Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico

Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico
CDP
Pueblo of Santo Domingo Mission Church
Location of Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico
Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico Location in the United States
Coordinates: 35°30′52″N 106°21′48″W / 35.51444°N 106.36333°W / 35.51444; -106.36333Coordinates: 35°30′52″N 106°21′48″W / 35.51444°N 106.36333°W / 35.51444; -106.36333
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Sandoval
Area
• Total	2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
• Land	2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	5,187 ft (1,581 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	2,550
• Density	1,273.9/sq mi (491.9/km2)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	87052
Area code(s)	505
FIPS code	35-70810
GNIS feature ID	0928818

Kewa Pueblo (Eastern Keres [kʰewɑ], Navajo: Tó Hájiiloh), formerly known as Santo Domingo Pueblo, is an Indian pueblo and a census-designated place (CDP) in Sandoval County, New Mexico, in the United States. The pueblo is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Santa Fe. Interstate 25 runs 4 miles (6 km) to the east of the community. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 2,550 and is nearly 99% Native American. The CDP is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The population of the pueblo is composed of Native Americans who speak Keres, an eastern dialect of the Keresan languages. Like several other pueblo peoples, they have a matrilineal kinship system, in which children are considered born into the mother's family and clan, and inheritance and property pass through the maternal line.

The Pueblo celebrates an annual feast day on August 4 to honor their patron saint, Saint Dominic. More than 2,000 pueblo people participate in the traditional corn dances held at this time.

In the 17th century, the Spanish conquistadores named the pueblo as Santo Domingo. Its earliest recorded name was Gipuy. According to Pueblo Council members, the local name in their Keres language has always been Kewa. In 2009, the pueblo officially changed its name to Kewa Pueblo, altering its seal, signs and letterhead.^[1]

Geography

Kewa Pueblo is located at 35°30′52″N 106°21′48″W / 35.51444°N 106.36333°W / 35.51444; -106.36333 (35.514483, -106.363429).^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 2,550 people, 446 households, and 408 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,273.9 people per square mile (492.3/km²). There were 475 housing units at an average density of 237.3 per square mile (91.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.71% Native American, 0.24% White, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 0.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 446 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 38.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 8.3% were non-families. 7.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.72 and the average family size was 6.02.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 37.0% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,563, and the median income for a family was $28,382. Males had a median income of $20,878 versus $17,768 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $6,038. About 36.5% of families and 36.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.7% of those under age 18 and 27.5% of those age 65 or over.

History

The pueblo plays a supporting role in Spanish colonial history. Gaspar Castaño de Sosa, a fugitive from the Crown, was arrested at the pueblo in March 1591. Castaño, a notorious slaver, had fled capture. He pursued an illegal claims expedition up the Pecos River, which had not yet been seen by Europeans. He made it as far as Pecos pueblo, and raided it for slaves. He turned west and traveled toward modern-day Santa Fe, which had been established by the Spanish. He followed the Rio Grande river valley south. On orders of the Viceroy at Mexico City, Captain Juan Morlette found Castaño at Kewa pueblo and arrested him. He returned him to authorities to face trial for his crimes, including his attack on Pecos pueblo.

Castaño abandoned two interpreters at Kewa Pueblo; he had kidnapped them earlier and brought them with him. Governor Juan de Oñate's expedition recorded encountering Tomas and Cristobal at Kewa Pueblo, as it traveled north.

20th century to present

Potters of Kewa (Santo Domingo) and Cochiti pueblos have made traditional pots for centuries, developing styles for different purposes and expressing deep beliefs in their designs. Since the early decades of the 20th century, these pots have been appreciated by a wider audience outside the pueblos. Continuing to use traditional techniques, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, potters have also expanded their designs and repertoire in pottery, which has an international market.

Notes

Further reading

• Chapman, Kenneth Milton (1977). The Pottery of Santo Domingo Pueblo: A Detailed Study of Its Decoration. School of American Research, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico, ISBN 0-8263-0460-5; original published in 1936 as volume 1 of the Memoirs of the Laboratory of Anthropology OCLC 3377512
• Verzuh, Valerie K. (2008). A River Apart: The Pottery of Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos. Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico, ISBN 978-0-89013-522-8