Townapedia
Downtown Springer, NM IMG 0546
Downtown Springer, NM IMG 0546 · Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Former courthouse in Springer, NM IMG 0543
Former courthouse in Springer, NM IMG 0543 · Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mills Mansion, Springer, NM
Mills Mansion, Springer, NM · Wallace Schultz, CC BY-SA 4.0
R.H.CowanLiveryStableSpringerNewMexico
R.H.CowanLiveryStableSpringerNewMexico · UltraSparky, CC BY-SA 4.0
Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Springer New Mexico
Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Springer New Mexico · Always dreamin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Springer, New Mexico

Springer is a town of 1,017 people in Colfax County, New Mexico.

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Population1,017 +30.1% since 2019
Elevation5,797 ft 1,767 m
Land area2.2 sq mi
ZIP code87747
Nearest airportRaton Municipal Airport (RTN) 27 mi

Why visit Springer

Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 2 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.

Highlights include Colfax County Courthouse and Mills House.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; December lows average 17°F.

About Springer

Springer is a town in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Springer had a population of 931.

From the Wikipedia article Springer, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks5

Colfax County Courthouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Courthouse in Springer, New Mexico, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Mills House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi

Historic house in New Mexico, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

R.H. Cowan Livery Stable

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Santa Fe Trail Interpretive Center

Museum

614 Maxwell Avenue, Springer

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Old Colfax County Courhouse

Monument and historic site

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Parks, trails and playgrounds1

Colfax County Fairgrounds

Park · 0.8 mi

16 Airport Road, Springer

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Restaurants and cafes2

Elida’s Cafe

Restaurant · Mexican, American

801 Maxwell Avenue, Springer

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Pancho's Restaurant & Bar

Restaurant

704 Maxwell Avenue, Springer

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Where to stay1

Oasis (H&K) Motel

Motel and hotel

1001 Railroad Avenue, Springer

Open in Google Maps · +1-575-483-2777

History

In 1877, William T Thornton, representing the Maxwell Land Grant and Railway Company commissioned Melvin Whitson Mills to "sell, locate, survey, map and plat, and lay out town site, no exceeding three hundred and twenty acres". Judge Mills selected a location along the Cimarron called Las Garzas and laid out the townsite and graded the streets. The Maxwell Land Grand and Railway Company conveyed the deed to Mills on March 31, 1880. The deed bequeathed the town Maxwell, but by 1883 according to the deed for the Mills Mansion, it was named Springer after two brothers: Charles Springer, a rancher near Cimarron and brother Frank, a lawyer and official of the Maxwell Land Grant Company.

The town was the county seat of Colfax County from 1882—1897 and keeps the former Courthouse as a museum. The location was chosen due to anticipation of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway coming and as it was halfway between the Mountain Branch and Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail.

The Springer Correctional Center, operated by the New Mexico Corrections Department, is located 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Springer. The correctional center is one of New Mexico's oldest detention facilities, having begun operation in 1909 as the New Mexico Boys' School.

From the History section of Springer, New Mexico on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship3

  • Assembly of God

    Church · Assemblies Of God · 1.2 mi

    1519 8th Street, Springer

    Open in Google Maps

  • First United Methodist Church

    Church · United Methodist · 0.4 mi

    320 Maxwell Avenue, Springer

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  • Saint Joseph Catholic Church

    Church · Roman Catholic

    605 5th Street, Springer

    Open in Google Maps

Shopping1

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Gas and EV charging1

Schools, colleges and libraries8

Map of Springer

22 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 0.6 in of rainFebruary: 0.4 in of rainMarch: 0.9 in of rainApril: 1.2 in of rainMay: 1.5 in of rainJune: 2.0 in of rainJuly: 3.0 in of rainAugust: 3.0 in of rainSeptember: 2.1 in of rainOctober: 1.2 in of rainNovember: 0.6 in of rainDecember: 0.6 in of rainJanuary: 51°FFebruary: 53°FMarch: 62°FApril: 68°FMay: 76°FJune: 86°FJuly: 89°FAugust: 86°FSeptember: 80°FOctober: 71°FNovember: 60°FDecember: 49°FJanuary: 18°FFebruary: 20°FMarch: 28°FApril: 35°FMay: 45°FJune: 53°FJuly: 57°FAugust: 56°FSeptember: 48°FOctober: 37°FNovember: 25°FDecember: 17°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRain
Jan51°F18°F0.6 in
Feb53°F20°F0.4 in
Mar62°F28°F0.9 in
Apr68°F35°F1.2 in
May76°F45°F1.5 in
Jun86°F53°F2.0 in
Jul89°F57°F3.0 in
Aug86°F56°F3.0 in
Sep80°F48°F2.1 in
Oct71°F37°F1.2 in
Nov60°F25°F0.6 in
Dec49°F17°F0.6 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Springer Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$50,345median household income
$87,000median home value
$501median monthly rent
53.4median age
19.0%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
70.7%of homes are owner-occupied
19.2 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1820%18 to 349%35 to 6451%65 and over20%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Colfax County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.

  • 2022-05-04: Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows (Fire)
  • 2022-04-28: Cook'S Peak Fire (Fire)
  • 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2018-06-01: Ute Park Fire (Fire)
  • 2014-10-29: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Raton Municipal Airport (RTN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 27 miles away.

  • Maxwell 13 mi north, about 20 min by car
  • Cimarron 20 mi northwest, about 32 min by car
  • Wagon Mound 26 mi south, about 41 min by car
  • Raton 37 mi north, about 1 h by car
  • Angel Fire 37 mi west, about 59 min by car
  • Roy 37 mi southeast, about 59 min by car
  • Eagle Nest 39 mi west, about 1 h by car
  • Taos 55 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Ranchos de Taos 56 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Arroyo Seco 56 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.