Taos is a city located in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico. In New Mexico a municipality may call itself a village, town, or city. (See New Mexico local government).
Taos calls itself the "Town of Taos" and was incorporated as such in 1934. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 4,700.
Being located close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American village and tribe from which it takes its name, it is also the county seat of Taos County. The name also refers to the nearby ski resort of Taos Ski Valley.
The word 'Taos' means 'red willow' in the Tiwa language. Many people in Taos have experienced what is termed the Taos Hum, a low-frequency noise whose source and nature are still a mystery and for which a variety of theories have been advanced. The lore of this phenomenon has become part of the appeal of this unique community.
Taos is located at 36°23'38" North, 105°34'36" West (36.393979, -105.576705).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.9 km2 (5.4 mi2). 13.9 km2 (5.4 mi2) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Just to the west of Taos is the Rio Grande Gorge, cutting through the basalt flows of the Taos Plateau volcanic field.
As of the census of 2000, there are 4,700 people, 2,067 households, and 1,157 families residing in the town. The population density is 337.9/km2 (874.5/mi2). There are 2,466 housing units at an average density of 177.3/km2 (458.8/mi2). The racial makeup of the town is 68.04% White, 0.53% African American, 4.11% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 21.66% from other races, and 4.94% from two or more races. 54.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,067 households out of which 27.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% are married couples living together, 16.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 44.0% are non-families. 37.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.18 and the average family size is 2.87.
In the town the population is spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $25,016, and the median income for a family is $33,564. Males have a median income of $27,683 versus $23,326 for females. The per capita income for the town is $15,983. 23.1% of the population and 17.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.8% of those under the age of 18 and 24.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Taos was established following the Spanish conquest of the Pueblo villages.
During the 1770s Taos was repeatedly raided by Comanches who at that time lived in the plains of what is now eastern Colorado. Juan Bautista de Anza, governor of the Province of New Mexico, led a successful punitive expedition in 1779 against the Comanches.
Beginning in 1898, artists began to settle in Taos and created the "Taos Society of Artists". In time the Taos art colony developed. Many paintings were made of local scenes, especially of Taos Pueblo and activities there. Many of the artists used Native Americans from the pueblo as models in often fanciful paintings. Some of the artists' studios have been preserved and may be viewed by visitors to Taos. These include the Blumenschein House.
Other tourist attractions are the homes of Kit Carson and Mabel Dodge Luhan, along with the Rio Grande Gorge and Taos Ski Valley. Twenty miles northwest is the D.H. Lawrence Ranch, (originally known as the Kiowa Ranch and now owned by the University of New Mexico), the home of the English novelist, D.H. Lawrence in the 1920s. By all accounts he loved the ranch high up in the mountains, the only property he ever owned. It is believed that his ashes are buried there at the D.H. Lawrence Memorial.
Taos Plaza is, for historical reasons, one of the few places in the country where the flag may properly be displayed continuously (both day and night).
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Taos, NM
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