Historical Marker

Costilla

Historical marker location:

Costilla , New Mexico

( in plaza area of Costilla)

This is one of several plazas established along the Rio Costilla in 1849 within the Sangre de Cristo land grant. These settlers built acequias for irrigation, farmed, raised stock and established commerce along New Mexico’s northern frontier. Spanish Governor Diego de Vargas crossed this valley during his reconquest of New Mexico in 1694, as did Juan Bautista de Anza during his 1779 campaign against the Comanche leader Cuerno Verde.