Most of Algodones was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1980. Below: 1 old photo or paper and maps from 1954 on.
The Algodones post office opened in 1855, the earliest record of the town by name. Another post office, Las Colonias (1873), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
2020 census: 720171 years
How historic is Algodones?
C−
More historic than 22% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first Algodones post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Algodones’ History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Algodones is more historic than 22% of U.S. towns. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Algodones’ overall grade.
New Mexico towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical New Mexico town has 2.2 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Algodones’ 0.0 sits below most of its state (28% of New Mexico towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to C. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.2 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.
Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Algodones’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Near the town of Algodones lies a narrow pass known as La Angostura. The pass was important for trade along the Camino Real, and was the site of fortifications dating from the early 17th century to control movement along the road. The village of Algodones developed in the 18th century during continuing efforts by the Spanish settlers to control the nearby Rio Grande river fords and passes through the valley.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
The Algodones post office opened in 1855, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Algodones rank for history?
Algodones is more historic than 22% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Algodones?
5% of Algodones’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.2 points), against a typical 2.3% for a New Mexico town; the median home was built in 1980.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (11), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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