Town of Carrizozo—began as a railroad town in the late 1800’s. It’s name came from a Spanish word “carrizo” meaning a reed-like grass, an extra “zo” was added to proclaim the abundance of the grass in the area.  Before the railroad reached Carrizozo in August 1899, there were few signs of human habitation in the upper end of the Tularosa Basin. There were a few scattered cattle ranches in the 1870’s and a stagecoach road crossing from the gold mining town of White Oaks, 12 miles to the northeast.

The railroad tracks coming from El Paso were a dream of promoter Charles B. Eddy to establish a railroad from El Paso to connect with the East-west Rock Island Line at Santa Rosa. The El Paso and Northeastern Line bypassed White Oaks and the Eddy Brothers started a new town on the flats instead, running a branch line from Carrizozo east to the coal fields near Capitan.

As Carrizozo flourished, White Oaks began to decline. Many of White Oaks residents moved their homes and businesses to the new town.  Railroad employees also moved to Carrizozo and the land was opened for homesteading. In 1905, Eddy sold his railroad to Phelps Dodge Company, it was then renamed the El Paso and Southwestern. Then in 1906 a developer named Ira Wetmore acquired the Eddy Brothers’ development company and platted the town. There were big dreams for Carrizozo. As a railroad and a trading center its limits were endless. The buildings were built to last.

In 1909 Lincoln County voted to move the county seat from Lincoln to Carrizozo because of its location to the railroad. After a four year court battle, the U.S. Supreme court, the move took place. A large impressive court house was built, but unfortunately was torn down in the 1960’s. 

With the rise of the automobile and the decline of the railroad, Carrizozo itself began to decline. Ranchers could now drive their own cars or pickups to larger towns like Alamogordo, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces.

In 1955, the mainstay of Carrizozo’s economy began to decline when the railroads turned to diesel engines replacing the steam engines.  The diesel engines did not require the manpower to service them, the water, nor the pumping stations, and the railroad employees. The economy fell drastically.  Freight trains travel through Carrizozo, but do not stop. 

 

RETURN TO COUNTY PROFILES MAIN PAGE