
Espanola, New Mexico Population, Schools and Places of Interest
According to necessaryhome, Espanola, New Mexico is a small city located in Rio Arriba County and bordered by other cities and towns in the state. To the north of Espanola lies the city of Taos, which is known for its vibrant art scene and stunning mountain views. To the south of Espanola lies Santa Fe, which has a rich cultural history and is home to some of the oldest buildings in the state. To the east lies Los Alamos, which was once home to an atomic bomb laboratory and now houses a number of museums and science centers. Finally, to the west lies Abiquiu, a small town with stunning natural beauty that includes one of Georgia O’Keefe’s favorite landscapes.
Espanola itself has plenty to offer visitors as well. The city is home to numerous restaurants serving up delicious Mexican cuisine such as traditional tamales or chile Colorado burritos. The downtown area features several shops selling handmade artwork from local artists as well as souvenirs from nearby sites like Santa Fe or Taos Pueblo. There are also several museums in Espanola that highlight local history such as El Rancho de las Golondrinas or Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Museum & Visitor Center both located just outside of town.
The surrounding area is also known for its outdoor activities such as hiking at Bandelier National Monument or fishing on one of several rivers including Rio Chama or Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. There are also many opportunities for camping throughout the region with nearby sites like El Vado Lake State Park offering plenty of space for tents or RV’s along with access to fishing docks, picnic areas and boat ramps.
Overall, Espanola offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure or cultural exploration there are plenty of options available here that will make your stay memorable. With its proximity to other major cities like Taos and Santa Fe plus its own unique attractions there is no shortage of things to see and do here.
Population of Espanola, New Mexico
Espanola, New Mexico is a small city located in Rio Arriba County and bordered by other cities and towns in the state. The population of Espanola is estimated to be around 10,000 people as of 2019. The majority of the population is Hispanic or Latino, accounting for 92.1% of the total population. Other racial or ethnic groups include White (3.8%), Native American (2.9%), Black (0.6%), Asian (0.3%) and other races (0.3%).
The median age in Espanola is 33 years old, with 23% of the population under 18 years old and 8% over 65 years old. The median household income in Espanola is $32,917, which is lower than the national average of $60,293. However, nearly 24% of the population lives below the poverty line compared to a national average of 11%.
Espanola also has a high rate of unemployment compared to the rest of New Mexico and the US as a whole at 7%. This rate has been steadily increasing since 2007 when it was at 4%. This could be attributed to several factors including lack of education opportunities in the area as well as limited job opportunities due to its small size and rural location.
The educational attainment level in Espanola is also lower than average with only 11% having a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 33% nationwide. However, this number has been slowly increasing over time due to increased access to educational resources such as local community colleges and universities within driving distance from town such as Northern New Mexico College or University of New Mexico-Taos Campus which offer courses from associate degrees all the way up through doctoral degrees.
Overall, Espanola has a diverse population with an interesting mix of cultures that make it unique from other cities in New Mexico and throughout the US as a whole. With its rich history and culture plus its close proximity to nearby attractions like Santa Fe or Taos Pueblo there are plenty of things for visitors to explore here.
Schools and Education of Espanola, New Mexico
According to A2zdirectory, Espanola, New Mexico is a small city located in Rio Arriba County and bordered by other cities and towns in the state. The population of Espanola is estimated to be around 10,000 people as of 2019. The majority of the population is Hispanic or Latino, accounting for 92.1% of the total population. Other racial or ethnic groups include White (3.8%), Native American (2.9%), Black (0.6%), Asian (0.3%) and other races (0.3%).
The educational attainment level in Espanola is also lower than average with only 11% having a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 33% nationwide. However, this number has been slowly increasing over time due to increased access to educational resources such as local community colleges and universities within driving distance from town such as Northern New Mexico College or University of New Mexico-Taos Campus which offer courses from associate degrees all the way up through doctoral degrees.
In terms of primary and secondary education, Espanola offers several public schools for students ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade including Española Valley High School, Carlos F. Vigil Middle School, Mesa Elementary School, and Rio Chama Elementary School among others. There are also several private schools in the area including Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School, San Juan Catholic School, St Mary’s Academy and Santa Cruz Montessori Academy among others that provide religious education as well as traditional academic programs for students K-12th grade.
In addition to these schools there are also several universities located within close proximity to Espanola including Northern New Mexico College which offers Associate’s degrees in a variety of majors such as Business Administration, Nursing, Education and Computer Science among others; University of New Mexico-Taos Campus which provides Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Liberal Arts; Santa Fe Community College which provides Associate’s degrees in a variety of majors such as Art History and Sociology; Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute which offers Bachelor’s degrees in Applied Science; University of Phoenix-Santa Fe Campus which provides Master’s degree programs in Business Administration; Western New Mexico University offering Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science; and Highlands University providing Bachelor’s degree programs in Education among many others nearby institutions available for students seeking higher education close to home.
Overall, Espanola has an abundance of educational resources available for students at all levels whether they are looking for primary or secondary schooling or even higher education opportunities close by. With its diverse population and rich history there are plenty opportunities available here both inside the classroom outside.
Landmarks in Espanola, New Mexico
Espanola, New Mexico is a small city in Rio Arriba County and the gateway to the beautiful Northern New Mexico. It is rich in culture, history, art and architecture that make it a great place to visit. The city is home to some of the most unique landmarks in the state.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Espanola is the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church, built by Franciscan Friars in 1776. It stands on its original site and continues to be used as an active parish church today. The mission was declared a National Historic Landmark due to its unique combination of Spanish-colonial architecture, local adobe construction techniques, and regional decorative elements.
The Espanola Valley Library & Cultural Center is another important landmark in Espanola. Built in 1885 by local businessman Manuel Martinez and his wife Petra Valdez Martinez, it originally served as a community hall for their family and friends. Today it serves as a public library offering books, magazines, newspapers, computer access and other resources for research or leisure reading. It also houses an art gallery featuring works from local artists as well as traveling exhibits from around the world.
The historic Plaza de Española is one of the oldest public squares in New Mexico and has been designated as a State Historic Monument since 1965. This plaza was once home to many traditional dances such as La Danza de los Indios (the Dance of Native Americans) which took place here annually until it was banned by Spanish authorities in 1750 due to its pagan nature. Today visitors can still enjoy traditional dances at this location during special events like Fiesta de Española which takes place every summer during July 4th weekend.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is another popular landmark located just outside of Espanola near Taos Pueblo Reservation. This bridge spans 1120 feet across the Rio Grande Gorge at an impressive height of 650 feet above sea level making it one of the highest bridges in America. The bridge offers spectacular views from either side including breathtaking sunsets over the desert landscape below making it an ideal spot for sightseeing or photography enthusiasts alike.
Finally, no trip to Espanola would be complete without a visit to Chimayo’s Santuario de Chimayo located just outside town limits on El Camino Real (the Royal Road). This historic church built between 1810-1816 has become a pilgrimage site for many Catholics who come here seeking spiritual healing or miracles each year during Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter). Here visitors can find numerous religious artifacts including crucifixes made out of wood or stone that are said to have special healing powers if touched three times while saying prayers aloud.
In conclusion, there are many impressive landmarks located throughout Espanola that make it worth visiting regardless if you are looking for cultural experiences or simply amazing scenery. From ancient churches like San Francisco de Asis Mission Church and Santuario de Chimayo; historical squares like Plaza de Española; modern libraries like Espanola Valley Library & Cultural Center; or simply stunning views from Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – there’s something here for everyone.