New Mexico Office of the State Historian : Colfax County--J. J. Bowden

Colfax County--J. J. Bowden

Colfax County is in northeastern New Mexico, adjacent to the Colorado state line. Today’s county seat is Raton, however in the past the county seat have been Elizabethtown (1869), Cimarron (1870-1871), Springer (1871-1899).

Colfax County was named for Schuyler Colfax, the Vice President of the United States at the time the county was created. This northeastern county has an area of 3,371 square miles supporting much ranching. The county has also historically been the state’s coal mining center. Important sites in the county include the NRA Whittington Center, Philmont Scout Ranch, DAV Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, Sugarite Canyon State Park, and the Angel Fire Ski Resort.

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