Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Santa Clara Pueblo is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Rio Arriba County
, New Mexico
, United States
. The population was 980 at the 2000 census. Santa Clara Pueblo was established about 1550.
The pueblo is a member of the Eight Northern Pueblos
, and the people are from the Tewa ethnic group of Native Americans
who speak the Tewa language
. The pueblo is on the Rio Grande
, between Ohkay Owingeh (formerly San Juan Pueblo) to the north and San Ildefonso Pueblo to the south. Santa Clara Pueblo is famous for producing hand-crafted pottery
, specifically blackware and redware with deep engravings. The pueblo is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
on NM 30.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
may have lived in the general area as far back as 1200 BC.
In 1541, part of the expeditionary force of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
visited the pueblo. In 1628 a mission was established there, and the current church was built about 1918. The pueblo fought in the 1680 Great Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish. Pueblo potters are known for their black polished and red polychrome pottery.
of 2000, there were 980 people, 349 households, and 254 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 471.6 people per square mile (181.9/km²). There were 400 housing units at an average density of 192.5 per square mile (74.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 6.53% White, 85.61% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 6.12% from other races
, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.45% of the population.
There were 349 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples
living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $20,302, and the median income for a family was $22,049. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $9,311. About 30.5% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 37.1% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Rio Arriba County
Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*51.6% White*0.5% Black*16.0% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.3% Two or more races*28.2% Other races*71.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 980 at the 2000 census. Santa Clara Pueblo was established about 1550.
The pueblo is a member of the Eight Northern Pueblos
Eight Northern Pueblos
The Eight Northern Pueblos of New Mexico are Taos, Picuris, Santa Clara, San Juan, San Ildefonso, Nambé, Pojoaque, and Tesuque.Taos and Picuris are Tiwa-speaking pueblos; the rest speak Tewa. Tiwa and Tewa are closely related languages of the Kiowa Tanoan language family...
, and the people are from the Tewa ethnic group of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who speak the Tewa language
Tewa language
Tewa is a Kiowa–Tanoan language spoken by Pueblo people, mostly in the Rio Grande valley in New Mexico north of Santa Fe. The 1980 census counted 1,298 speakers, almost all of whom are bilingual in English...
. The pueblo is on the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
, between Ohkay Owingeh (formerly San Juan Pueblo) to the north and San Ildefonso Pueblo to the south. Santa Clara Pueblo is famous for producing hand-crafted pottery
Native American pottery
Native American pottery is an art form with at least a 7500-year history in the Americas. Pottery is fired ceramics with clay as a component. Ceramics are used for utilitarian cooking vessels, serving and storage vessels, pipes, funerary urns, censers, musical instruments, ceremonial items, masks,...
, specifically blackware and redware with deep engravings. The pueblo is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Geography
Santa Clara Pueblo is located at 35°58′16"N 106°5′21"W (35.971124, -106.089111), about 1.5 miles south of EspañolaEspañola, New Mexico
Española also known as Espanola , is a city primarily in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, in the United States. A portion of the central and eastern section of the city is in Santa Fe County. Española was founded in 1880 as a railroad village, incorporated as a city in 1925. The city is situated in...
on NM 30.
New Mexico State Road 30
New Mexico State Road 30 is a primarily north–south road from US 84/285 in Española to its junction with State Road 502 in San Ildefonso Pueblo.-Route description:...
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
History
Pueblo people lived in the area for centuries before contact with Europeans, and Ancient Pueblo PeoplesAncient Pueblo Peoples
Ancient Pueblo People or Ancestral Pueblo peoples were an ancient Native American culture centered on the present-day Four Corners area of the United States, comprising southern Utah, northern Arizona, northwest New Mexico, and southern Colorado...
may have lived in the general area as far back as 1200 BC.
In 1541, part of the expeditionary force of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado y Luján was a Spanish conquistador, who visited New Mexico and other parts of what are now the southwestern United States between 1540 and 1542...
visited the pueblo. In 1628 a mission was established there, and the current church was built about 1918. The pueblo fought in the 1680 Great Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish. Pueblo potters are known for their black polished and red polychrome pottery.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 980 people, 349 households, and 254 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 471.6 people per square mile (181.9/km²). There were 400 housing units at an average density of 192.5 per square mile (74.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 6.53% White, 85.61% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 6.12% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.45% of the population.
There were 349 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $20,302, and the median income for a family was $22,049. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $9,311. About 30.5% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 37.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable tribal members and residents
- Gregory CajeteGregory CajeteDr. Gregory A. Cajete is a Tewa author and professor from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. He has pioneered reconciling indigenous perspectives in sciences with a Western academic setting...
, author and educator - Luther GutierrezMargaret and Luther GutierrezMargaret Gutierrez and Luther Gutierrez were brother and sister Native American potters from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States. They continued the polychrome style of painting made famous by their parents Lela and Van Gutierrez...
, potter - Margaret GutierrezMargaret and Luther GutierrezMargaret Gutierrez and Luther Gutierrez were brother and sister Native American potters from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States. They continued the polychrome style of painting made famous by their parents Lela and Van Gutierrez...
, potter - Joseph LonewolfJoseph LonewolfJoseph Lonewolf is a Native American potter from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States. He is known for his use of historical methods and his development of sgraffito and bas-relief techniques...
, potter - Linda and Merton SisnerosLinda and Merton SisnerosLinda Sisneros and Merton Sisneros are Native American potters from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States.They are a married couple, each with a long heritage of pottery in the family. Together they carry on family traditions, and include the family crest on their pottery...
, potters - Anita Louise SuazoAnita Louise SuazoAnita Louise Suazo is a Native American potter from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States.-Background:She is the daughter of Jose Nerio Suazo and noted potter Belen Tapia . Anita’s mother Belen was one of the innovators of finely crafted polychrome redwares. She was a first cousin to...
, potter - Roxanne SwentzellRoxanne SwentzellRoxanne Swentzell is a well-known clay sculptor from Santa Clara Pueblo. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and later the Portland Art Museum School in Portland, Oregon....
, contemporary ceramicist and bronze sculptor, Native plant activist - Margaret TafoyaMargaret TafoyaMaria Margarita "Margaret" Tafoya was the matriarch of Santa Clara Pueblo potters. Margaret learned the art of making pottery from her parents Sara Fina Guiterrez Tafoya and Jose Geronimo Tafoya...
, celebrated Santa Clara potter - Pablita VelardePablita VelardePablita Velarde born Tse Tsan was an American painter.-Early life:After the death of her mother when Pablita was about five years old, she and two of her sisters were sent to St Catherine's Indian School in Santa Fe...
, celebrated Santa Clara painter - Nathan YoungbloodNathan YoungbloodNathan Youngblood is a Native American potter from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, United States.-Background:He was born in Fort Carson, Colorado to Mela and Walt Youngblood. During his adolescent years Nathan’s family traveled extensively due to his father’s military career...
, potter - Nora Naranjo-MorseNora Naranjo-MorseNora Naranjo-Morse is a Native American potter and poet. She currently resides in Espanola, New Mexico just north of Santa Fe and is a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo...
, contemporary artist and filmmaker
See also
- Puye Cliff DwellingsPuye Cliff DwellingsThe Puye Cliff Dwellings are the ruins of an abandoned pueblo, located in Santa Clara Canyon on Santa Clara Pueblo land near Española, New Mexico. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966.-Ancient pueblo dwellings:...
- the ruins of an abandoned pueblo and National Monument managed by Santa Clara Pueblo. - Santa Clara Indian ReservationSanta Clara Indian ReservationThe Santa Clara Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in north-central New Mexico, USA. It is the homeland of a branch of the Pueblo people of Native Americans. The reservation lies on 76.73 sq mi of southern Rio Arriba, northeastern Sandoval, and northern Santa Fe Counties...
External links
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center - Santa Clara Pueblo
- Santa Clara Pueblo Community Library
- Santa Clara Pueblo on New Mexico Tourism Dept. website
- Santa Clara Pueblo at National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
- Santa Clara Pueblo pottery gallery
- Children of the Clay: A Family of Pueblo Potters, the Swentzell family of Santa Clara Pueblo