Antelope Wells, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Antelope Wells is a small unincorporated community
in Hidalgo County
, New Mexico
, United States. The community is located along the Mexico – United States border, in the New Mexico Bootheel
region, located across the border from the small settlement of El Berrendo
, Chihuahua, Mexico. Despite its name, there are neither antelope
nor well
s in the area. The name comes from an old ranch, located 2.5 miles (4 km) north of the current community. The only inhabitants of the community are United States Customs and Border Protection employees.
Antelope Wells is the southernmost settlement of New Mexico, situated in the region commonly known as the Bootheel of New Mexico. It is the smallest and least-used border crossing of the 43 ports of entry along the border with Mexico. The crossing, which is open solely for non-commercial traffic, is open every day from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The port was established by Ulysses S. Grant
in 1872 and has been staffed since 1928. In 1981 the community had a population of 2, living in trailers behind the customs station, and averaged three people entering per day. In 2005 just 93 pedestrians crossed over the border in the community, which consisted of just four buildings: the port of entry building, two houses and a trailer. Including domestic and international travelers, fewer than 500 buses and privately-owned vehicles pass through the community each month, though traffic has been increasing slightly lately with more international shuttle van service. Despite its low usage, there is no move to close the port, which is the only port between Douglas, Arizona
, and Columbus, New Mexico
, and provides the most direct route from the United States to the Sierra Madre Occidental
.
Antelope Wells is located on New Mexico State Road 81, which links it with Interstate 10
and New Mexico State Road 9
. Antelope Wells is the official southern terminus of the 3100 miles (4,989 km) long Continental Divide Trail
and the 2745 miles (4,417.6 km) long Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.3% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.8% Two or more races*11.0% Other races*56.6% Hispanic or Latino...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States. The community is located along the Mexico – United States border, in the New Mexico Bootheel
New Mexico Bootheel
New Mexico's Bootheel comprises the southwestern corner of New Mexico. As part of the Gadsden Purchase it is bounded on the east by the Mexican state of Chihuahua along a line at extending south to latitude 31°20′0″N at...
region, located across the border from the small settlement of El Berrendo
El Berrendo, Chihuahua
El Berrendo is a town in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, located in Janos Municipality, directly across the U.S. border from Antelope Wells, New Mexico. According to the Population Census and Housing of 2010 from INEGI, there was only 1 inhabitant....
, Chihuahua, Mexico. Despite its name, there are neither antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
nor well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s in the area. The name comes from an old ranch, located 2.5 miles (4 km) north of the current community. The only inhabitants of the community are United States Customs and Border Protection employees.
Antelope Wells is the southernmost settlement of New Mexico, situated in the region commonly known as the Bootheel of New Mexico. It is the smallest and least-used border crossing of the 43 ports of entry along the border with Mexico. The crossing, which is open solely for non-commercial traffic, is open every day from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The port was established by Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
in 1872 and has been staffed since 1928. In 1981 the community had a population of 2, living in trailers behind the customs station, and averaged three people entering per day. In 2005 just 93 pedestrians crossed over the border in the community, which consisted of just four buildings: the port of entry building, two houses and a trailer. Including domestic and international travelers, fewer than 500 buses and privately-owned vehicles pass through the community each month, though traffic has been increasing slightly lately with more international shuttle van service. Despite its low usage, there is no move to close the port, which is the only port between Douglas, Arizona
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
, and Columbus, New Mexico
Columbus, New Mexico
Columbus is a village in Luna County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,765 at the 2000 census. The town is named after 15th century explorer Christopher Columbus.-History:...
, and provides the most direct route from the United States to the Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
.
Antelope Wells is located on New Mexico State Road 81, which links it with Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
and New Mexico State Road 9
New Mexico State Road 9
State Road 9 is a long state road in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The highway spans Hidalgo, Grant, and Luna counties from to at the Doña Ana county line.-Route description:...
. Antelope Wells is the official southern terminus of the 3100 miles (4,989 km) long Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states — Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico...
and the 2745 miles (4,417.6 km) long Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is a continuous long distance cycling route from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA. As of 2010, the route is 2745 miles long; its length is likely to change over time as the GDMBR is continually being refined to improve it...
.
External links
- Map of port of entry on the New Mexico Border Authority website
