Santa Fe

Spanish colonists settled New Mexico in the late sixteenth century, as they migrated northward from Central America. The Spanish were attracted to this area for the same reasons as the Indians: a moderate climate, two rivers, forests, trade routes, and good farming conditions. Santa Fe grew from an important stop on Pre-Columbian trade routes, particularly to the east. The new capital of Santa Fe was established in 1609 and is the oldest settled European community west of the Mississippi. The city formed the end of the Camino Real, which linked Santa Fe and Mexico City. Supply caravans between New Mexico and Mexico City took three years round-trip. Many years later it became the terminus of the famed Santa Fe Trail.