Last updated on .
Springer is a town in northeastern New Mexico. We made a quick stop in the center of town while driving from Cimarron to Fort Union National Monument.
History
Springer became the seat of Colfax County in 1881, moving there from nearby Cimarron. It remained the county seat until 1897, when it moved north to Raton, which is the current county seat. The loss of the county seat contributed to the Springer’s decline. The town only has a total land area of just over two square miles.
Colfax County Courthouse
The former Colfax County Courthouse is the most important landmark in town. It was built in the Second Empire style in the early 1880s at a cost of US$9,800. After the county seat moved to Raton, the building has had several uses. They include the New Mexico Reform School (later the New Mexico Industrial School for Boys) from 1910 to 1917, municipal offices, and a public library.
Since 1965, the Colfax County Courthouse has hosted a visitor center and a museum dedicated to the Santa Fe Trail. It was unfortunately closed when we stopped by. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
