Overview

Simpson-Chaco is a census designated place or CDP, under the jurisdiction of Taos County in the state of New Mexico. Its exact location is at 36.33 N latitude and 108.03 W longitude. Simpson-Chaco is one of the richest areas in American Indian culture and history and is home to one of the most valued and protected heritage sites in the country. Simpson-Chaco has a total land area of 1,328.6 square miles, with its highest elevation at 8,177 feet. The total population as recorded by the 2000 census was 6,829. Of this number, over 500 people comprised the urban population while the estimated remaining 6,300 made up the rural population. Females numbered a bit more at 3,427 or 50.2%, while there were 3,402 males or 49.8% of the total. The population density was rather low, at 5.1 people per square mile.

White non-Hispanics make up the bulk of Simpson-Chaco's people, but Hispanics and other close races come in second. The majority of the population was born in New Mexico and only 21 residents were listed as foreign-born.

The nearest places to Simpson-Chaco are: Huerfano, Nageezi, Napi HQ, Bloomfield, Burnham, Farmington, Upper Fruitland, Kirtland, Ojo Amarillo, Aztec and Flora Vista, all in New Mexico A little more than a hundred miles away are the main cities of Rio Rancho and Albuquerque.

With its clear blue skies and gorgeous adobe landscape, Simpson-Chaco is not just a statistical land area. It offers beautiful spots to visit that serve not merely to be looked at, but to be learned from as well.