Colfax and Dawson

Colfax is now truly a ghost town. It's located just west of the Vermejo River in rich farming country. In 1908, the New Mexico Sales Company advertised that "Colfax City" was situated on two railroads, near mountains rich with game and close to other towns. For the next 25 years, land was sold. Homes, a school, and a hotel were built. But Colfax faded and only ruins remain.

Dawson once boasted rich coal deposits discovered in 1899. The Phelps Dodge Corporation purchased the property in 1906 and Dawson ultimately grew to 9,000 residents. Two coal mining disasters happened here, one in 1913 and another in 1923. In 1950, the town was razed. All that remains is Dawson Cemetery, which is on the National Register of Historic places.

The photographs on the next pages were taken by Ray Stephenson from 1976 to 1998. They're used with his permission.