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Maxwell, New Mexico

Maxwell, New Mexico
3rd Street (2026)
3rd Street (2026)
Location of Maxwell, New Mexico
Location of Maxwell, New Mexico
Maxwell, New Mexico is located in the United States
Maxwell, New Mexico
Maxwell, New Mexico
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 36°32′28″N 104°32′35″W / 36.54111°N 104.54306°W / 36.54111; -104.54306
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountyColfax
Area
  Total
0.47 sq mi (1.23 km2)
  Land0.47 sq mi (1.23 km2)
  Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation5,925 ft (1,806 m)
Population
  Total
224
  Density472.1/sq mi (182.29/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
87728
Area code575
FIPS code35-47080
GNIS feature ID2413571[2]

Maxwell is a village in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Maxwell had a population of 224.[4] Maxwell was established in 1879 as a railroad town on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was named in honor of Lucien Maxwell, who provided the land for the original townsite from his Maxwell Land Grant.[citation needed]

Geography

[edit]

Maxwell is located near the center of Colfax County in the valley of the Canadian River. Interstate 25 passes through the east side of the village, with access from Exit 426. I-25 leads north 26 miles (42 km) to Raton, the Colfax County seat, and southwest 81 miles (130 km) to Las Vegas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.47 square miles (1.23 km2), all land.[5]

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages the Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, located 2 miles (3 km) northwest of the village. The refuge offers excellent birding opportunities during the spring and fall migrations. It consists of several lakes, fields and woodlots managed for birds and the area's other wildlife.

Climate

[edit]

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Maxwell has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Maxwell was 100 °F (37.8 °C) on June 27, 1953, July 4, 1953, July 5, 1953, July 4, 1957, July 3, 1960, July 6, 1966, June 29, 1998, July 13, 2003, and June 28, 2013, while the coldest temperature recorded was −35 °F (−37.2 °C) on January 13, 1963.[6]

Climate data for Maxwell, New Mexico, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1945–2021
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24)
77
(25)
84
(29)
88
(31)
98
(37)
100
(38)
100
(38)
99
(37)
95
(35)
89
(32)
86
(30)
77
(25)
100
(38)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 46.8
(8.2)
50.5
(10.3)
58.7
(14.8)
64.9
(18.3)
73.9
(23.3)
83.0
(28.3)
86.2
(30.1)
84.0
(28.9)
78.7
(25.9)
68.1
(20.1)
55.9
(13.3)
46.2
(7.9)
66.4
(19.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 29.6
(−1.3)
32.3
(0.2)
40.1
(4.5)
46.9
(8.3)
56.0
(13.3)
64.9
(18.3)
69.2
(20.7)
67.7
(19.8)
61.3
(16.3)
49.7
(9.8)
37.9
(3.3)
29.1
(−1.6)
48.7
(9.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 12.5
(−10.8)
14.1
(−9.9)
21.4
(−5.9)
28.9
(−1.7)
38.2
(3.4)
46.8
(8.2)
52.3
(11.3)
51.5
(10.8)
43.8
(6.6)
31.2
(−0.4)
20.0
(−6.7)
11.9
(−11.2)
31.1
(−0.5)
Record low °F (°C) −35
(−37)
−32
(−36)
−22
(−30)
−3
(−19)
15
(−9)
28
(−2)
35
(2)
36
(2)
16
(−9)
−3
(−19)
−24
(−31)
−28
(−33)
−35
(−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.34
(8.6)
0.29
(7.4)
0.70
(18)
0.81
(21)
1.64
(42)
1.89
(48)
2.58
(66)
2.47
(63)
1.64
(42)
1.01
(26)
0.35
(8.9)
0.35
(8.9)
14.07
(359.8)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.2
(13)
3.5
(8.9)
3.3
(8.4)
2.1
(5.3)
0.1
(0.25)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.9
(2.3)
1.9
(4.8)
4.4
(11)
21.4
(53.95)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 1.8 2.0 3.1 3.7 6.0 6.6 8.7 9.7 5.9 3.3 1.9 1.8 54.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.6 1.8 1.4 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.8 1.6 8.6
Source 1: NOAA[7]
Source 2: xmACIS2[6]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1920384
193043914.3%
194048310.0%
1950404−16.4%
1960392−3.0%
19703930.3%
1980316−19.6%
1990247−21.8%
200027410.9%
2010254−7.3%
2020224−11.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8][3]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 274 people, 117 households, and 76 families residing in the village. The population density was 577.5 inhabitants per square mile (223.0/km2). There were 148 housing units at an average density of 311.9 per square mile (120.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 86.50% White, 4.01% Native American, 7.30% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 55.47% of the population.

There were 117 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $22,083 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $11,231. About 22.0% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.0% of those 65 or over.

1964 tornado

[edit]

On May 29, 1964, an F3 tornado struck Maxwell and claimed one life, causing eight injuries. A total of 50 homes were destroyed.[10] It was one of only four F3 tornadoes in New Mexico history.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Maxwell, New Mexico
  3. 1 2 "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Maxwell village, New Mexico". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 23, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. 1 2 "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  7. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: MAXWELL 3 NW, NM". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. "The Most 'Important' US Tornadoes by State". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  11. "Tornado History Project: Maps and Statistics". Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2022.