Chama, New Mexico
Location of Chama, New Mexico
Coordinates: 36°53′41″N 106°35′4″W / 36.89472, -106.58444
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Rio Arriba
Area
- Total	2.6 sq mi (6.6 km²)
- Land	2.6 sq mi (6.6 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	7,871 ft (2,399 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,199
- Density	467.9/sq mi (180.6/km²)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
- Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	87520
Area code(s)	575
FIPS code	35-13970
GNIS feature ID	0902207

Chama is a village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Chama is located at 36°53′41″N, 106°35′4″W (36.894777, -106.584406)^[1], on the Rio Chama (New Mexico), and is the western terminus of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Narrow-Gauge Railroad, which runs to Antonito Colorado, 64 miles to the East. It is a small village, but tourism is starting to help the town's economy.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 1,199 people, 467 households, and 312 families residing in the village. The population density was 467.9 people per square mile (180.8/km²). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 234.5/sq mi (90.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 67.56% White, 1.58% African American, 2.67% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 25.10% from other races, and 3.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.23% of the population.

There were 467 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $30,513, and the median income for a family was $31,983. Males had a median income of $27,167 versus $20,054 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,670. About 11.9% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

Huge lottery win

A ticket bought in Chama won the Powerball multi-state drawing of May 23, 2007. The winner, a local auto mechanic named Philip Pina had the choice of $62.8 million in 30 graduated annuity payments, or about $29.5 million cash; he took the immediate option.

References

1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• Village of Chama
• Chama travel guide from Wikitravel

• Chama, New Mexico is at coordinates 36°53′41″N 106°35′04″W / 36.894777, -106.584406 (Chama, New Mexico)Coordinates: 36°53′41″N 106°35′04″W / 36.894777, -106.584406 (Chama, New Mexico)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
County seat: Tierra Amarilla
City	Española
Village	Chama
CDPs	Alcalde | Chimayo | Dulce | San Juan | Santa Clara Pueblo
Unincorporated communities	Abiquiú | Dixon | Embudo | Navajo City | Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo | Tierra Amarilla | Truchas