Santa Rosa (1)

Historical marker location:

I-40, Santa Rosa , New Mexico

( on eastbound I-40 at mile marker 273)

The Spanish explorer Antonio de Espejo passed through this area in 1583, as did Gaspar Castaño de Sosa in 1590. Santa Rosa, the Guadalupe County seat, was laid out on the ranch of Celso Baca y Baca, a politician and rancher in the late 1800s. It was named for his wife, Doña Rosa. Population—2469 Elevation—4620 ft.