Santa Fe, New Mexico, the state capital, the seat of Santa Fe County, and the second oldest city in the United States. (St. Augustine, Florida, is the oldest.) Santa Fe lies in north-central New Mexico at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. Its narrow streets, adobe buildings, and historical and cultural features attract many tourists and artists. The city is the trade center for a farming and ranching area in the upper Rio Grande Valley and has some light manufacturing industries.
Santa Fe's heritage is reflected in its old Spanish and pueblo style buildings. Facing the plaza in the heart of the city stands the Palace of the Governors, built in 1610—ten years before the arrival of the Pilgrims in America. The palace, now a museum, was the seat of New Mexico's various governments for almost 300 years. Other historic buildings include the Cathedral of St. Francis, the Cristo Rey Church, and the San Miguel Mission, reputedly the oldest mission church in the United States. Santa Fe also claims the oldest house in the nation.
Museums are a major cultural attraction. The Museum of New Mexico is divided into a number of separate units, including the Palace of the Governors, the New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts, the Laboratory of Anthropology, and the Museum of International Folk Art. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum showcases work by O'Keeffe and her contemporaries. The nationally acclaimed Santa Fe Opera performs each summer in a magnificent outdoor theater. A rodeo, a horse show, and a fiesta are also major annual events. In the surrounding area are numerous Indian pueblos. Skiing in the nearby mountains is a popular winter attraction.
Santa Fe was founded by Don Pedro de Peralta in 1610 as the capital of New Mexico province, part of the vast Spanish empire in America. Pueblo Indians drove the Spaniards out in 1680, and the city was not recovered until 12 years later. Mexico gained control of Santa Fe with its independence from Spain in 1821. Thereafter, an ever increasing number of traders and settlers arrived from the United States via the Santa Fe Trail, which ended in the plaza. Santa Fe became part of the United States after the Mexican War and was made the New Mexico territorial capital in 1850. During the Civil War the city was occupied briefly by Confederate troops, but they were soon driven out by Union forces. Santa Fe has been the state capital since New Mexico achieved statehood in 1912. Santa Fe has the mayor-council form of government.
Population: 62,203.
