Aztec in San Juan County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Aztec

Population 5512 - Elevation 5460 ft.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 22, 2010

1. Aztec Marker

Inscription. Aztec, named for the nearby National Monument, was founded in 1876 when portions of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation were opened for non Indian settlement. It is the seat of San Juan County, which was created in 1887 partially as a response to the desire of the residents to be free from the political forces of Rio Arriba County.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 36° 48.239′ N, 107° 59.901′ W. Marker is in Aztec, New Mexico, in San Juan County. It is on U.S. 550 at milepost 158.5, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Aztec NM 87410, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s San Juan Basin.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Aztec Ruins National Monument (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named Aztec Ruins National Monument (approx. 1.7 miles away); Armijo Returns Triumphant (approx. 1.9 miles away); At Home on the River (approx. 2 miles away); A River's Ancient Gifts (approx. 2 miles away); A Daring Plan (approx. 2 miles away); A Vibrant Pueblo (approx. 2 miles away); Crossroads Through Time (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aztec.

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Rear of Aztec Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 22, 2010

2. Rear of Aztec Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 22, 2010

3. Aztec Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,210 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.