Cerrillos Hills State Park is a
state park of
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
, located south of
Santa Fe. Transferred to state ownership in 2009, it is New Mexico's newest state park. The hills in the park range in elevation from to above sea level. The new visitors' center is located in the village of Los Cerrillos. The park has numerous hiking trails.
History
The Cerrillos Hills were originally known by the Spanish as the Sierra de San Mateo.
In 1581, they discovered the lead-silver deposits there, which had earlier been used by the
pueblo people
The Puebloans or Pueblo peoples, are Native Americans in the Southwestern United States who share common agricultural, material, and religious practices. Currently 100 pueblos are actively inhabited, among which Taos, San Ildefonso, Acoma, Z ...
s as an ingredient in pottery glazes.
After the coming of the "Americans" the Cerrillos Mining District was created in 1879. The Cerrillos Mining District was added to the
New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties The New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties is a register of historic and prehistoric properties located in the state of New Mexico. It is maintained by the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultura ...
in 1973.
The park was originally created in 2003 by
Santa Fe County
Santa Fe County ( es, Condado de Santa Fe; meaning ''Holy faith'' in Spanish) is located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 144,170, making it New Mexico's third-most populous county, after Bernalillo Cou ...
with the assistance of the Cerrillos Hills Park Coalition.
Its name then was the Santa Fe County Cerrillos Hills Historic Park.
References
External links
Cerrillos Hills State ParkCerrillos Hills Park Coalition
{{authority control
State parks of New Mexico
Parks in Santa Fe County, New Mexico
Protected areas established in 2009