 1926.[21] | ||
| Sandoval (1928–2005) | 
|
Bernalillo 35°18′23″N 106°32′55″W / 35.30639°N 106.54861°W |
1928 | Frontal addition built in 1975. Still houses county offices. |
| Santa Fe (1886–1909) | 
|
Santa Fe 35°41′15″N 105°56′09″W / 35.68750°N 105.93583°W |
1886 | Burned in 1909.[22] Parts of the walls and foundation were incorporated into the 1910 courthouse. |
| Santa Fe (1910–1939) | Santa Fe 35°41′15″N 105°56′09″W / 35.68750°N 105.93583°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°41′19″N 105°56′27″W / 35.68861°N 105.94083°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°41′27″N 105°56′26″W / 35.69083°N 105.94056°W |
1937[25] | Converted school building |
| Sierra (1892–1936)⁑ | 
|
Hillsboro 32°55′09″N 107°34′10″W / 32.91917°N 107.56944°W |
1892 | In ruins |
| Socorro (1884–1939) | Socorro 34°03′20″N 106°53′36″W / 34.05556°N 106.89333°W |
1884 | Demolished in 1939[26] | |
| Taos (1852–1934) | Taos 36°24′27″N 105°34′28″W / 36.40750°N 105.57444°W |
1839 | Two-story adobe building; burned in 1934 | |
| Taos (1934–1970)⁕
|
|
Taos 36°24′27″N 105°34′28″W / 36.40750°N 105.57444°W |
1934 | Contributing property in Taos Downtown Historic District |
| Taos (1970–2011) | 
|
Taos 36°23′49″N 105°34′33″W / 36.39694°N 105.57583°W |
1970 | Demolished |
| Torrance (1910–1967) | Estancia 34°45′34″N 106°03′42″W / 34.75944°N 106.06167°W |
1910[27] | Demolished in 1967[5] | |
| Union (1895–1908) | Clayton 36°26′58″N 103°11′16″W / 36.44944°N 103.18778°W |
1895 | Destroyed by tornado in 1908[28] | |
| Valencia (1852–1872) | Tome |
c. 1850 | One-story adobe building on north side of Tome plaza;[29] no longer standing | |
| Valencia (1872–1874) | Belen |
c. 1870 | Converted church[30] | |
| Valencia (1875) | Tome 34°44′25″N 106°43′51″W / 34.74028°N 106.73083°W |
1875[29] | Two-story adobe building;[30] no longer standing. Adjacent jail was built of stone and is still intact.[29] | |
| Valencia (1876–1912) | Los Lunas |
1876[31] | Two-story adobe building.[32] Burned in 1912.[31] | |
| Valencia (1913–1960) | Los Lunas |
1913[32] | Two-story brick building with attached jail.[33] Demolished in 1962.[34] | |
| Valencia (1960–2008) | 
|
Los Lunas 34°48′08″N 106°44′02″W / 34.80222°N 106.73389°W |
1960[35] | Two-story Modernist style building designed by Lawrence Garcia. Still houses county administrative offices and probate court. |
References[]
- ^ a b "Dedication held in Reserve for county courthouse". Albuquerque Journal. May 18, 1969. p. D1. Retrieved May 1, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Skeen to dedicate Lincoln courthouse". Albuquerque Journal. May 7, 1965. p. A5. Retrieved April 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Torrez, Robert J.; Trapp, Robert (2010). Rio Arriba: A New Mexico County. Los Ranchos, NM: Rio Grande Books. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ^ Roesler, Nico (June 10, 2013). "New courthouse opens downtown". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ a b "Torrance builds courthouse". Albuquerque Journal. June 25, 1967. p. D12. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "History of Bernalillo County". Bernalillo County. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Landmark passing". Albuquerque Journal. June 8, 1959. p. A8. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Work starts on razing the old court house". Roswell Daily Record. February 24, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved May 1, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Curry County Courthouse". National Park Service. 1987. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form – Doña Ana Village Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ a b "El Pasoans will attend dedication of Las Cruces courthouse". El Paso Herald-Post. February 12, 1938. p. 3. Retrieved May 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Making progress". Santa Fe New Mexican. August 21, 1893. p. 4. Retrieved May 2, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ "Carrizozo to have two big field days". El Paso Herald. September 3, 1913. p. 13. Retrieved April 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fort, Ruth (October 31, 2013). "Mora County Notebook: Old Mora Courthouse has interesting history". Las Vegas Optic. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Los Luceros Hacienda". National Park Service. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ^ a b "A handsome court house". Santa Fe New Mexican. June 10, 1905. p. 3. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ "From the old to the new". Las Vegas Gazette. December 29, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved May 3, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ a b "Accepted: The new court house and jail". Las Vegas Daily Gazette. December 23, 1885. p. 3. Retrieved May 3, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ a b Vivian, Delma (January 9, 1952). "San Miguel County's 100th birthday today". Las Vegas Daily Optic. p. 1. Retrieved May 5, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ortiz, Christopher (October 17, 2016). "$1 million Corrales house on market boasts a touch of Disney (and ghost stories)". Albuquerque Business First. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ^ "County records at Bernalillo may be saved". Albuquerque Journal. March 30, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Voracious flames make lurid the heavens above Santa Fe". Santa Fe New Mexican. February 8, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ "New county court house is an ideal structure and credit to Santa Fe". Santa Fe New Mexican. May 4, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ "Santa Fe County Courthouse (Former) – Santa Fe NM". The Living New Deal. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ Hay, Kiera (November 12, 2013). "Santa Fe County contemplates new life for judicial complex". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Elfego Baca to get relics from old Socorro courthouse". Albuquerque Journal. November 26, 1939. p. 13. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jurors for December term District Court". Estancia News. December 9, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ "Clayton badly damaged by tornado yesterday". Albuquerque Citizen. October 19, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ a b c "National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Tome Jail". National Park Service. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ a b Pope, John W. "Dance Josefita Dance: A Short History of Valencia County Courthouses" (PDF). New Mexico Lawyer. p. 5. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ a b "Valencia County Courthouse is destroyed". Albuquerque Journal. August 17, 1912. p. 5. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ a b "Courthouse dedication next Monday". Belen News. August 28, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via Library of Congress.
- ^ "Valencia County Courthouse". Belen News. June 12, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Proposal to convert site to park goes to Valencia board". Albuquerque Journal. October 4, 1962. p. B10. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New Valencia County Courthouse". Albuquerque Journal. August 12, 1960. p. A1. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
Categories:
- County courthouses in New Mexico
- Courthouses in New Mexico
- Lists of county courthouses in the United States
- Lists of buildings and structures in New Mexico