Columbus, NM - 100 years later... (Las Cruces, Deming: living in, military, law)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
There are a number of articles in various regional papers about the centennial commemoration of Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus on March 9, 1916. At the time it was claimed to be the first invasion on U.S. soil by a foreign power. Here is a good article that explains how Columbus is trying to capitalize on the publicity:
(Mayor) Skinner is convinced Columbus is ready to move beyond its 100-year-old notoriety as the United States border village attacked by Mexican revolutionary leader Francisco “Pancho” Villa's forces on March 9, 1916.
Columbus is a lethargic, mostly impoverished village in southern Luna County, three miles north of the Mexican town of Palomas, and 80 miles west of El Paso. Population: 1,760.
“We're a poverty community. Luna County is one of the poorest counties in the state,” Skinner said. “We're working to create jobs and turn that poverty around.”
The village at one point had only 350 people, qualifying it to become designated a ghost town in various books.
“In the era 1990 to 2000, we were one of the fastest growing towns in New Mexico,” Skinner said.
A couple years ago the Mayor, chief of police and most of the city council were indicted for corruption....Remember, it's only a few hundred yards from Mexico and people don't leave their culture at the border when they cross..Same thing just happened in Crystal City Texas.
A couple years ago the Mayor, chief of police and most of the city council were indicted for corruption....Remember, it's only a few hundred yards from Mexico and people don't leave their culture at the border when they cross..Same thing just happened in Crystal City Texas.
What does that have to do with the event which has been held for the past 17 years?
"This coming March marks the Centennial Anniversary of Pancho Villa's attack on Columbus, NM; it also is the 17th Binational Cavalry Trail Remembrance Ride. Where members from both sides of the border join together in peace and unity to honor the casualties of 1916 Raid. The 1st Cabalgata Binacional was held in 1999 when riders came together in friendship and hope to spur economic development on the Columbus, NM-Palomas, Chihuahua region."
"This coming March marks the Centennial Anniversary of Pancho Villa's attack on Columbus, NM; it also is the 17th Binational Cavalry Trail Remembrance Ride. Where members from both sides of the border join together in peace and unity to honor the casualties of 1916 Raid. The 1st Cabalgata Binacional was held in 1999 when riders came together in friendship and hope to spur economic development on the Columbus, NM-Palomas, Chihuahua region."
I understood the topic of the thread to be moving past the Pancho Villa thing. We are spending a lot of time in the Deming/Las Cruces/El Paso area with the intention of relocating and I would not EVER think of living in Columbus. There is a lot of drug and illegal immigration foot traffic already in Deming as it is, I can imagine what happens in Columbus. As the reply to the OP mentioned, Columbus had a problem with their local law enforcement and corruption a few years back and that may be one of the reasons why they are having trouble attracting people (the other major reason being that they are right next to the border and in the middle of nowhere).
I understood the topic of the thread to be moving past the Pancho Villa thing.
There is still significant interest in the historical events surrounding the Pancho Villa raid, as evidenced by this article in the El Paso Times about the centennial re-enactment on March 12-13.
FORT BLISS – One hundred years ago, eight brave U.S. soldiers were killed during Pancho Villa’s infamous raid on the border town of Columbus, N.M.
These eight soldiers, from K Troop with the 13th Cavalry Regiment, made the ultimate sacrifice trying to fight off Villa’s numerically superior force on March 9, 1916.
About 70 soldiers from Fort Bliss’ 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment visited Columbus on March 11-12 and participated in activities surrounding the centennial of the attack.
There is still significant interest in the historical events surrounding the Pancho Villa raid, as evidenced by this article in the El Paso Times about the centennial re-enactment on March 12-13.
Ah, sorry. It's the first line of the quote you chose from the article that led me to believe this is NOT about Pancho Villa (bolded part is mine)
"(Mayor) Skinner is convinced Columbus is ready to move beyond its 100-year-old notoriety as the United States border village attacked by Mexican revolutionary leader Francisco “Pancho” Villa's forces on March 9, 1916.
"
Columbus, NM, marks 100th anniversary of Pancho Villa’s raid
By Lauren Villagran / Journal Staff Writer - Las Cruces Bureau
Updated: Monday, March 7th, 2016 at 9:14am
on Saturday the Mexican cavalcade riders will cross and make their way to town – this time peacefully and in unity with their New Mexican counterparts.
Columbus officials expect the village – population 1,634 – to welcome as many as 2,000 visitors for the festivities.
Pancho Villa State Park will host talks by four historians, including Von Feilitzsch.
2 min 29 sec video:
Pancho Villa Raid 100th Anniversary
Published on Mar 18, 2016
March 1916 Mexican general Pancho Villa invades Columbus, a small New Mexico border town. As a result 18 Americans and up to 200 Villistas perished. In March 2016 Columbus commemorated 100 years since the raid.
Produced for the Las Cruces Sun-News / USA TODAY Network / Gannett.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
(bolded part is mine)
