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Weed, New Mexico

Coordinates: 32°48′09″N 105°31′29″W / 32.80250°N 105.52472°W / 32.80250; -105.52472
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Weed, New Mexico
Census-designated place
Weed, New Mexico is located in New Mexico
Weed, New Mexico
Weed, New Mexico
Coordinates: 32°48′09″N 105°31′29″W / 32.80250°N 105.52472°W / 32.80250; -105.52472
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountyOtero
Area
[1]
 • Total8.98 sq mi (23.25 km2)
 • Land8.97 sq mi (23.24 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
[2]
7,215 ft (2,199 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total67
 • Density7.47/sq mi (2.88/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
Area code575
GNIS feature ID2584235[2]
Websitewww.weednm.org

Weed is a hamlet and a census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. It lies alongside New Mexico State Road 24 on the southeastern slopes of the Sacramento Mountains at an elevation of 7,215 ft. It has had a Post Office since 1885.[4] As of the 2010 census, its population was 63.[5]

History

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Weed was founded in 1884 by George and Elizabeth Lewis.[4] It was named after William H. Weed, who opened a branch store there.[4]

Economy

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The Weed Store Llc. is owned and operated by Mike and Anna Jones. The store was purchased in 2014 by the family and continued to provide gas and supplies to residents and tourists after the last general store and gas station closed in 2008.[6][7]

Education

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It is within Cloudcroft Municipal Schools.[8]

Previously Alamogordo Public Schools operated Weed Elementary School and Weed High School.[9] Weed High School opened circa 1885.[10] Previously Weed schools were under the Otero County Board of Education. Weed residents believed the Alamogordo district would be more likely to keep their schools open if there was an enrollment decrease, so they opted for Alamogordo schools instead of Cloudcroft schools. The Cloudcroft school board disliked the decision and in 1958 passed a motion stating that the district should not accept Weed or Piñon students even if their respective areas offered to pay tuition to Cloudcroft schools.[11] Weed Schools consolidated into the Alamogordo district on July 1, 1959.[12]

In 1970 the State of New Mexico funded the Weed School with $69,000 for one year, arguing that the school's continued operation was a necessity.[13] Weed High School had grades 7-12. In 1991 the Weed schools had 50 students, with 25 each in elementary and secondary levels, and five secondary teachers. On April 15 of that year Alamogordo board voted 4-0 to close Weed High, citing operating expenses as the annual Weed High expenses were $247,000 while it collected $147,000 that year from Weed residents. It made a deal with Cloudcroft schools to have the children sent there. Some Weed residents did not like the deal as they perceived Cloudcroft schools to be too large and because the Cloudcroft area catered to tourists. The Weed secondary teachers had the option of taking jobs in Alamogordo schools.[10] Because Weed Elementary remained as a part of the Alamogordo district, it meant that the elementary and high school students had different scheduling. Weed residents did not believe the Alamogordo operation figures, but felt they had no recourse as they believed they could not afford to hire adequate legal representation. The Cloudcroft district did not begin charging tuition to Alamogordo schools and relied on increased funding from its higher enrollment.[11]

In the 1991-1992 school year Weed Elementary had 18 students,[14] and two teachers. In 1991-1992 various Weed parents told the Alamogordo district that a teacher they disliked should be moved from the school or they would not move their children to other schools. The district chose not to remove the teacher.[15] For the 1992-1993 school year the projected enrollment was 24.[16] By August 1992 the teacher criticized by Weed parents remained while the other teacher did not go back to Weed Elementary. The parents opposed to the remaining teacher withdrew 20 of the children.[15] By August 29, 1992 no students showed up to Weed Elementary. Area parents sent them to the Timberon school or to Cloudcroft Schools.[16] The Cloudcroft district chose to accept the Weed students.[15] Under New Mexico law a school with less than eight students should not operate, so the Alamogordo district decided to close Weed Elementary. The Alamogordo district offered jobs in Alamogordo schools to the Weed elementary employees, including the only remaining teacher.[16] The district still chose to employ the teacher instead of keeping the school open.[15] At that point all grade levels K-12 were officially designated to Cloudcroft schools.[14] By October 1992 Weed area parents were campaigning to have the elementary school reopened.[15] In November 1992 the Cloudcroft district's board passed a resolution to annex portions of the Alamogordo district, including Weed. In a separate motion the district drew new electoral boundaries with the annexed area effective the approval of said annexation.[14]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
202067—
U.S. Decennial Census[17][3]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Weed, New Mexico
  3. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Julyan, Robert (1998) "Weed" Place Names of New Mexico (2nd edition) University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico, page 377, ISBN 0-8263-1689-1
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  6. ^ "About Us". Weed Store.
  7. ^ Shoup, Steve (June 9, 2008). "High Food and Gas Prices Force the Only Store in Weed To Close". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved July 30, 2021. - Clipping of first and of second page from Newspapers.com (showing illustrations)
  8. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Otero County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "It all began here in a tent school in 1898". Alamogordo Daily News. Alamogordo, New Mexico. August 15, 1975. p. 4. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Bye-bye, Weed High: NM school graduates last class". El Paso Times. Associated Press. May 27, 1991. pp. 1B, 2B. - Clipping of first and of second page by Newspapers.com
  11. ^ a b Thompson, Fritz (May 26, 1991). "Weed High's Long Goodbye". Albuquerque Journal. pp. F1, F3. - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "History of Alamogordo Public Schools". Alamogordo Public Schools. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "Schools Study Effect on Holloman Cutback". Alamogordo Daily News. Vol. 76, no. 96. Alamogordo, New Mexico. April 22, 1970. p. 1. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c "Cloudcroft School Board Acts To Expand District". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press. November 20, 1992. p. D3. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c d e Haddrill, Marilyn (October 2, 1992). "Loud protest silences tiny NM school". El Paso Times. pp. 1A, 2A. - Clipping of first page and of second page at Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c "What? No students? No school". Associated Press. August 29, 1992. p. 1A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
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