Chama is located on the Rio Chama, 6.5 miles (10 km) south of the Colorado border. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), all of it land.
The northern valley of the Rio Chama had extensive coniferous forest, with dense stands of Ponderosa pine. Timber harvesting and sawmilling rapidly developed from the early 1880's, and was a major industry into the 1930's.
At the 2000 census,[7] there were 1,199 people, 467 households and 312 families residing in the village. The population density was 467.9 inhabitants per square mile (180.7/km2). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 234.5 per square mile (90.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 67.56% White, 1.58% African American, 2.67% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 25.10% from other races, and 3.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.23% of the population.
There were 467 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.
26.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median household income was $30,513, and the median family income was $31,983. Males had a median income of $27,167 compared with $20,054 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,670. About 11.9% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
It is within the Chama Valley Independent Schools school district.[8] Chama has a K-8 school, Chama Middle/Elementary School, while Chama's 9-12 students would by default attend the district's only high school, a part of Escalante Middle/High School.[9]
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with short, cool-to-warm summers and long, cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chama has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[10]
Climate data for Chama, New Mexico (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
Three members of the Unser family, famous for its success in auto racing with a total of nine victories in the Indianapolis 500, own or have owned ranches in Chama: Al Unser Sr., Bobby Unser, and Al Unser Jr.
The Chama train depot
Two DRGW locomotives waiting to be serviced at the Chama engine house, 1967.
Northwest Field Team Leader Norm Vigil (red) and Soil Conservationist Jill Jensen (blue) provide grazing recommendations for a ranch that specializes in raising elk for hunting. Chama, New Mexico; 2011.
(NRCS_Photo_Gallery).jpg)
