Clayton in Union County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Cutoff
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Clayton
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012
1. Side A:
Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Cutoff Marker
Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Cutoff Marker
Santa Fe Trail
Cimarron Cutoff
The Santa Fe Trail was the major trade route between New Mexico and Missouri from 1821 until arrival of the railroad in 1880. The Cimarron Cutoff, a major branch of the Trail, passed through this portion of northeast New Mexico. Some of the best preserved segments of the Trail route are located at nearby Kiowa National Grasslands, along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
Clayton
Population 2,968 - Elevation 4,969
Trade caravans and homesteaders traveling the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail passed near here. Clayton was founded in 1887 and named for the son of cattleman and ex-Senator Stephen W. Dorsey, one of its developers. It became a major livestock shipping center for herds from the Pecos Valley and the Texas Panhandle.
Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1821.
Location. 36° 27.427′ N, 103° 10.245′ W. Marker is in Clayton, New Mexico, in Union County. It is on U.S. 56 at milepost 83.5, on the left when traveling
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, on the Great Plains, on the Southern Plains, on the High Plains, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. 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, the Comancherνa, the Dust Bowl, and the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Santa Fe Trail / Who Traveled The Trail? (a few steps from this marker); Santa Fe Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); First Methodist Episcopal Church North (approx. Ύ mile away); Herzstein's Store (approx. 0.8 miles away); Eklund Hotel (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Luna Theatre Complex (approx. 0.9 miles away); Thomas Edward "Black Jack" Ketchum (approx. 1.1 miles away); Black Jack Ketchum (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clayton.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012
2. Side B:
Clayton Marker
Clayton Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012
3. Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Cutoff / Clayton Marker
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012
4. Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Cutoff / Clayton Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, December 28, 2018
5. Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Cutoff / Clayton Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, December 28, 2018
6. Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Cutoff / Clayton Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,609 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 10, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 5, 6. submitted on February 13, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the preserved segments of the Trail route located at nearby Kiowa National Grasslands. • Can you help?
