Colfax County, New Mexico, Place Names, N - Z

Colfax County

NARANJOS - Spanish for the Naranjo surname folks, or orange grove. The surname came to New Mexico in 1600. Settlement on NM 120, 20 miles northwest of Wagon Mound. Post Office 1886 to 1888 and 1913 to 1917.

NEW ABBOTT - See ABBOTT.

NIGGER CREEK - Named for a young Black man, whose name is unknown, arrived in Elizabethtown some time during the boom years of 1865-1890. He made his home apart from the whites on a little creek in the north end of the Moreno Valley, which leads into the Moreno River.

NINE MILE CREEK - In the south end of the Moreno Valley, flows into the Cieneguilla Creek, which then flows into Eagle Nest Lake. Named because it was 9 miles south of Elizabethtown, which in the early days, was the center not only of the Moreno Valley, but the northeastern part of the State during the hectic minig years between 1865 and 1890.

NORTH PONIL - Creek near Baldy Mountain. See PONIL.

OCATE CREEK - Rises in Colfax County then flows southeast through Ocate, below which it is diverted into the Upper Charette Lake and then into Canadian River.

OSHA - The name of an herb, wild angelica root, found in various parts of the state and used for medicinal purposes. Post Office 1894 to 1903; changed to BLACK LAKE

OSHA MOUNTAIN - Between taos and Colfax counties. See CUESTA DEL OSHA PEAK.

OSHA PASS - Near the Taos Colfax County line, 3 miles north of Osha Mouontain.

OTERO - The family name appeaars in 1659, when Pedro Otero is listed in marriage records in Santa Fe. Members of this family are found in 18th century records in Albuquerque and Tome. The famioly achieved prominence in this and the following century. In Colfax county it was a lively spot near the foot of raton Pass when AT&amp;SF RR reached there in 1878. After the division point was removed 5 mikles north of raton in 1879, most of the settlement moved with it.

Colfax County end 

Harding County

OJO DE LAS GALLINAS - Spanish for "wild fowl spring". Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring.

Harding County end

Mora County

NOLAN - Community on US 85 and AT&amp;SF RR, 11 miles north of Wagon Mound. The majority of the inhabitants were railroad employees. Post Office 1908 to 1944.

OCATE - Local spanish for "white pine". Ranching, lumbering, and dry farming community on NM 120, 24 miles northwest of Wagon Mound, on Ocate Creek and 5 miles south of Colfax County line. Post Office 1866 to present day.

OCATE CRATER - 18 miles northeast of Mora, at the west end of Ocqte Mountain.

OCATE CREEK - Rises in Colfax County then flows southeast through Ocate, below which it is diverted into the Upper Charette Lake and then into Canadian River.

OCATE CREEK, SOUTH FORK - Small stream at the Schiele Ranch above Ocate.

OCATE GRANT - On October 15, 1837, Manuel Alvarez petitioned Governor Armijo for land to introduce Merino sheep, and on October 16, the governor approved the grant, confirming it on December 5, 1845.

OCATE MESA - Large mesa extending 10 or 12 miles, starts 3 miles northwest of Wagon Mound.

OCATE MOUNTAIN - 18 miles northeast of Mora.

OJITA - Spanish for "little spring" or "small leaf".

OJO FELIZ - Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring. Feliz is the spanish for happy. Ranching and lumbering community 1 mile east,of Nm 21, 57 miles west of Wagon Mound. Post Office 1922 to present day. OJO ZARCO - Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring."clear blue".

OPTIMO - Spanish for"best or very good". Farming and ranching community 1 mile east of US 85 and 9 miles southwest of Wagon Mound. Formerly called TIPTON. The railroad imported settlers from Pennsylvania who were called Dunkards, a sect of the German American Baptists. They settled on land east of the railroad right of way and attempted farming. Post Office 1909 to 1947.

OSHA CANYON - The name of an herb, wild angelica root, found in various parts of the state and used for medicinal purposes.

Mora County end

Quay County

NARA VISA - The spanish surname "Narvis"  may be the corruption of the spanish surname "Narvaez", which residents in the area pronounce "Nara Visa". The settlement is on US 54 and NM 18, and also the CRI&amp;P RR. Established in 1902 with the building of CRI&amp;P RR through tQuay County to Tucumcari. Named for the creek. Post Office 1902 to present day.

NARA VISA CREEK - Tributary of the Canadian River. Named for Spanish sheep herder "Narvis", who lived on the creek in the late 1800's.

NORTON - Former ranching and farming community on NM 88, 20 miles southeast of Tucumcari. Named for Michael J. Norton, who established a store here in 1907 and became the first postmaster, Post Office 1907 to 1941.

OBAR - Settlement on NM 54, 8 miles southwest of Nara Visa. Formerly called PERRY, then Obar for the Circle ABar Ranch, whose brand is a circle with a bar under it. The owner of the ranch was named Howrey. Settlement started 1906-1907. Prior to that, the spot was a switch on CRI&amp;P RR. Post Office 1908 to 1953.

OGLE - Settlers by this name operated a grocery store whenthere was a post office there, 15 miles southwest of Tucumcari, Post Office, 1906 to 1913.

OIL SPUR - OJO DEL CARNERO - Ojo is a an archaic spanish term for slow flowing water or spring. Carnero is the term for sheep. In the Plaza Larga arrea of east Tucumcari. Named because of the wild sheep that came to water here.

ORTON - Post Office 1908 to 1911; changed to LUCILLE.

Quay County end

Union County

NIGGER MESA - On the Colorado state line with union County between Branson and Folsom. Named by the cowboys after a fight between a Black Man and a cowboy, which happened at the foot of the mesa in the early 1880's.

NORTH CANADIAN - See CORRUMPAW, or CANADIAN RIVER

NORTH DES MOINES - Post Office 1909 to 1916.

OAK CANON CREEK, 4 miles south of Emery Gap.

Union County end

Source: New Mexico Place Names, A Geographical Dictionary. T.M. Pearce, Ina Sizer Cassidy, Helen S pearce; The University of New Mexico Press, 1965. LCCC No. 64-17808.