The special City of Espanola is known as the “Jewel of Northern New Mexico”. Set at about 5,600 feet above sea level, the city of Espanola is situated in the Espanola Valley nestled between the stirring Jemez and Sangre De Cristo Mountain ranges. It is in this valley that the confluence of the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, and Rio Santa Cruz Rivers occurs resulting in a remarkably fertile soil perfect for agricultural endeavors. The beauty of Espanola’s and its surrounding scenery has been captured in the films “The Milagro Beanfield War” and “The Hi-Lo Country”.

Located in Rio Arriba Count along the I-84, the city of Espanola is situated on the western banks of the Rio Grande River, and is home to nearly 10,000 people from an eclectic collections of background including Native Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, a high concentration of Sikhs. The city lies just 25 miles north of Santa Fe, 25 miles east of Los Alamos, and 45 miles south of Taos.

This unique city has an equally unique history. Originally settled in the 16th century by Spanish conquistadors who established the area as the new capital of the “New World”. Espanola thrived through the centuries as an agrarian society. In the 1880’s, the famed Chile Line railroad was constructed to contribute to the industrialization and urbanization of the area. Today, agriculture continues to be an important activity, but tourism has grown to bolster the local economy.