Editing Taos, New Mexico

{{Short description|City in New Mexico, United States}}
{{Other uses|Taos (disambiguation){{!}}Taos}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Taos, New Mexico
| named_for                = [[Taos Pueblo]]
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Taos plaza la fonda.jpg
| imagesize                = 300px
| image_caption            = Taos Plaza and the Hotel La Fonda, within the [[Taos Downtown Historic District]]
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Taos New Mexico logo.png
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Taos_County_New_Mexico_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Taos_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Taos, New Mexico
| image_map1               = Taos-nm-map.gif
| mapsize1                 = 250px
| map_caption1             = U.S. Census map
| pushpin_map              = New Mexico#USA
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in New Mexico##Location in the United States
| coordinates              = {{coord|36|23|13|N|105|34|48|W|region:US-NM_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = 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        = [[Taos County, New Mexico|Taos]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = Mayor-Council-Manager
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = Mayor
| leader_name1             = [[Pascualito M. Maestas]]<ref>
"Pascualito Maestas | Taos, NM". www.taosnm.gov. Retrieved September 4, 2024. </ref>
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 1795<ref name="Taos County Historical Society">{{cite web | title=Taos History and Timeline | website=Taos County Historical Society | url=http://taoscountyhistoricalsociety.org/taoshistory.html | access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref>
| established_title1       = Incorporated
| established_date1 = 1934
| established_title2       = &nbsp;•&nbsp;[[Town]]
<!-- Area -->
| 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           = 15.64
| area_land_km2            = 15.64
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 6.04
| area_land_sq_mi          = 6.04
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total         = 6474
| population_density_km2   = 413.94
| population_density_sq_mi = 1072.03

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;7
| timezone_DST             = MDT
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;6
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 6969
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 87571
| area_code                = [[Area code 575|575]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 35-76200
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2413366<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413366}}</ref>
| website                  = [http://www.taosgov.com/ www.taosgov.com]
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Taos''' ({{IPAc-en|t|aʊ|s}}) is a town in [[Taos County, New Mexico|Taos County]], in the north-central region of [[New Mexico]] in the [[Sangre de Cristo Mountains]]. Initially founded in 1615, it was intermittently occupied until its formal establishment in 1795 by [[Santa Fe de Nuevo México|Nuevo México]] Governor [[Fernando Chacón]] to act as fortified plaza and trading outpost for the neighboring [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] [[Taos Pueblo]] (the town's namesake) and [[Hispanos of New Mexico|Hispano]] communities, including [[Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico|Ranchos de Taos]], Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, [[El Prado, New Mexico|El Prado]], and [[Arroyo Seco, New Mexico|Arroyo Seco]]. The town was incorporated in 1934. The 2021 estimate has a population of 6,567.<ref>{{Cite web |title=F.A.Q |url=https://taos.org/plan/visitor-information/f-a-q/ |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=Taos.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

Taos is the [[county seat]] of Taos County. The English name ''Taos'' derives from the native [[Taos language]] meaning "(place of) red willows".

==History==

===Taos Pueblo===
{{main|Taos Pueblo}}
The [[Taos Pueblo]], which borders the north boundary of the town of Taos, has been occupied for nearly a [[millennium]]. It is estimated that the pueblo was built between 1000 and 1450&nbsp;A.D., with some later expansion, and the pueblo is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States.<ref name=TAOSAbout>{{cite web |url=http://taospueblo.com/about/ |title=About Taos Pueblo FAQs |publisher=Taos Pueblo |access-date=October 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025073329/http://taospueblo.com/about/ |archive-date=October 25, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Located in a tributary valley off the [[Rio Grande]], it is the most northern of the [[New Mexico]] [[pueblo]]s. The pueblo, at some places five stories high, is a combination of many individual homes with common walls. There are over 1,900 Taos Puebloans living within the greater pueblo-area community. Many of them have modern homes near their fields and live there in the summer months, only staying at their homes within the main North or South pueblo buildings during cooler weather. About 150 people live within the main pueblo buildings year-round.<ref name=TAOSAbout/> The Taos Pueblo was added as a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] in 1992.<ref name=UNESCOWHS>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/492 |title=Taos Pueblo |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=October 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620230953/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/492/ |archive-date=June 20, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Spanish colonization===
[[File:Church ruins at Taos Pueblo, NM.jpg|thumb|Old cemetery and ruins of original church, Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. Fray Pedro de Miranda, the Taos mission priest, was killed in 1640.]]
Taos was established c.1615 as ''Don Fernando de Taos'', following the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish conquest]] of the Indian [[Pueblo]] villages. Initially, relations of the Spanish settlers with [[Taos Pueblo]] were amicable,<ref>2007, Mapa Historico de Taos, Taos Kiwanis Club</ref> but resentment of meddling by missionaries, and demands by ''[[Encomienda|encomenderos]]'' for tribute, led to a revolt in 1640; Taos Indians killed their priest and a number of Spanish settlers and subsequently fled the pueblo, not returning until 1661.<ref name=THS>{{cite web |url= http://www.taos-history.org/time.html |title= Taos Timeline |publisher= Taos County Historical Society |access-date= June 3, 2011 |archive-date= July 16, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716061453/http://www.taos-history.org/time.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

In 1680, Taos Pueblo joined the widespread [[Pueblo Revolt]]. After the Spanish Reconquest of 1692, Taos Pueblo continued armed resistance to the Spanish until 1696, when Governor [[Diego de Vargas]] defeated the Indians at Taos Canyon.<ref name=THS/>

During the 1770s, Taos was repeatedly raided by [[Comanche]]s who lived on the [[great Plains|plains]] of what is now eastern [[Colorado]]. [[Juan Bautista de Anza]], governor of the [[Province of New Mexico, Mexico|Province of New Mexico]], led a successful [[punitive expedition]] in 1779 against the Comanches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Koshare Indian Museum: Taos, New Mexico|url=http://www.kosharehistory.org/visitors/taos.html|access-date=July 7, 2014|archive-date=June 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614043408/http://www.kosharehistory.org/visitors/taos.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Between 1780 and 1800, Don Fernando de Taos (now simply Taos) was established.<ref name=NPS /> Between 1796 and 1797, the Don Fernando de Taos land grant gave land to 63 Spanish families in the Taos valley.<ref name="Taos CofC History">[http://www.taoschamber.org/Visitor-Info/Taos-History Taos History.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121064630/http://www.taoschamber.org/Visitor-Info/Taos-History |date= January 21, 2015 }} Taos Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved July 28, 2014.</ref> It was built as a fortified plaza with adobe buildings and is now a central plaza surrounded by residential areas.<ref name=NPS>[http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/amsw/sw45.htm Taos Downtown Historic District.] National Park Service. Retrieved July 28, 2014.</ref> Mountain men who trapped beaver nearby made Taos their home in the early 1800s.<ref name="Taos CofC History" />

===U.S. territory and statehood===
Mexico ceded the region to the U.S. in the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] in 1848 after the [[Mexican–American War]]. After the U.S. takeover of New Mexico in 1847, Hispanics and American Indians in Taos staged a rebellion, known as the [[Taos Revolt]], in which the newly appointed U.S. Governor, [[Charles Bent]], was killed. New Mexico was a territory of the United States beginning in 1850 and became a state in 1912.

For historical reasons, the American flag is displayed continuously at [[Taos Plaza]] (both day and night). This derives from the time of the [[American Civil War]], when Confederate sympathizers in the area attempted to remove the flag. The Union officer [[Kit Carson]] sought to discourage this activity by having guards surround the area and fly the flag 24&nbsp;hours a day.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nfwRPe99u6QC | author= O'Neill, Zora | title=Santa Fe, Taos, & Albuquerque| publisher=Moon Handbooks| year=2006| page=95| access-date= July 24, 2009 | isbn=978-1-56691-879-4 }}</ref>

[[Anton Docher]], the "Padre of Isleta", first served as a priest in Taos before leaving for [[Isleta]] in 1891.<ref>{{cite book | author=Crane, L. |title=Desert Drums: the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, 1540–1928 | year=1972 |publisher=Rio Grande Press}} {{page needed | date = October 2022}}</ref>

===Taos art colony===
{{main|Taos Society of Artists|Taos art colony}}
Beginning in 1899, artists began to settle in Taos; six formed the [[Taos Society of Artists]] in 1915. In time, the [[Taos art colony]] developed. Many paintings were made of local scenes, especially of [[Taos Pueblo]] and activities there, as the artists often modelled Native Americans from the pueblo in their paintings. Some of the artists' studios have been preserved and may be viewed by visitors to Taos. These include the [[Ernest L. Blumenschein House]], the [[Eanger Irving Couse House and Studio—Joseph Henry Sharp Studios]], and the [[Nicolai Fechin]] house, all of which are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=Blieler>Bleiler, 75.</ref><ref name="Taos Daily">{{cite journal | author1=Whaley, B. | author2=Stiny, A. | url=http://www.taosdaily.com/index.php?fuseaction=home.viewarticle&article_id=2789 | title="Reconsidering Art in Taos; Bert Phillips" in ''Taos Horse Fly'' | journal=Taos Daily | access-date= February 17, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310092234/http://www.taosdaily.com/index.php?fuseaction=home.viewarticle&article_id=2789 | archive-date= March 10, 2012 }}</ref> {{citation needed span| text = Influential later 20th-century Taos artists include [[R. C. Gorman]] and [[Agnes Martin]]. | date = October 2022}} A number of Foundations host [[Artist-in-residence|artist residencies]] in Taos including the prestigious [[Helene Wurlitzer Foundation]] which began hosting painters, writers, composers, sculptors, poets and filmmakers at Casa Encantado in 1954.

==Historic sites and tourism==
[[File:Taospueblo.jpg|thumb|Taos Pueblo]] [[File:E.L. Blumenschein House Library 2.jpg|thumb|E.L. Blumenschein House Library, National Register of Historical Places]]
{{see also|National Register of Historic Places listings in Taos County, New Mexico}}

Taos is home to more than twenty sites on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/nm/Taos/state.html |title=Taos County, New Mexico |work=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=U.S. Dept. of Interior, the National Park Service, and the National Register of Historic Places |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

===Pueblos===
About {{convert|3|mi|km}} north of Taos is [[Taos Pueblo]]. [[Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico|Picuris Pueblo]] is located about {{convert|25|mi|km}} south.

===Taos Fiestas===
The Fiestas de Taos is an annual community celebration in the [[Taos Plaza]] honoring the feast of the two patron saints of Taos, Santa Ana and Santiago. It is normally celebrated the third weekend of July. A commemorative mass and procession from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church officially opens the event on Friday evening, followed with the crowning of the Fiestas Queen. The celebration continues with musical and dance performances scheduled on the plaza every hour. Two parades are staged, a children's parade on Saturday and the larger Fiesta Parade on Sunday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fiestasdetaos.com/|title=¡QUE VIVAN LAS FIESTAS DE TAOS! &#124; Fiestas de Taos &#124; Taos, New Mexico|website=fiestasdetaos.com}}</ref>

===Bent Street===
Located just north of the Taos Plaza, this street was the location of Governor Charles Bent's home.

Governor Bent was scalped and killed by Pueblo warriors during the [[Taos Revolt]] on January 19, 1847. During the Taos Revolt, Bent's horses were set free from their stable.

===Artists homes and studios===

==== Present ====
The [[Helene Wurlitzer Foundation]] is a non-profit organization based in Taos that provides free residency to eleven artists, with each year divided into three residency sessions of three months apiece at Casa Encantado.

[[Abbie Conant]], former principal trombonist of the [[Munich Philharmonic|Munich Philharmonic Orchestra]] and seasonal Taos resident, runs a studio three blocks from the plaza. In addition to the studio having capacity to seat 60, there is also a two bedroom living space. In addition to her and her husband's own performances, the studio has hosted poetry readings, presentations and performance from local Taoseñas and fellows from the Wurlitzer Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taos Studio of William Osborne and Abbie Conant|url=http://www.osborne-conant.org/Taos.htm|access-date=September 29, 2020|website=www.osborne-conant.org}}</ref>

==== Historic ====
Many of the historic sites are homes and studios of artists, including the [[Mabel Dodge Luhan House]], [[Eanger Irving Couse House and Studio—Joseph Henry Sharp Studios]], the [[Nicolai Fechin House]], the [[Leon Gaspard House]], and the [[Ernest Martin Hennings]] House.

Doc Martin's restaurant in the historic [[Taos Inn]] was previously the office of [[Thomas "Doc" Martin]] while other parts of the inn served as his home and the birthplace of the [[Taos Society of Artists]]. On Ledoux street, just south of the Taos Plaza, is the [[Ernest L. Blumenschein House]] and [[Harwood Museum of Art|Harwood House]].

===Other historic sites===
[[File:Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Taos, NM - 2024.jpg|alt=Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Taos, NM|thumb|Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Taos, NM]]
The center of the [[Taos Downtown Historic District]] is the Taos Plaza. Just west of that is the [[Our Lady of Guadalupe (Taos, New Mexico)|Our Lady of Guadalupe Church]]. North of the Taos Plaza is the [[Governor Charles Bent House]] and the [[Taos Inn]]. Further north in Taos The Bernard Beimer House. On the southwestern edge of the Taos Historic district is [[La Loma Plaza Historic District]]. East of the plaza on Kit Carson Road is the [[Kit Carson House]].

North of Taos is the [[Turley Mill and Distillery Site]] and the [[Rio Grande Gorge Bridge]]. Just outside Taos in Ranchitos is the [[Martinez Hacienda]], the home turned museum of the late Padre [[Antonio José Martínez]]. South of Taos is the [[Ranchos de Taos Plaza]] with the [[San Francisco de Asis Mission Church]].

{{Geographic location
|title = '''Taos Historic District Places from Taos Plaza'''
|Northwest =
|North     = [[Governor Charles Bent House]], [[Taos Inn]], The Bernard Beimer House, [[Taos Art Museum]], the [[Nicolai Fechin House]], [[Taos Pueblo]]
|Northeast = [[Mabel Dodge Luhan House]]
|Centre    = Taos Plaza within the<br>[[Taos Downtown Historic District]]
|East      = [[Kit Carson House]], [[Eanger Irving Couse House and Studio—Joseph Henry Sharp Studios]], [[Ernest Martin Hennings]] House, the Leon Gaspard House
|West      = [[Our Lady of Guadalupe (Taos, New Mexico)|Our Lady of Guadalupe Church]]
|Southwest = [[La Loma Plaza Historic District]]
|South     = [[Ernest L. Blumenschein House]], [[Harwood Museum of Art|Harwood House]]
|Southeast =
}}
[[File: Kit Carson gravestone and burial plot - Taos, New Mexico.jpg|thumb|Kit Carson gravestone and burial plot]]

About {{convert|20|mi|km}} 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 in the 1920s. It is believed that his ashes are buried there at the D. H. Lawrence Memorial.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

===Arts===
There are three art museums in Taos: [[Harwood Museum of Art]], [[Taos Art Museum]] and [[Millicent Rogers Museum]] that provide art from the Pueblo Native Americans, [[Taos Society of Artists]] and modern and contemporary artists of the [[Taos art colony]]. The town has more than 80 art galleries, and there are several houses of the [[Taos Society of Artists]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/art-today |title=Art Today |work=Taos Vacation Guide |publisher=Taos Webb Community |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210061603/http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/art-today/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/art-history |title=Art History |work=Taos Vacation Guide |publisher=Taos Webb Community |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210053941/http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/art-history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There are several local venues for the performing arts in Taos. The Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) draws nationally renowned and local performers at the Taos Community Auditorium. They also present independent film series. Three chamber music groups perform at TCA: Taos School of Music, Taos Chamber Music Group, and Music from Angel Fire. The [[Harwood Museum of Art]] is site of other performances and lectures. The Town of Taos Convention Center offers a venue for other local performances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/performance-art |title=Performing Arts |work=Taos Vacation Guide |publisher=Taos Webb Community |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210061912/http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/performance-art/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival]] was a film festival held in the town from the mid-1990s to 2003. The festival's top prize was {{convert|5|acre}} of land.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2003/12/08/story3.html |title=Taos Talking Pictures Drops Curtain |author=Domrzalski, Dennis |date= December 7, 2003 |newspaper=New Mexico Business Weekly |access-date= June 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2004/03/15/story7.html |title=Three Festivals Rise Out of Taos Talking Pictures' Ashes |author=Domrzalski, Dennis |date= March 14, 2004 |newspaper=New Mexico Business Weekly |access-date= June 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taoslandandfilm.com/ |title=Film Festival Awards |publisher=Taos Land and Film Co. |access-date= June 3, 2011}}</ref>

===Recreation===
The [[Carson National Forest]] and [[Rio Grande del Norte National Monument]] provide many opportunities for recreation, such as hiking, skiing, fly fishing, horseback riding, golfing, hot air ballooning, [[Llama hiking|llama trekking]], rafting, and mountain biking. The South Boundary National Recreation trail, east of town in Carson National Forest, is consistently ranked the best mountain bike trail in New Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtbproject.com/directory/8009312/new-mexico|title=Mountain Bike Trails Near New Mexico|website=MTB Project|access-date= April 9, 2015}}</ref>

There are also numerous hot springs along the [[Rio Grande]] and in the [[Taos Mountains]]. [[Ojo Caliente Hot Springs|Ojo Caliente]] offers locations where visitors can enjoy access to mineral springs as well as massages and other spa treatments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa |url=https://www.newmexico.org/listing/ojo-caliente-mineral-springs-resort-%26-spa/2397/ |website=NewMexico.org |publisher=NewMexico.org |access-date=April 24, 2024 |ref=86 |archive-date=April 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424195637/https://www.newmexico.org/listing/ojo-caliente-mineral-springs-resort-%26-spa/2397/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Among hot springs in the area is a historical site called Stage Coach, which used to double as a brothel during the times of the Old West. Nearby, the [[Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad]] provides a ride through the Toltec Gorge and [[Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountain]] passes in an authentic [[Narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge steam railroad]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/summer |title=Summer |work=Taos Vacation Guide, Recreation |publisher=Taos Webb Community |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210060101/http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/summer/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the winter, many people come to Taos to ski in the mountains. Nearby [[Wheeler Peak (New Mexico)|Wheeler Peak]], at {{convert|13161|ft|m}}, is the highest peak in New Mexico. The Taos area has four ski areas – [[Taos Ski Valley]], [[Red River, New Mexico|Red River]] ski area, [[Sipapu (ski area)]] and [[Angel Fire Resort|Angel Fire ski area]]. Other winter activities include hot air ballooning, horseback riding, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, ski skating, ice skating, ice fishing and snowmobiling.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/winter |title=Winter |work=Taos Vacation Guide, Recreation |publisher=Taos Webb Community |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210054842/http://taosvacationguide.com/categories/view/winter/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1940= 965
|1950= 1815
|1960= 2163
|1970= 2475
|1980= 3369
|1990= 4065
|2000= 4700
|2010= 5716
|2020= 6474
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</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=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}

Taos is the principal town of the Taos, NM, [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which includes all of Taos County.

As of the 2010 census Taos had a population of 5,716. The median age was 44. The ethnic and racial composition of the population was 40.1% non-Hispanic white, 0.7% African American, 1% Asian, 5.3% Native American, 0.3% non-Hispanics reporting some other race, 5.4% reporting two or more races and 51.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 general profile of population and housing characteristics for Taos from the U.S. Census</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,700 people, 2,067 households, and 1,157 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|874.5|PD/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 2,466 housing units at an average density of {{convert|458.8|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the town was 68.04% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.53% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 4.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.62% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.11% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 21.66% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.94% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 54.34% of the population.

There were 2,067 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.0% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23% 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 were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The median age was 41&nbsp;years. For every 100 females, there were 85 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,016, and the median income for a family was $33,564. Males had a median income of $27,683 versus $23,326 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $15,983. About 17.9% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 24.4% of those age 65 or over.{{clear left}}

==Geography and climate==
[[File:Taos NM world wind2.jpg|right|thumb|View north from Taos Plaza toward Taos Mountain ([[NASA WorldWind]])]]
Taos is located at {{Coord|36|23|38|N|105|34|36|W|type:city}} (36.393979, −105.576705).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date= April 23, 2011 |date= February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

The town has a total area of {{convert|5.4|sqmi|km2}}, all land.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citymelt.com/city/New-Mexico/Taos+Town-NM.html |title=Taos Town, New Mexico Complete Analysis |publisher=citymelt.com |access-date= June 4, 2011}}</ref>

Taos is located within two watersheds, categorized as [[Hydrological code|subwatersheds or HUC12s]] in the United States.  The town is mostly located in the Outlet Rio Fernando del Taos Watershed, where its two waterbodies are rated as impaired.<ref>{{cite web |title=How's My Waterway? |url=https://mywaterway.epa.gov/community/taos,%20nm/overview |publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |access-date=March 3, 2022}}</ref> A coalition of local organizations are working to improve the watershed's health.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hooks |first1=Cody |title=Surprising alliance of groups tackle problems on Río Fernando |url=https://www.taosnews.com/news/environment/surprising-alliance-of-groups-tackle-problems-on-r-o-fernando/article_f652d7f9-24d2-5c13-acbe-2a39c97c8bfe.html |access-date= March 3, 2022 |publisher=Taos News |date=April 24, 2019}}</ref> The northern edge of town is within the Rio Fernando del Taos-[[Rio Pueblo de Taos|Rio Pueblo del Taos]] Watershed.<ref>{{cite web |title=How's My Waterway? |url=https://mywaterway.epa.gov/community/130201010605/overview |publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |access-date= March 4, 2022}}</ref>

Just to the west of Taos is the [[Rio Grande Gorge]], cutting through the [[basalt]] flows of the [[Taos Plateau volcanic field]] and crossed by the [[Rio Grande Gorge Bridge]], now a part of [[U.S. Route 64]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/background/the-land/geography-and-geology |title=Geography and Geology |author=  O'Neill, Zora |work= Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque from Moon Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque, 2nd edition  |publisher=Avalon Travel Guides |access-date= June 4, 2011}}</ref>

The elevation of the town is {{convert|6969|ft|m}}.<ref name=FAQ>{{cite web |url=http://taosvacationguide.com/faqs |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=Taos Vacation Guide |publisher=Taos Webb Community |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209232944/http://taosvacationguide.com/faqs |url-status=dead }}</ref> Just north of Taos is [[Wheeler Peak (New Mexico)|Wheeler Peak]], at {{convert|13161|ft|m}}, the highest point in New Mexico.<ref name=FAQ/> Taos has a [[warm-summer humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb''), though it borders on a [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'') due to the low rainfall. The town is characterized by extreme [[diurnal temperature variation|diurnal variations of temperature]]. Even when summer days get extremely hot, nights cool off considerably.

{{Weather box
|location = Taos, New Mexico, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–2016
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 66
|Feb record high F = 73
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 82
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 98
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 99
|Sep record high F = 95
|Oct record high F = 89
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 67

|Jan avg record high F = 53.8
|Feb avg record high F = 59.4
|Mar avg record high F = 68.7
|Apr avg record high F = 75.6
|May avg record high F = 83.4
|Jun avg record high F = 91.5
|Jul avg record high F = 93.2
|Aug avg record high F = 90.5
|Sep avg record high F = 86.2
|Oct avg record high F = 77.8
|Nov avg record high F = 66.7
|Dec avg record high F = 56.1
|year avg record high F = 93.9

|Jan high F = 42.1
|Feb high F = 46.4
|Mar high F = 55.2
|Apr high F = 63.0
|May high F = 72.9
|Jun high F = 83.7
|Jul high F = 86.5
|Aug high F = 84.2
|Sep high F = 78.1
|Oct high F = 67.0
|Nov high F = 53.1
|Dec high F = 42.4
|year high F = 

|Jan mean F = 27.1
|Feb mean F = 32.9
|Mar mean F = 40.2
|Apr mean F = 46.8
|May mean F = 55.0
|Jun mean F = 65.5
|Jul mean F = 69.6
|Aug mean F = 67.7
|Sep mean F = 61.4
|Oct mean F = 49.7
|Nov mean F = 37.8
|Dec mean F = 28.0
|year mean F = 

|Jan low F = 12.2
|Feb low F = 19.4
|Mar low F = 25.3
|Apr low F = 30.5
|May low F = 37.1
|Jun low F = 47.4
|Jul low F = 52.7
|Aug low F = 51.3
|Sep low F = 44.8
|Oct low F = 32.3
|Nov low F = 22.4
|Dec low F = 13.6
|year low F = 

|Jan avg record low F = -3.3
|Feb avg record low F = -1.0
|Mar avg record low F = 10.5
|Apr avg record low F = 19.8
|May avg record low F = 26.6
|Jun avg record low F = 36.5
|Jul avg record low F = 45.3
|Aug avg record low F = 44.3
|Sep avg record low F = 32.1
|Oct avg record low F = 19.0
|Nov avg record low F = 6.4
|Dec avg record low F = -4.9
|year avg record low F = -9.6

|Jan record low F = -27
|Feb record low F = -27
|Mar record low F = -11
|Apr record low F = 0
|May record low F = 13
|Jun record low F = 28
|Jul record low F = 34
|Aug record low F = 36
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = 0
|Nov record low F = -21
|Dec record low F = -27

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.67
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.45
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.71
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.83
|May precipitation inch = 1.22
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.86
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.53
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.77
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.37
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.34
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.88
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.07
|year precipitation inch = 12.70

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.7
|Feb precipitation days = 3.5
|Mar precipitation days = 4.4
|Apr precipitation days = 3.8
|May precipitation days = 4.9
|Jun precipitation days = 4.8
|Jul precipitation days = 7.2
|Aug precipitation days = 10.2
|Sep precipitation days = 5.8
|Oct precipitation days = 4.6
|Nov precipitation days = 3.9
|Dec precipitation days = 4.2
|year precipitation days = 61.0

|Jan snow inch = 6.0
|Feb snow inch = 3.3
|Mar snow inch = 4.0
|Apr snow inch = 1.9
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 1.4
|Nov snow inch = 2.8
|Dec snow inch = 9.0
|year snow inch = 

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.6
|Feb snow days = 2.4
|Mar snow days = 1.2
|Apr snow days = 1.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.5
|Nov snow days = 1.2
|Dec snow days = 3.1
|year snow days = 12.0

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00298668&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Taos, NM
|access-date = August 7, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2 (mean maxima/minima, snow depth 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = August 7, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

===Mud season===
Dirt roads and driveways in Taos can experience a particularly bad [[mud season]] when winter weather is followed by unseasonably warm temperatures. This occurs because area soil is heavy with [[silt]], which makes it vulnerable to [[frost heaving]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hooks |first1=Cody |title=Mud an Unwelcome Visitor for Taoseños |url=https://www.taosnews.com/news/mud-an-unwelcome-visitor-for-taose-os/article_e687f42d-06d6-5631-98e8-75f8e5ea6605.html |access-date= February 16, 2022 |publisher=Taos News |date=February 7, 2015}}</ref>

==Education==
The town's public schools operated by [[Taos Municipal Schools]] include Arroyos del Norte Elementary School, Enos García Elementary (also Taos Elementary School), Ranchos Elementary School, Taos Middle School, [[Taos High School]] and Taos Cyber Magnet School.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taosschools.org/ |title=Taos Municipal Schools |publisher=Taos Municipal Schools |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

Charter schools include Anansi Charter School, Taos Academy (State Charter), Taos Municipal Charter School and Vista Grande High School.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ped.state.nm.us/resources/personneldirectory/charterschools.pdf |title=New Mexico Charter Schools |publisher=New Mexico Public Education Department |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928180908/http://www.ped.state.nm.us/resources/personneldirectory/charterschools.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also in the area are additional alternative and private schools: Chrysalis Alternative School, Sped Discipline, Yaxche Private School, Taos Christian Academy, and San Francisco De Asis School.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatschools.org/new-mexico/taos/elementary-schools/ |title=All Taos elementary, middle and high schools (search criteria) |work=Find a School |publisher=GreatSchools, Inc. |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> The [[Bureau of Indian Education]]-operated [[Taos Day School]] is in nearby [[Taos Pueblo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bie.edu/schools/directory/taos-day-school|title=Taos Day School|publisher=[[Bureau of Indian Education]]|accessdate=March 16, 2023|quote=Physical Address: 200 Rotten Tree Rd Taos, NM 87571}} - Despite the Taos address, tit is in [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st35_nm/place/p3576410_taos_pueblo/DC20BLK_P3576410.pdf Taos Pueblo CDP]</ref>

[[Dallas]]-based [[Southern Methodist University]] operates a {{convert|295|acre|adj=on}} campus at [[Fort Burgwin]] in Taos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://smu.edu/taos/ |title=Southern Methodist University (SMU) |publisher=Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

[[Albuquerque]]-based [[University of New Mexico]] (UNM) operates a community campus in Taos, with eight affiliated buildings in Taos, such as the UNM [[Harwood Museum of Art]] and [[Taos High School]] where some classes are held.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taos.unm.edu/index.html |title=University of New Mexico – Taos  |publisher=University of New Mexico |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://taos.unm.edu/campusmap/index.html |title=Campus map |work=University of New Mexico – Taos |publisher=University of New Mexico |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=August 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824060145/http://taos.unm.edu/campusmap/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Earthship Academy (or Earthship Biotecture Academy) is offering training in [[Earthship]] design principles, construction methods and philosophy. Earthship is a particular type of [[sustainable]] architecture and design, based around [[solar power]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earthship.com/academy|title=Earthship Biotecture Academy|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706155332/http://earthship.com/academy|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Taos, NM, emblem Picture 1999.jpg|thumb|Taos emblem]]
[[File:Taos New Mexico Town Hall.jpg|thumb|Taos Town Hall]]
The town of Taos is incorporated under the mayor-council form of government. The town was incorporated on May&nbsp;7, 1934.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=602 |title=Chapter 3.12 Form of Government |publisher=Sterling Codifiers, Inc. |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> The town seal is a logo of the town of Taos with the year of incorporation "1934" in the center, and on the outer edge, the words "Town of Taos, New Mexico".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=602 |title=Chapter 3.16 Town Seal |publisher=Sterling Codifiers, Inc. |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

The elective officers of the town include the mayor, four members of the governing body forming the town council, and a municipal judge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=602 |title=Chapter 3.20.010 Elective Officers of Town (Ord. 98-2 § 1, 1998: prior code § 2-2) |publisher=Sterling Codifiers, Inc. |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> The town council is the board of finance of the town. The town manager and finance director serve as the nonvoting members to the board of finance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=602|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711045946/http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=602|url-status=dead |title=Chapter 3.24 Town Finance |publisher=Sterling Codifiers, Inc. |access-date=June 4, 2011| archive-date=July 11, 2011 }}</ref> Key positions within the town government are town manager, appointed by the mayor, Town Attorney, Town Clerk, Town Engineer and Chief of Police.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=602 |title=Town of Taos |publisher=Sterling Codifiers, Inc. |pages=3.36, 3.40, 3.44, 3.52, 3.56 |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

{{As of|2022|April}} the town officers were:
* Mayor: Pascual Maestas; term from April 2022 to March 2026<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Staff report |title=New Taos mayor, councilors, re-elected municipal judge take office |url=https://www.taosnews.com/news/politics/elections/new-taos-mayor-councilors-re-elected-municipal-judge-take-office/article_152def18-b210-11ec-a519-4b15bcea5401.html |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=The Taos News |date=April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* Town council members: Nathaniel Evans,  Marietta Fambro, Darian Fernandez, and  Corilia Ortega.<ref name=":0" />

Taos is predominantly made up of Democrats; in 2008, approximately 74% of registered Taos County voters were Democrats, 13% were Republicans and about 13% identified with other parties or declined to affiliate with a party.<ref>{{dead link | date = October 2022}} {{cite news |url=http://www.taosnews.com/articles/2008/10/26/news/doc48cd47f69fc6a039269745.txt |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204035959/http://www.taosnews.com/articles/2008/10/26/news/doc48cd47f69fc6a039269745.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2013 |title=Taos County Republicans Open Local Campaign Headquarters |author=Chambers, P. |date=September 14, 2008 |newspaper=The Taos News |access-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref>

==Transportation==

===Public===
The RTD Chile Line, operated by the North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD), is Taos' only public transportation system. It provides fare-free in-town service as well as seasonal service up to Taos Ski Valley. The transit system also provides [[paratransit]] service for citizens with special needs and ensures that all route buses are [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|American Disability Act]] (ADA) equipped.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taosgov.com/transportation/chile-line.php |title=Transportation Services Chile Line |publisher=Town of Taos |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427063520/http://www.taosgov.com/transportation/chile-line.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The RTD Taos Express promotes local tourism and provides weekend express service, for a nominal fee, from the Taos Plaza to the [[New Mexico Rail Runner Express|New Mexico Rail Runner]], [[Santa Fe Municipal Airport]], and [[Santa Fe Trails|Santa Fe transit]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taosexpress.com/ |title=Taos Express |publisher=Town of Taos |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=June 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630084643/http://www.taosexpress.com/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

The [[North Central Regional Transit District]] (NCRTD) has public transportation service into the Town from throughout Taos County and the Counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos. The Taos region has service to Cerro, [[Penasco, New Mexico|Penasco]], [[Questa, New Mexico|Questa]], [[Red River, New Mexico|Red River]], the Rio Grande corridor and the [[University of New Mexico]] – Taos Klaur campus. At the Española Transit Center, passengers can connect to other regional routes, such as [[Española, New Mexico|Española]], [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]], [[Los Alamos, New Mexico|Los Alamos]], and [[Eight Northern Pueblos|Northern Pueblos]] area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncrtd.org/ |title=North Central Regional Transit District |publisher=NCRTD |access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref> In 2003 the Regional Transit District Act was enacted, which authorized the creation of Regional Transit Districts (RTD's) in the state of New Mexico; In September 2004, the North Central Regional RTD was the first RTD to be certified by the [[New Mexico Department of Transportation|New Mexico Transportation Commission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncrtd.org/Fast_Facts.aspx |title=North Central Regional Transit District, Fast Facts |publisher=NCRTD |access-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-date=May 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508094515/http://www.ncrtd.org/Fast_Facts.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Airports===
[[Taos Regional Airport]] (SKX) is under the direct supervision of the Town of Taos. The airport is located just a few miles north of the Town of Taos on [[U.S. Route 64]] towards the [[Rio Grande Gorge Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taosairport.org/ |title=Taos Regional Airport |publisher=Town of Taos, Taos Regional Airport |access-date=<!-- 2011 -->}}</ref>

Other airports in New Mexico include the [[Santa Fe Municipal Airport]] and [[Albuquerque International Sunport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifly.com/new-mexico-airports |title=New Mexico Airports |year=2011 |publisher=Red Cirrus, LLC |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808005605/http://www.ifly.com/new-mexico-airports |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Media==

===Newspapers===
''El Crepusculo de la Libertad'' was the first Taos newspaper, which began in 1834 with the first printing press west of the Mississippi.<ref name="THS"/> Its successor ''The Taos News'', which also does business as ''El Crepusculo'', is the primary printed newspaper in Taos.

* ''[[The Taos News]]'', a weekly online and print publication.<ref name=About>{{cite news |url=http://www.taosnews.com/about_us/about_taos_news/ |title=About Taos News |newspaper=The Taos News |access-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815035330/http://taosnews.com/about_us/about_taos_news/ |archive-date=August 15, 2009 }}</ref>
* ''Sangre de Cristo Chronicle'' (inactive) served [[Angel Fire, New Mexico]], [[Red River, New Mexico|Red River]], [[Cimarron, New Mexico|Cimarron]], [[Eagle Nest, New Mexico|Eagle Nest]], Taos, [[Las Vegas, New Mexico|Las Vegas]], [[Questa, New Mexico|Questa]] and Sipapu.<ref>{{dead link | date = October 2022}} {{cite web |url=http://www.sangrechronicle.com/ |title=Sangre de Cristo Chronicle |year=2011 |publisher=El Crespusculo/Sangre de Cristo Chronicle |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=June 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603040114/http://www.sangrechronicle.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''[[The Santa Fe New Mexican]]''
* ''[[Albuquerque Journal]]'' North Edition.

===Online===
''[[Taos News|The Taos News]]'' provides weekly online publications of their newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/new-mexico-usa.shtml |title=New Mexico Newspapers (NM) |year=2022  |website=OnlineNewspapers.com |access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref>

===Television===
There are two local cable television stations: Taos Local Television Public Access Channel 2<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laplaza.org/taostv/ |title=Taos Local Television Public Access Channel 2 |publisher=TLTPA |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> and Channel 22.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taostv.org/ |title=Taos Local Television Public Access Channel 22 |publisher=Comcast |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=September 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905164501/http://taostv.org/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> See also [[List of television stations in New Mexico]].

===Radio===
Radio stations serving Taos include:<ref name=RL>{{cite web|url=http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Taos&state=NM&x=15&y=7|title=Radio Stations in Taos, New Mexico|publisher=Radio-Locator.com|access-date=May 19, 2012}}</ref>

(Several stations are located in the adjacent unincorporated suburbs of [[El Prado, New Mexico|El Prado]] and [[Arroyo Seco, New Mexico|Arroyo Seco]].)

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" width="80" | Radio station
! scope="col" width="80" | Frequency
! scope="col" width="80" | FM/AM
! scope="col" width="250" | Format
|-
|[[KCEI]]|| 90.1 ||FM ||Variety.<ref name=OTR/>
|-
|[[KNCE]] || 93.5 ||FM ||"True Taos Radio", variety
|-
|[[KKIT]] || 95.9 ||FM ||"The Mountain", pop, rock, classic rock.<ref name=OTR>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheradio.net/cities/taos_nm.aspx |title=Radio Stations in Taos, NM |publisher=Ontheradio.net |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=December 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213014139/http://ontheradio.net/cities/taos_nm.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[KKTC]] || 99.9 ||FM || "True Country".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiointaos.com/index.php/kktc.html |title=KKTC |publisher=RadioinTaos.com |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109235321/http://www.radiointaos.com/index.php/kktc.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[KLNN]] ||103.7 ||FM|| [[Adult contemporary music]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luna1037.com/ |title=Luna 103.7 KLNN |publisher=KLNN |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|[[KUNM|KRRT]] ||90.9 ||FM ||Top-40,<ref name=OTR/> local transmitter for the [[University of New Mexico]]'s [[KUNM]].
|-
|[[KTAO]]|| 101.9 ||FM ||Solar radio station with an [[adult album alternative]] music format.<ref name=OTR/>
|-
|[[KVOT]]|| 1340 ||AM ||Religious (Christian) music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiointaos.com/index.php/kvot.html |title=KVOT |publisher=RadioinTaos.com |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829235315/http://www.radiointaos.com/index.php/kvot.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[KXMT]] ||99.1 ||FM ||Radio Exitos is the local 24-hour Spanish radio station serving Taos, northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheradio.net/kxmt|title=KXMT|publisher=Ontheradio.net|access-date=June 4, 2011|archive-date=December 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212193030/http://ontheradio.net/kxmt|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[KYBR]] ||92.9 ||FM ||Spanish.<ref name=OTR/> Located in [[Española, New Mexico|Española]], but serves [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]] and Taos as well.<ref>[http://www.radiooso.com/ KYBR station website]</ref>
|-
|}

==In popular culture==
{{see also|Taos County, New Mexico#In popular culture}}

Taos has been featured in ''[[The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca]]'' (1960) and ''[[And Now Miguel]]'' (1966).<ref>Maddrey, Joseph (2016). ''The Quick, the Dead and the Revived: The Many Lives of the Western Film''. McFarland. p. 182. {{ISBN|9781476625492}}.</ref>

Country music artist [[Waylon Jennings]] sang a song titled "Taos, New Mexico" on his 1967 album ''[[Love of the Common People (album)|Love of the Common People]].''

A different song, also called "Taos, New Mexico", was a chart hit for Canadian singer/songwriter [[R. Dean Taylor]] in 1972.  The song charted in Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, and the US, reaching top 40 on the US Adult Contemporary charts.

The character Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud in the 1977 television series ''[[McCloud (TV series)|McCloud]]'', played by [[Dennis Weaver]], was portrayed as being from Taos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-dennis-weaver-20060228-story.html|title=From the Archives: Dennis Weaver, 81; Star of 'Gunsmoke,' 'McCloud' Also Was Environmental Activist|last=McLellan|first=Dennis| date = February 26, 2006 | work = [[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date= October 30, 2022}}</ref>

In his 1983 novel [[Christine (King novel)|Christine]], writer [[Stephen King]] states that Leigh Cabot eventually settled in Taos with her husband and twin daughters.

A “businessman from Taos” is referenced in the 2022 [[Charley Crockett]] song “Tom Turkey.”

On September&nbsp;18, 1991, the [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] television series ''[[Reading Rainbow]]'' shot its 73rd episode "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" here. The title was based on a book by [[Tomie dePaola]] and was narrated by Harold Littlebird (born 1951). [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]]'s Dominic C. Arquero introduced himself at this program's beginning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aptv.org/Schedule/showinfo.asp?ID=164380&NOLA1=RERA |title=The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush |work=Reading Rainbow |publisher=Alabama Public Television (PBS) |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725132857/http://www.aptv.org/Schedule/showinfo.asp?ID=164380&NOLA1=RERA |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood/theme/myths.html |title=The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush |work=Myths and Legends, PBS Teachers |publisher=PBS |access-date= June 4, 2011}}</ref>

The [[Volkswagen Taos]], introduced in October 2018, is named after the town to pay tribute to its former resident [[John Muir (engineer)|John Muir]], a structural engineer who authored a Volkswagen repair book in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |last=Szymkowski|first=Sean|title=Volkswagen's New Compact SUV Will Wear 'Taos' Name |url = https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/volkswagen-compact-suv-taos |access-date= October 15, 2020 |website=Roadshow|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Volkswagen Taos Will Be the Name of VW's Next Crossover |url = https://www.autoblog.com/2020/09/17/vw-taos-name-revealed/|access-date= October 15, 2020 |website=Autoblog|language=en}}</ref>

In [[Young Justice: Outsiders]], Taos is the location of the Meta-Human Youth Center, a community center formed by the [[Justice League]] and STAR Labs to help children and teens victimized by meta-human trafficking.

===Taos Hum===
An ongoing low-frequency noise, audible only to some, is thought to originate somewhere near this town and is consequently sometimes known as the [[The Hum|Taos Hum]]. Those who have heard the Hum usually hear it west of Taos near [[Tres Orejas]]. The Taos Hum was featured in a 1995 episode of the television series ''[[Unsolved Mysteries]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.unsolved-mysteries.com/unexplained_events/taos_hum.html |title=Taos Hum | publisher=Unsolved-Mysteries.com |work=The Unexplained | access-date= June 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629154900/http://www.unsolved-mysteries.com/unexplained_events/taos_hum.html |archive-date= June 29, 2011}}</ref> was mentioned in [[Drive (The X-Files)|a 1998 episode]] of ''[[The X-Files]]''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.insidethex.co.uk/transcrp/scrp602.htm | title=X-Files script 602 | work=Inside the X | publisher=DrWeesh | access-date=June 3, 2011 | archive-date=July 16, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111014/http://www.insidethex.co.uk/transcrp/scrp602.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> and was featured in [[Criminal Minds (season 13)|a 2018 episode]] of ''[[Criminal Minds]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvshowtranscripts.ourboard.org/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28468 | title=Mixed Signals Transcript | work=TV Show Transcripts | publisher=Anonymous | access-date=March 3, 2024 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Sister cities==
Taos has one [[sister city]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[Xalisco]], [[Nayarit]], Mexico

==Notable people==
[[File:Garyjohnsonphoto.JPG|upright|thumb|[[Gary Johnson]], Former two-term governor of New Mexico]] [[File:Kit Carson photograph restored.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Kit Carson]], American explorer and frontiersman]]

=== Artists and actors ===
{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Lynn Anderson]], country/pop singer
* [[Chiara Aurelia]], actress 
* [[Abbie Conant]], trombonist and professor
* [[Oscar E. Berninghaus]], artist
* [[Emil Bisttram]], artist
* [[Larry Bell (artist)|Larry Bell]], sculptor
* [[Ernest L. Blumenschein]], founding member, [[Taos Society of Artists]]
* [[Dorothy Brett]], artist and personality
* [[Joshua Bryant]], actor, director, author and speaker former longtime resident and founder of the [[Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival]] & Media Forum
* [[Agnes Chavez]], artist
* [[E. Irving Couse]], artist
* [[Andrew Dasburg]], artist
* [[Ronald Davis]], artist
* [[W. Herbert Dunton]], artist
* [[Nicolai Fechin]], artist
* [[R. C. Gorman]], artist
* [[E. Martin Hennings]], artist
* [[William Victor Higgins]], artist
* [[Dennis Hopper]], actor, director, artist
* [[Gene Kloss]], artist
* [[Agnes Martin]], artist
* [[Robert Mirabal]], Native American flute player and maker from [[Taos Pueblo]]
* [[Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt]], artist
* [[Bert Geer Phillips]], artist
* [[Suzan Pitt]], artist, director
* [[Kenneth Price]], ceramicist
* [[Christian Ristow]], artist
* [[Julia Roberts]], actress
* [[Dean Stockwell]], artist and actor
* [[Joseph Henry Sharp]], artist
* [[Walter Ufer]], artist
* [[Kristen Vigard]], actress and singer
* [[Harold Joe Waldrum]], artist
* [[Michael Walker (knifemaker)|Michael Walker]], custom knife maker and sculptor
* [[Julius Rolshoven]], artist
}}

=== Sportspeople ===
* [[Ross Anderson (skier)|Ross Anderson]], skier<ref>{{cite web|title=Ross Anderson profile|url=http://rossanderson.org/profile.htm|access-date=June 3, 2011|publisher=Ross Anderson|archive-date=February 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218144510/http://www.rossanderson.org/profile.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Kit Carson]], frontiersman
* [[Chris Del Conte]],  athletic director of the [[University of Texas at Austin]]
* [[Dave Hahn]], mountaineer{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}}
* [[Danelle Umstead]], Paralympic skier

=== Professors and medical professionals ===
* [[Fred Wendorf]], Henderson-Morrison Professor of Anthropology at Southern Methodist University
* [[Thomas "Doc" Martin]], physician

=== Authors, poets, and teachers ===
* [[Julia Cameron]], author of ''[[The Artist's Way]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://juliacameronlive.com/about-julia-cameron/|title=About Julia Cameron &#124; Julia Cameron Live|website=juliacameronlive.com|access-date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411202118/https://juliacameronlive.com/about-julia-cameron/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Judson Crews]], poet and publisher
* [[James Doss]], author
* [[Natalie Goldberg]], writer
* [[Margaret Catherine Alice Hyson]], missionary and teacher in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
* [[D. H. Lawrence]], author
* [[Anne MacNaughton]], poet and cofounder of Taos Poetry Circus
* [[John Nichols (writer)|John Nichols]], author of ''[[The Milagro Beanfield War]]''
* [[Olivia Romo]], poet, spoken word artist and water rights activist
* [[Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant]], journalist and writer
* [[John Muir (engineer)|John Muir]], engineer, mechanic and writer
* [[Marilyn Gayle Hoff]], author and activist

=== Businesspeople and architects ===
* [[Marcelino Baca]], 19th-century fur trader<ref>{{cite book |last=Hafen|first=LeRoy R.|title=Fur Trappers and Traders of the Far Southwest : Twenty Biographical Sketches | date = 1997 | publisher=Utah State University Press | isbn=0874212359|oclc=37400891}}</ref>{{page needed | date = October 2022}}
* [[Mabel Dodge Luhan]], patron of the arts
* [[Susan Powter]], health and fitness entrepreneur
* [[Mike Reynolds (architect)|Mike Reynolds]], [[Earthship]] architect
* [[Millicent Rogers]], socialite, fashion icon, and art collector
* [[Maria Rosa Villalpando]] (1738-1830) A Hispanic woman who became a captive of the Comanche and later a businesswoman in St. Louis.

=== Politicians and Military ===
* [[Daniel R. Barrone]], mayor of Taos and member of the [[New Mexico House of Representatives]]
* [[Charles Bent]], first Territorial Governor of New Mexico
* [[Gary Johnson]], former two-term governor of New Mexico<ref>{{cite web|date=February 10, 2011|title=Gary Johnson: 'Ron Paul and Myself' Can 'Grow the Base' | url = http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/02/gary-johnson-ron-paul-and-myself-can-grow-the-base.html|publisher = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref>
* [[John Márquez]], politician in [[Richmond, California]]
* [[Joe P. Martínez]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
* [[Kristina Ortez]], politician
* [[Rebecca Vigil-Giron]], 20th and 22nd [[New Mexico Secretary of State]]

=== Religious figure ===
* [[Antonio José Martínez]], priest

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px" class="center">
File:MabelHouse.jpg|[[Mabel Dodge Luhan House]], a National Historic Landmark
File:View of Taos, NM from mountain trail Picture 2000.jpg|View of Taos from mountain trail
File:Paseo Del Pueblo Norte in Taos, NM Picture 2006.jpg|Downtown Paseo Del Pueblo Norte in Taos
File:First Baptist Church, Taos, NM Picture 2009.jpg|Spanish Revival-style First Baptist Church
File:LaFonda Loby.jpg|Lobby of the La Fonda hotel
File:Taos mission church.jpg|San Francisco de Asis Church at Ranchos de Taos
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|New Mexico}}
* [[List of municipalities in New Mexico]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Bleiler |first=Lyn |author2=Society of the Muse of the Southwest |year=2011 |title=Taos |series=Images of America |location=Charleston |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-7959-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Crane |first=Leo |orig-year=1928 |title=Desert Drums: the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, 1540–1928 |location=Whitefish, MT |publisher=Kessinger Publishing |year=2010 |edition=Reprint |isbn=978-1163176870}}
* {{cite book |first1=Laurance C. |last1=Herold |last2=Luebben |first2=Ralph A.  |url=http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/u?/sit,24 |title=Papers on Taos Archaeology |location=Taos, NM |publisher=Fort Burgwin Research Center |year=1968 |oclc=55484}}
* {{cite book |last=John |first=Elizabeth Ann Harper |year=1996 |orig-year=1975 |title=Storms Brewed in Other Men's Worlds: The Confrontation of Indians, Spanish, and French in the Southwest, 1540-1795 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |edition=2nd |isbn=978-0806128696}}
* {{cite book |first=Zora |last=O'Neill |year=2006 |title=Santa Fe, Taos, & Albuquerque |series=Moon Handbooks |publisher=Avalon Travel Publishing |isbn=978-1-56691-879-4}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Taos, New Mexico}}
{{wikivoyage|Taos}}
* {{official website|http://www.taosgov.com/}}
* [http://taos.org/ The Official Taos Vacation Guide], published by the Town of Taos
* [http://www.taoschamber.com/ Taos County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.taoslibrary.org/ Taos Public Library]

{{Taos, New Mexico}}
{{Geographic location
|title = '''Destinations from Taos'''
|Northwest = [[Rio Grande Gorge Bridge]], Tres Piedras, [[Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad|Toltec Gorge]]
|North     = [[Taos Pueblo]], Valdez, [[Questa, New Mexico|Questa]]
|Northeast = [[Taos Ski Valley]], [[Wheeler Peak (New Mexico)|Wheeler Peak]], [[Red River, New Mexico|Red River]]
|Centre    = Taos
|East      = [[Angel Fire, New Mexico|Angel Fire]], [[Eagle Nest, New Mexico|Eagle Nest]]
|West      = [[Carson National Forest]]
|Southwest = [[Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico|Rancho de Taos]], [[Ojo Caliente, New Mexico|Ojo Caliente]]
|South     = [[Sipapu (ski area)|Sipapu]], [[Penasco, New Mexico|Peñasco]], [[Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico|Picuris Pueblo]]
|Southeast = [[Santa Fe National Forest]]
}}
{{Taos County, New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Taos, New Mexico| ]]
[[Category:Taos County, New Mexico|*]]<!-- It's the county seat of Taos County, please do not remove-->
[[Category:County seats in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of New Mexico]]
[[Category:New Mexico placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Towns in Taos County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1610s]]
[[Category:Taos Revolt]]