The Place Names of New Mexico [Paperback]

Robert Julyan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

The Place Names of New Mexico is an invaluable guide to the state’s geography and history. It explains more than 7,000 names of features large and small throughout the state—towns, mountains, rivers, canyons, counties, post offices, and even abandoned settlements—as well as providing relevant information about location, history, and current status. The revised edition contains more than fifty expanded and updated entries. The accounts are also journeys into New Mexico’s past, offering glimpses of the lives and values of the people who named the place. Humor, tragedy, mystery, and daily life—they can all be found in this book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A truly wonderful book. . . . packed full with the history, geography, sociology, and anthropology of New Mexico.” “ --Names

An indispensable guide to the state’s geography and history.” --Tradición Revista

Julyan gives readers a treasure far surpassing the fabled golden cities.” --New Mexico Magazine

From the Inside Flap

The indispensable traveler's guide to the history of places throughout the Land of Enchantment.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 403 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press; Revised edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826316891
• ISBN-13: 978-0826316899
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible for New Mexico Place Names, June 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Place Names of New Mexico (Paperback)

My roots are in Arizona and New Mexico and The Place Names of New Mexico is an outstanding reference work for those interested in place name origin and history. It is very enjoyable to read and simply browse through as well as a useful tool for research.

I obtained the book to assist in researching place names along the Santa Fe Railroad (obtained from old employee timetables) and it was here where I found that the author intentionally made a grave error, in my opinion. He omitted the names of railroad sidings, water stops, stations and section houses that "once were more important in the public consciousness" if they never had a post office or gave their name to another feature of the area.

I recognize there are many elements to consider in the history of the area such as post offices, maps, government and military records, etc. There should be no question that railroads also played a HUGE role in development of the west and leaving out some of the railroad names such as Keota, Blanchard, Paquita and McCune,a large void was unnecessarily created. While the void doesn't detract from the work as a whole, it does make it incomplete. Then again, in defense of the author, I didn't walk the mile in his shoes or confront the problems he may have faced. What I am trying to say is that if I wrote the book, I would not have knowingly excluded any railroad names.

On the positive side, this book is up to date and newer place names have been identified and included.

If you are interested in New Mexico history or various elements comprising it, this book is definitely worth having in your library. In spite of my complaint, it answered most of my questions. This book is a five star work and it is well done.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely, Yes, the "Best Book on New Mexico", September 23, 2005

By 

Mike Smith (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Place Names of New Mexico (Paperback)

For about for years now, since I first bought this book, this book has traveled with me everywhere I go in New Mexico. It's explained to me the names of towns I've lived in, towns I've passed through, and towns I've heard of for my entire life without ever knowing their meanings. It's introduced me to ghost towns and little towns I would never have known about otherwise. It's made me look at my own town with new eyes. Now I see an old water pump in front of a house, and I think, "That could have been placed here by Carl Webb's neighbors, back when he first built his sanitarium here." Before, I would have seen nothing.
The book does not, and could not really without being an encyclopedia, have everything you could ever want to know in it, but it has enough to make you sound just a little smarter when you're driving past exits and offramps on the interstate.
"The town once had six newspapers; it's just a gas station now...that town's residents hate how the town's name is spelled...that place once took the name of the town next to it...an Indian skirmish happened there...." And so on and so forth.
If you live in New Mexico, you should own this book. It will make you appreciate where you are much, much more--I can almost promise it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book!, January 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Place Names of New Mexico (Paperback)

I grew up in New Mexico, and since moving away, I have been very interested in learning more about my home state (probably because I miss it so much). This book is an excellent reference of place names, and taught me a lot about New Mexico. I highly recommend it!