Map of Magdalena village

Magdalena is a village in Socorro County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 938 at the 2010 census.

“The Lady on the Mountain” is a rock formation on Magdalena Peak overlooking Magdalena. Spanish soldiers saw the profile of a woman on the west face of the peak. A priest with them was reminded of a similar peak in Spain called “La Sierra de Maria Magdalena”, so he called the New Mexico one “La Sierra de Magdalena”. The pass to the south of the peak became known as Magdalena Gap, and when a town grew up it received the same name.

Magdalena continues to be a ranching community while strengthening its art, astronomy and geology venues. The reopening of the Magdalena Hall Hotel (circa 1917) and the renovation of other historical buildings allow visitors to connect to the past. The Magdalena Public Library and Boxcar Museum are housed in the old railroad depot. Several rock and mineral shops have been around since the mining boom days. The ghost town of Kelly and two festivals, the “Open Studio and Gallery Tour” and the “Old Timers Reunion and Rodeo”, bring tourists to the area. The “Enchanted Skies Star Party” in early fall brings astronomers and astro-photographers together under its very dark skies.

The Very Large Array lies 24 miles due west of the community. The Magdalena Ridge Observatory lies 25 miles southeast at an elevation of 10,600 feet. Magdalena is located 26 miles west of Socorro.

Magdalena village overview:
Name:	Magdalena village
LSAD Code:	47
LSAD Description:	village (suffix)
State:	New Mexico
County:	Socorro County
Elevation:	6,572 ft (2,003 m)
Total Area:	6.22 sq mi (16.12 km²)
Land Area:	6.22 sq mi (16.12 km²)
Water Area:	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Total Population:	806
Population Density:	129.50/sq mi (50.00/km²)
ZIP code:	87825
Area code:	575
FIPS code:	3546310

Online Interactive Map

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Magdalena online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Magdalena location map. Where is Magdalena village?

Magdalena location on the U.S. Map. Where is Magdalena village. — Magdalena location on the U.S. Map.

Magdalena location on the New Mexico map. Where is Magdalena village. — Location of Magdalena in New Mexico.

History

In 1884, the village of Magdalena was named after Magdalena Peak when its post office opened. Magdalena was incorporated as a town in 1913, during a mining boom.

Magdalena is known as the “Trails End” for the railroad spur line that was built in 1885 from Socorro to Magdalena to transport the cattle, sheep wool, timber and ore. Thousands of cattle and sheep were driven into town (cowboy style) from the west, using the historic “Magdalena Trail”. This stockyard driveway was used annually, from 1885 through 1916, when the driveway was officially designated by law through the signing of the “Grazing Homestead Act”. It remained continually in use through 1971. The original stockyards are still intact.