Editing Lamy, New Mexico

{{Short description|Place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, US}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{infobox settlement
 |name                     = Lamy, New Mexico
 |settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
 |image_skyline            = Lamy NM Station 2020.08.05.jpg
 |image_caption            = [[Lamy station|Train station in Lamy]]
 |image_map                = Santa_Fe_County_New_Mexico_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Lamy_Highlighted.svg
 |map_caption              = Location of Lamy, New Mexico
 |subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 |subdivision_name         = United States
 |subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 |subdivision_name1        = [[New Mexico]]
 |subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Mexico|County]]
 |subdivision_name2        = [[Santa Fe County, New Mexico|Santa Fe]]
 |unit_pref                = Imperial
 |area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='35'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
 |area_total_km2           = 6.71
 |area_land_km2            = 6.71
 |area_water_km2           = 0.00
 |area_total_sq_mi         = 2.59
 |area_land_sq_mi          = 2.59
 |area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
 |population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
 |population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 |population_total         = 210
 |population_density_sq_mi = 81.08
 |population_density_km2   = 31.30
 |timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
 |utc_offset               = -7
 |timezone_DST             = MDT
 |utc_offset_DST           = -6
 |elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
 |elevation_ft             = 6569
 |coordinates              = {{coord|35|29|41|N|105|52|15|W|region:US-NM_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 |postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
 |postal_code              = 87540
 |area_code                = [[Area code 505|505]]
 |blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 |blank_info               = 35-38890
 |blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS feature ID]]
 |blank1_info              = 2408569<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408569}}</ref>
}}

'''Lamy''' (pronunciation LAY-mee) is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Santa Fe County, New Mexico|Santa Fe County]], [[New Mexico]], United States.  Its population was 218 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].  It is located approximately {{convert|18|mi|km}} south of the city of [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Santa Fe New Mexican|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-santa-fe/167512294|title=Santa Fe: A Few Facts for the General Information of Tourists and Sight Seers Visiting the Capital City of New Mexico|via=[[newspapers.com]]|date=1887-04-20}}</ref>

== Name ==

[[file:Jean Baptiste Lamy.jpg|thumb|Photo of Archbishop Lamy|upright]]

The community was named for Archbishop [[Jean-Baptiste Lamy]], and lies within the ''Bishop John Lamy Spanish Land Grant'', which dates back to the eighteenth century.<ref>"Spanish Exploration and Settlement" in ''Windmills and Dreams: A History of the Eldorado Community'', 1997, ECIA, privately printed</ref> It had previously been known as Galisteo Junction since it contained the closest railway stop at the time to [[Galisteo, New Mexico]] but the similarity in names of the two towns led to confusion in the delivery of postal mail. Jean-Baptiste Lamy's influence over this area includes his creation of Santa Fe's first English teaching school, as well as establishing other similar institutions.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2020 |isbn=9780787650155 |edition=6th |publication-date=2020}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Pre-Columbian ===

The ''Lamy Junction Community'' is an archaeological site of fourteen Coalition Era (AD 1200-1325) pueblos and other structures, located near the junction of US Highway 285 and Santa Fe County Road 233.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Galisteo Basin Archaeology {{!}} Lamy Junction Community |url=https://galisteo.nmarchaeology.org/sites/lamy-juct.html |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=galisteo.nmarchaeology.org}}</ref>

=== Modern ===

The former [[Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad]] was originally planned to run from [[Atchison, Kansas]] to [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]], the capital city of New Mexico Territory, and then onward to points west. The first train arrived in the city on February 9, 1880.<ref name="Myrick_1990">Myrick, David, ‘’New Mexico’s Railroads, A Historic Survey’’, University of New Mexico Press 1990. {{ISBN|0-8263-1185-7}}</ref> However, the railroad's [[surveyor]]s had already realized that the hills surrounding Santa Fe made a continuation through and beyond the city impractical,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tracks Through Time |url=https://www.elpalacio.org/2022/02/tracks-through-time-2/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=El Palacio}}</ref> and created a rail junction where the tracks diverged abruptly north toward that city, while the main line continued west and south toward [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]]. The site was originally named ''Galisteo Junction'' but later changed to Lamy.<ref name="Myrick_1990" />

In 1896 the [[Fred Harvey Company]] built the luxurious ''El Ortiz Hotel'' here, designed by [[Mary Colter|Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter]].<ref name=":0" /> The ''El Ortiz'' was demolished after its closing in 1947.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lamy, NM (LMY) – Great American Stations |url=https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/lamy-nm-lmy/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:El_Ortiz_Hotel,_Lamy,_New_Mexico.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Photo of the El Ortiz Hotel]]

== Geography ==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.1|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

== Demographics ==

{{US Census population
 | align     = left
 | 2000      = 137
 | 2010      = 218
 | 2020      = 210
 | footnote  = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web
| url        = http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html
| title      = Census of Population and Housing
| publisher  = Census.gov
| accessdate = June 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web
| url        = https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:35&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108
| title      = Census Population API
| publisher  = United States Census Bureau
| accessdate = Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>}}

Lamy is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico, [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 137 people, 55 households, and 33 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|126.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 64 housing units at an average density of {{convert|59.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 74.45% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.92% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 18.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.38% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 44.53% of the population.

There were 55 households, out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,333, and the median income for a family was $27,083. Males had a median income of $25,568 versus $0 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $16,765. There were 17.5% of families and 20.5% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

== Education ==

It is within [[Santa Fe Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35049_santa_fe/DC20SD_C35049.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Santa Fe County, NM|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2021-07-20}}</ref>

It is zoned to El Dorado Community School (K-8) in [[El Dorado, New Mexico|El Dorado]]. Its high school is [[Santa Fe High School (New Mexico)|Santa Fe High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=<!--https://sfps.info/UserFiles/Servers/Server_115021/File/SFPS%20Departments/Accountability%20&%20Strategy/12-06-2017%20Recommended%20High%20School%20Boundary%20Changes.pdf-->https://sfps.info/cms/One.aspx?portalId=115105&pageId=4263717|title=School Zone Maps|publisher=[[Santa Fe Public Schools]]|accessdate=2021-07-22}}</ref>

A former schoolhouse in Lamy has been converted to a private home,<ref>{{cite book|title=More Than a Whistle Stop|last=Wootton McQuitty|first=Janelle|isbn=9780998838533}}</ref> after previously serving as a meeting location for the [[Bioneers]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Pflueger_building_2007.jpg|thumb|upright=1.85|Pflueger building]]

===Rail===
{{see also|Lamy station}}
The former [[Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad]] (ATSF), now the [[Burlington Northern Santa Fe]] (BNSF), passes through Lamy.<ref name=":0"/> Little freight traffic now passes over the line, but it remains the route of the [[Amtrak]] [[Southwest Chief]], with one train daily in each direction stopping at Lamy Station.

The significance of Lamy as a railroad junction is related in the Oscar-nominated documentary, ''[[The Day After Trinity]]'' (1980), about the building of the first atomic bomb, and is referred to by instrumental group the [[California Guitar Trio]] in a five-part suite ''Train to Lamy'' on their second album ''Invitation'' (1995).

====Santa Fe spur line====
From 1992 to 2014, the spur line was taken over by the [[Santa Fe Southern Railway]], which operated a popular excursion train, using vintage passenger railcars and modern freight cars, between Santa Fe and Lamy.

In 2020, several prominent Santa Fe residents, including novelist [[George R.R. Martin]], created ''Sky Railway'', an excursion train that runs on Santa Fe Southern Railway's route between Lamy and Santa Fe, although the excursions themselves do not run all the way to Lamy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sky Railway's FAQs |url=https://www.skyrailway.com/faq/https://www.skyrailway.com/faq/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Sky Railway |language=en}}</ref> Sky Railway began operations in December, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nott |first=Robert |title=Sky Railway excursion train to launch with holiday rides |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/sky-railway-excursion-train-to-launch-with-holiday-rides/article_d121a7dc-473a-11ec-b4f4-df1c9b891443.html |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=Santa Fe New Mexican |language=en}}</ref>

===Roads===
The community is served by Santa Fe County Road 33, a short, dead-road connecting to [[US Highway 285]].

===Museum===
The Lamy Railroad and History Museum, located in the historic "Legal Tender" restaurant building, is dedicated  to preserving local history and heritage, with  emphasis on the railroads and their impact on the area. The museum buildings, formerly the  [[Pflueger General Merchandise Store]] (built in 1881) and the attached Annex Saloon (built in 1884), are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Fe County, New Mexico|National Register of Historic Places]]. The Legal Tender Saloon and Restaurant re-opened as the Legal Tender at The Lamy Railroad & History Museum in March 2012, after 14 years. The restaurant and museum are run as a non-profit and the waitstaff are volunteers. It is open Thursday through Sunday.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130216191448/http://www.santafenewmexican.com/business/071712legaltender Legal Tender at The Lamy Railroad & History Museum]</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Eliza Gilkyson]], singer,  resided in Lamy, as described by her song ''The Hill Behind This Town'' on the album ''Songs from the River Wind''<ref>[https://popmatters.com/eliza-gilkyson-songs-river-wind Eliza Gilkyson: Songs From the River Wind (Album Review)] - [[PopMatters]]</ref>
* [[Thom Ross]], artist, resides in Lamy<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taking a swing: Black Sox scandal inspires Lamy artist - Albuquerque Journal |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1358319/taking-a-swing.html |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.abqjournal.com}}</ref>
* [[James Thomas Stevens]], poet, resided in Lamy<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Poetry |date=2022-11-24 |title=James Thomas Stevens |url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/james-thomas-stevens |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=Poetry Foundation |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://harvey.library.arizona.edu/finding_aid/8nm/1/welcome.html Photos of ''El Ortiz'' railroad hotel, Lamy, 1896–1945]
* [http://www.trainweb.com/slides/ss03/ss03a_20.htm Photo, Lamy in 1997]

{{Santa Fe County, New Mexico}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Santa Fe County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in New Mexico]]