Santa Fe, the State Capital, is located in
Santa Fe County and is the county seat. It lies northeast of
Albuquerque between
Los Alamos and Las Vegas, along U.S. Highway 285. The city also is near the
Rio Grande River, Cochiti Lake and the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
The area was home to the Tewa Native Americans when Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado appeared in 1540. Colonization commenced in 1598, and in 1610 Santa Fe was established as New Mexico's Spanish capital.
Today Santa Fe, population 62,203, is a sunny tourist destination famous for its arts & crafts in Native American and Spanish styles. Attractions include the 1610 San Miguel Mission and many specialty museums. Performing arts are offered at the Community Theatre, Orchestra of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Opera. The city is home to the New Mexico School for the Deaf and several colleges. Most of Santa Fe's residents are white or Hispanic.
Santa Fe is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico metro area.
