History & Profile

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Town of Edgewood

History
Edgewood Horton Windmill Broken Arroz Ranch - CopyFounded in the early 1930s, the community now known as Edgewood slowly developed with the arrival of homesteading families coming West, many of whom still maintain deep roots in the area. Situated in the southwest corner of Santa Fe County, the region was largely dryland farming and ranching. They often reached the area on the newly-bladed Route 66 or from nearby trains that were still in operation from Williard to Moriarty to Santa Fe.

Eventually, as the population grew, the community wanted its own post office. Oldtimers have said the U.S. Postmaster did not like the community's then-name of Venus and urged residents to find a new name -- they ultimately decided on Edgewood. When regional utility cooperatives formed with help from local families, water, natural gas, and electricity became more accessible to residences and businesses, and the region and community slowly grew.  In the 1960s/1970s, Interstate 40 was built closely following old Route 66, meaning Edgewood remained a part of this growing east-west transportation corridor.  

Edgewood Highland Stock FarmIn the later decades of the 20th century, a group of local residents came together and formed the Edgewood Community Homeowners Organization (ECHO). Their purpose was to create a community voice for Edgewood up in Santa Fe, the county seat. Over time, that group would become largely responsible for putting the small community on the path to incorporation. Many, but not all, Edgewood residents felt that their status as an unincorporated area left them positioned as 'distant cousins' with little responsiveness from the county government in Santa Fe, one hour north. As frustration grew, a movement began to create an official new town so that Edgewood could control its own destiny.

On July 1, 1999, the Town of Edgewood was incorporated.  One hundred-ten residents turned out to elect the town's first mayor (Larry Keaty) and four councilors (Howard Calkins, Robert Stearley, Frank Lasky, and ?). A three-way tie for the fourth seat called into action a New Mexico statute that says a tie must be broken by a game of chance. So, the next day, surrounded by community members at the Homestead Restaurant, the three contenders drew for high card. Ultimately, with a draw of the seven of spades, the fourth and final seat was filled (Gary Chemistruck), and this newly-minted Western town made national news in the process.  

Within a few short years, more annexations had extended the town's boundaries into the East Mountain portions of Bernalillo and Sandoval counties as well.  Today, the Town of Edgewood stretches out over a 48 square mile area in three counties, surprisingly, making it the 7th largest municipality in New Mexico by land area

Edgewood pic sports fieldsount mountainIn recent years, Edgewood has grown in popularity for its dual attractions - a more rural, small town way of life and convenience to that state's largest metropolitan areas. Located just 20 miles east of Albuquerque on Interstate 40 and Historic Route 66, and 51 miles south of the City of Santa Fe, the town is well-situated to easily access state and county government centers as well as numerous cultural attractions.

Profile Data (more statistics and data for Edgewood)

2020 US Census Quick Facts

Population   6,174
Owner-Occupied Housing    86.8%
Median Household Income   $64,931
Age Distribution   6.7% (<5), 16.3% (6-18), 62.1% (19-64), 14.9% (65+) 
Education Level   27.5% bachelor's degree or higher; 94.6% HS graduates or higer
Race/Ethnicity   69.9% white, 28.4% Hispanic/Latino, 1.7% all others
Veterans   8.5%