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Blackdom is a ghost town in Chaves County, New Mexico that was founded by African-American settlers in 1901 and abandoned in the mid-1920s. A ghost town is a Town or City that has been abandoned usually because the economic activity that supported it has failed or due to natural or human-caused Chaves County is a County located in the US state of New Mexico. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa

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Geography

The Blackdom site is located at 33°9′49″N, 104°30′30″W (33. 1636, -104. 5083)[1], eight miles (13 km) west of Dexter, New Mexico and 18 miles (29 km) south of Roswell. Dexter is a town in Chaves County, New Mexico, United States. Roswell is a city in and the County seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The altitude is 3,638 feet (1,108 m).

History

The town was settled by Frank and Ella Boyer and Daniel Keyes, who wanted to establish a self-sufficient settlement for African-American settlers. They recruited homesteaders from Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Ohio, and Georgia to live in the 15,000 acres (61 km²) of Blackdom. Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Eventually 300 black settlers would make their homes in Blackdom. [2]

Blackdom was officially incorporated on December 5, 1911. A post office existed in Blackdom from 1913 to 1920, but declining water resources and drought forced the settlers to abandon the town, with many families moving to Vado, New Mexico. Vado is a Census-designated place (CDP in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The Blackdom Baptist Church building was sold in the 1920s and moved to Cottonwood, where it is now a private home.

Remembering Blackdom

October 26, 2002, was proclaimed Blackdom Day by the governor of New Mexico, and a historical marker was erected at a rest stop on Highway 285, between Roswell and Artesia. Artesia is a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, centered at the intersection of U Former Blackdom residents and descendants of settlers were on hand for the dedication ceremony. [3]

Local and state community leaders are working to establish a memorial site in or near Roswell to mark the existence of Blackdom. [4]

References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  2. ^ Boyer Spiegel, Barbara. "Blackdom", Adobe Moments, KSFR Radio, 2006-10-17. KSFR-FM is Santa Fe, New Mexico 's community/public Radio station. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 539 BC - King Cyrus The Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost Retrieved on 2007-01-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate.  
  3. ^ Stark, Ryan. "Blackdom historical marker dedicated during ceremony", Roswell Daily Record, 2002-10-27. The Roswell Daily Record is a local newspaper located in Roswell New Mexico, and has a circulation of less than 25000 See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Retrieved on 2007-01-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate.  
  4. ^ Cunningham, Christopher. "Push pays off for black-heritage site", Roswell Daily Record, 2005-04-13. The Roswell Daily Record is a local newspaper located in Roswell New Mexico, and has a circulation of less than 25000 Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople Retrieved on 2007-01-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate.  

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