Dixon, New Mexico
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Dixon is a village located in Rio Arriba County in the U.S. state of New Mexico, on NM Highway 75, just east of NM Highway 68 in the north-central part of the state, at Latitude 36.20 & Longitude -105.89. The elevation of Dixon is 6028 feet (1037 meters) above sea level . It is on the banks of the Embudo River, a tributary of the Rio Grande River, which it flows into two miles down stream from Dixon. The population of around 1,500 is still predominately Hispanic, but many non-Hispanics have made their homes here since the mid 1960s.
The area was inhabited by Tiwa peoples from nearby Picuris Pueblo, then settled by Spanish colonists under the 1723 Embudo Land Grant. The aldea was known as San Antonio del Embudo until around 1900 when a post office was established and the name was changed to Dixon, reputedly to honor Collins Dixon, a school teacher who taught here in the late 1800s; one tradition has him being a Civil War army deserter; his descendents live around nearby Española.
Because of the temperate climate generated by the local topography and helped by the acequias (irrigation ditch system) set up by the Spanish around 1800, the Embudo Valley has become a significant fruit and grape growing area and the greater Dixon area boasts of several fine wineries, including the La Chiripada Winery and the Vivác Winery. About two miles north of the town on NM Highway 75 rock and mineral collectors can visit the Harding Mine, a pegmatite mine donated to the University of New Mexico by Dr. Arthur Montgomery. Maps to the mine can be obtained at the library in the center of town.
The town which is home to the largest population of organic farmers in the state, and is about 20 miles southwest of Taos. Its zip code is 87527. The substantial number of artists and craft people living in the area led to the 1981 creation of the Dixon Studio Tour which annually draws many visitors during the two days in November that it occupies. There are three galleries in the area, Metier Fine Handweaving and Craft, Rare Earth and Rift Gallery Contemporary Art as well as Indigo House Weaving Studio, which offers a certification program in Hand Weaving.
Dixon has a community supported library, radio station, KLDK and the Dixon Community Food Co-op, and during the summer months the Dixon Farmer's Market, all of which serve the needs of the whole community. It also has a retreat center, at Mission Embudo, which offers space for workshops & retreats, as well as reasonably priced accommodation for visitors.
[edit] References
- Pearce, T.M., editor, New Mexico Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM 1965
- New Mexico Magazine - [1]
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