Penasco, New Mexico

Looking northeast across the valley, from above Rodarte
What I'm calling Peñasco is a "Census Designated Place," a loosely defined group of settlements, most of them part of the Picuris Pueblo Reservation. It's a beautiful valley. There's a central school area. Most business seems to be along the state highways. The folks are pretty spread out up the valley, almost like an urban sprawl. There's views in every direction. You go through here on your way to the Santa Barbara Campground in Carson National Forest and the National Forest Service trailheads that lead from there into the north end of the Pecos Wilderness. This is also probably the easiest way to get in and get up on the ridge if you want to climb the Truchas Peaks.

When these were built, I think the roads were a bit less wide

Truchas Peaks, looking southeast across the valley
Fast Facts about Peñasco, New Mexico
Peñasco, Taos County, NM 87553
Census Designated Place
Elevation: 7,685'
Resident Racial Breakdown:Census Designated Place
Elevation: 7,685'
Latitude: 36.1721°N
Longitude: 105.6895°W
Longitude: 105.6895°W
White Non-Hispanic: 10.1%
Hispanic: 86.8%
Native American: 3.0%
Education:
High School or Higher: 68.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 17.7%
Graduate or Professional Degree: 3.4%
2009 Estimates:
Population: 601
Males: 286
Females: 315
Median Resident Age: 35.3 Years
Estimated Median Household Income: $27,500
Estimated Median Home Value: $205,480
Population Density: 499 People per Square Mile
2011 Cost of Living Index for Penasco: 87.5
Major Industries:
Educational Services, Government, Construction, Lodging & Food Services, Health Care, Waste Management Services, Finance & Insurance Services, Retail Services, Social Services
Unemployed (March 2011): 3.9%
Population: 601
Males: 286
Females: 315
Median Resident Age: 35.3 Years
Estimated Median Household Income: $27,500
Estimated Median Home Value: $205,480
Population Density: 499 People per Square Mile
2011 Cost of Living Index for Penasco: 87.5
Major Industries:
Educational Services, Government, Construction, Lodging & Food Services, Health Care, Waste Management Services, Finance & Insurance Services, Retail Services, Social Services
Unemployed (March 2011): 3.9%
