Tucumcari, New Mexico

Tucumcari, New Mexico
City
Quay County Courthouse, 2008
Seal
Location of Tucumcari in New Mexico
Coordinates: 35°10′10″N 103°43′32″W / 35.16944°N 103.72556°W / 35.16944; -103.72556Coordinates: 35°10′10″N 103°43′32″W / 35.16944°N 103.72556°W / 35.16944; -103.72556
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Quay
Founded	1901
Government
• Mayor	Antonio Apodaca
Area
• Total	7.6 sq mi (19.6 km2)
• Land	7.5 sq mi (19.5 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	4,091 ft (1,247 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	5,989
• Density	793.8/sq mi (306.5/km2)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	88401
Area code(s)	575
FIPS code	35-79910
GNIS feature ID	0915909
Website	City of Tucumcari

Tucumcari is a city in and the county seat of Quay County, New Mexico, United States.^[1] The population was 5,363 at the 2010 census. Tucumcari was founded in 1901, two years before Quay County was founded.^[2]

History

In 1901, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad built a construction camp in the western portion of modern-day Quay County. Originally called Ragtown, the camp became known as Six Shooter Siding, due to numerous gunfights. Its first formal name, Douglas, was used only for a short time.^[3] After it grew into a permanent settlement, it was renamed Tucumcari in 1908. The name was taken from Tucumcari Mountain, which is situated near the community.^[4] Where the mountain got its name is uncertain. It may have come from the Comanche word "tukamukaru", which means to lie in wait for someone or something to approach. A 1777 burial record mentions a Comanche woman and her child captured in a battle at Cuchuncari, which is believed to be an early version of the name Tucumcari.^[3]

Geography

Tucumcari is located at 35°10′10″N 103°43′32″W / 35.16944°N 103.72556°W / 35.16944; -103.72556 (35.169453, −103.725488).^[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.6 sq mi (19.6 km²), of which, 7.5 sq mi (19.5 km²) of it is land and 0.13% is water.

Climate

Tucumcari has a semiarid climate characterized by cool winters and very warm summers. Rainfall is relatively low except during the summer months, when thunderstorms associated with the North American monsoon can bring locally heavy downpours. Snowfall is generally very light. Due to the frequency of low humidity, wide daily temperature ranges are common.

The record high temperature at Tucumcari was 109 °F (43 °C) on August 23, 1926, and June 28, 1968. The record low temperature was −19 °F (−28 °C) on January 13, 1963. (The cooperative National Weather Service station 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Tucumcari reported a low temperature of −22 °F (−30 °C) on the same date.) The wettest year was 1941 with 35.46 inches (901 mm) and the driest year was 1951 with 7.34 inches (186 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 8.86 inches (225 mm) in July 1950. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 4.40 inches (112 mm) on August 12, 1917. The most snowfall in one year was 40.7 inches (1,030 mm) in 1931. The most snowfall in one month was 26.0 inches (660 mm) in December 1923.^[6]

Summer rain over Eastern New Mexico associated with the North American Monsoon.

Demographics

Old Attebury Grain Elevator, 2011

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 5,989 people, 2,489 households, and 1,607 families residing in the city. The population density was 793.8 people per square mile (306.7/km²). There were 3,065 housing units at an average density of 406.2 per square mile (156.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.87% White, 1.29% African American, 1.39% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 17.10% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.41% of the population.

There were 2,489 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

Economy

Income inequality rose from 1990 to 2000.^[9]

The median income for a household in the city was $22,560, and the median income for a family was $27,468. Males had a median income of $25,342 versus $18,568 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,786. About 19.1% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

Legend surrounding the area

Tucumcari Mountain, 2007

Legend has it that Apache Chief Wautonomah was nearing the end of his time on earth and was troubled by the question of who would succeed him as ruler of the tribe. In a classic portrait of love and competition, his two finest braves, Tonopah and Tocom, not only were rivals and sworn enemies of one another, but were both vying for the hand of Kari, Chief Wantonomah's daughter. Kari knew her heart belonged to Tocom. Chief Wautonomah beckened Tonopah and Tocom to his side and announced, "Soon I must die and one of you must succeed me as chief. Tonight you must take your long knives and meet in combat to settle the matter between you. He who survives shall be the Chief and have for his wife Kari, my daughter."

As ordered, the two braves met, with knives outstretched, in mortal combat. Unknown to either brave was that Kari was hiding nearby. When Tonopah's knife found the heart of Tocom, the young woman rushed from her hiding place and used a knife to take Tonopah's life as well as her own.

When Chief Wautonomah was shown this tragic scene, heartbreak enveloped him and he buried his daughter's knife deep into his own heart, crying out in agony, "Tocom-Kari"!

A slight variation of the Chief's dying words lives on today as Tucumcari, and the mountain that bears this name stands as a stark reminder of unfulfilled love.

Some credit this folk tale to Geronimo. Others, believing the claims to be apocryphal, purport the tale variously to have been concocted by anyone from a 1907 Methodist minister^[10] to a group of local businesspeople seated together at the old Elk Drugstore each embellishing the stories one by one.^[11] Nonetheless, the town is named for Tucumcari Mountain, which in turn takes its name from native origins.

In popular culture

• Many of the scenes in the television show Rawhide (1959–1966) starring Clint Eastwood were shot in the Tucumcari area.^[12]
• One of the killers in Truman Capote's 1965 book In Cold Blood asks about the travelling distance to Tucumcari. This scene appears in the 1967 film version of the novel.
• Tucumcari is the setting of one of the first scenes in Sergio Leone's 1965 film For a Few Dollars More, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Gian Maria Volonté. However, this is a prochronism, as Tucumcari was founded many years after the historical period in which For a Few Dollars More takes place.
• A scene in the 1971 movie Two-Lane Blacktop, starring James Taylor, Dennis Wilson, and Warren Oates, was filmed at a gasoline service station on U.S. Highway 54 just northeast of Tucumcari. Tucumcari Mountain is clearly visible at the beginning of this scene.
• The city is mentioned in the 1988 film Rain Man by the character played by Tom Cruise. However, the location in the scene is not Tucumcari.
• In the David Stone Series featuring Micah Dalton, the lead character was raised in Tucumcari.^[13]

Tucumcari is mentioned in several songs, including:

• "Coyote" recorded by Better Than Ezra on Deluxe (1993)
• "Dead End Diner" recorded by Lost Dogs on Old Angel (2010)
• "Goodbye Tennessee" recorded by Jim Post
• "Hungry Man" recorded by Louis Jordan
• "I Don't Care" recorded by Justin Townes Earle on Yuma (2007)
• "Last Hobo" recorded by John Denver on All Aboard! (1997)
• "Route 40" recorded by Leslie Fish on Limelight (1990)
• "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" written by Bobby Troup (1946)
• "Tucumcari" recorded by Cex on Actual Fucking (2006)
• "Tucumcari" recorded by Freedy Johnston on The Trouble Tree (1990)
• "Tucumcari" recorded by Jimmie Rodgers (1959)
• "Tucumcari Here I Come" recorded by Dale Watson on More Songs Of Route 66 (2001)
• "Two-Gun Harry from Tucumcari" recorded by Dorothy Shay
• "Willin'" recorded by Little Feat on Little Feat (1971), and also on Sailin' Shoes (1972) and Waiting for Columbus (1978)
• "Willin'" covered as "I'm Willin'" by Seatrain on Seatrain(1970)
• "Willin'" covered by Linda Ronstadt on Heart Like A Wheel(1974)
• "Il Treno A Tucumcari" recorded by Bloodhorse on their self-titled EP (2007)

Tucumcari Tonite/Route 66

Blue Swallow Motel on U.S. Route 66, 2012

For many years, Tucumcari has been a popular stop for cross-country travelers on Interstate 40 (formerly U.S. Route 66 in the area). It is the largest city on the highway between Amarillo, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Billboards reading "TUCUMCARI TONITE!" placed along I-40 for many miles to the east and west of the town invite motorists to stay the night in one of Tucumcari's "2000" (later changed to "1200") motel rooms. The "TUCUMCARI TONITE!" campaign was abandoned in favor of a campaign which declared Tucumcari, "Gateway to the West". However, on June 24, 2008, Tucumcari's Lodgers Tax Advisory Board, the group responsible for the billboards, voted to return to the previous slogan.^[14]

Old U.S. Route 66 runs through the heart of Tucumcari via Route 66 Boulevard, which was previously known as Tucumcari Boulevard from 1970 to 2003 and as Gaynell Avenue before that time. Numerous businesses, including gasoline service stations, restaurants and motels, were constructed to accommodate tourists as they traveled through on the Mother Road. A large number of the vintage motels and restaurants built in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s are still in business despite intense competition from newer chain motels and restaurants in the vicinity of Interstate 40, which passes through the city's outskirts on the south.

The Federal Building (Sands Dorsey Drug) burned on June 8, 2007

Historic Downtown

Most of Tucumcari's oldest buildings lie along or near Main Street in the Historic Downtown area. These include:

• Crescent Creamery (vacant)
• Federal Building, commonly known as Sands-Dorsey Drug (fire damaged and vacant)^[15]
• Masonic Temple
• Odeon Theater
• Princess Theater (fire damaged and vacant)
• Rock Island-Southern Pacific Train Depot

Also located in the downtown area are the concrete arches that once surrounded the Hotel Vorenburg, which was demolished in the 1970s after being damaged by fire.

USS Tucumcari

The city had a United States Navy hydrofoil named after it. The USS Tucumcari (PGH-2) was built by Boeing. It began service in 1968 and ended service in 1972 after running aground in Puerto Rico.

Schools

Mesalands Community College

Schools in Tucumcari cover all groups from daycare to post-secondary education.

• Tucumcari Early Head Start and Head Start (non-public daycare and preschool)
• Tucumcari Elementary School (public Pre-K through fifth grade)
• Tucumcari Middle School (public sixth grade through eighth grade)
• Tucumcari High School (public ninth grade through twelfth grade)
• Mesalands Community College (community two-year institution of higher learning)

People and events

In 1896, Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum and his associates robbed a post office and store in Liberty, NM, a community that dissolved after the railroad bypassed it. Many of Liberty's residents moved to the nearby railroad siding that eventually became Tucumcari.

Musician Bob Scobey was born in Tucumcari in 1916.^[16] The following year, American character actor Paul Brinegar was born in Tucumcari as well.

In December 1951, a water storage tank collapsed in the city. Four were killed and numerous buildings were destroyed.

Tucumcari High School graduate Stan David was a star safety for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and played 16 NFL games for the Buffalo Bills in 1984. He was listed as number 48 in the Sports Illustrated list of "The 50 Greatest New Mexico Sports Figures."^[17]

The buildings formerly at Metropolitan Park (locally known as "Five Mile Park" because it is located about five miles (8 km) outside of town) were designed by Trent Thomas, adapted from his design of La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe. The park once featured New Mexico's largest outdoor swimming pool. Owing to deterioration, Metropolitan Park was named to the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance's list of Most Endangered for 2003.^[18] In 2010, the park's main building caught fire and burnt to the ground. The city of Tucumcari razed the site weeks after the fire.^[19]

Each year since 1992 the town has held the Tucumcari Air Show. The show held on October 4, 2006 was canceled after one hour when a single-engine plane crashed, resulting in the pilot's death.^[20]

Rex Maddaford, who competed for the New Zealand team in the 1968 Summer Olympics, has been a long-time Tucumcari Public Schools faculty member. He is currently a teacher at Tucumcari High School.^[21]

See also

• Baca-Goodman House

References

Train station in Tucumcari, 2008

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tucumcari, New Mexico.

• City of Tucumcari
• Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce
• Eastern Plains Community Action Agency (Early Head Start and Head Start)
• Mesalands Community College

v t e Municipalities and communities of Quay County, New Mexico, United States County seat: Tucumcari City Tucumcari Villages House Logan San Jon CDP Nara Visa Other unincorporated communities Bard Forrest Glenrio‡ McAlister Montoya Quay Wheatland Footnotes ‡This populated place also extends into Texas

v t e  State of New Mexico Santa Fe (capital) Topics Index Delegations Geography Government History World War II Landmarks Military Neomexicanos New Mexicans Paleontology Settlements by population Symbols Transportation Tribes Visitor attractions Society Crime Culture Demographics Economy Education Politics Regions Central New Mexico Colorado Plateau Eastern New Mexico Llano Estacado Northern New Mexico Permian Basin San Luis Valley Sangre de Cristo Mountains Southwestern New Mexico Cities Alamogordo Albuquerque Artesia Carlsbad Clovis Corrales Deming Española Farmington Gallup Grants Hobbs Las Cruces Las Vegas Los Alamos Los Lunas Lovington Portales Raton Rio Rancho Roswell Ruidoso Santa Fe Silver City Socorro Sunland Park Taos Tucumcari Counties Bernalillo Catron Chaves Cibola Colfax Curry De Baca Doña Ana Eddy Grant Guadalupe Harding Hidalgo Lea Lincoln Los Alamos Luna McKinley Mora Otero Quay Rio Arriba Roosevelt San Juan San Miguel Sandoval Santa Fe Sierra Socorro Taos Torrance Union Valencia