About the Agua Fria Village & Airport Road Area in Santa Fe

The Agua Fria Village and Airport Road areas are dynamic neighborhoods located in a swiftly expanding mix of residential and commercial property.

Recent archaeological excavations indicate settlements dating to 7,000 BCE hunter-gathers in Agua Fría and a 3,000-3,500 BCE date for settlers in pit houses who used the domestication of turkeys as a way to stop hunter-gathering. Later, Pindi Pueblo (1150-1400) combines Tewa and Spanish and loosely translates as “Turkey Town.”

Centuries ago, this area was a stop on The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a 1,590 mile road used by the Spanish between 1598 to 1882 and extending between Mexico City and the road’s northern terminus near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The trip required a long and difficult journey of six months, including 2–3 weeks of rest along the way.

In 1835, San Isidro Church was built and named after the patron saint of farmers. Before this, the people in Agua Fría had a strong Catholic faith but found it difficult to attend services at the parroquia in Santa Fe (later Cathedral). Don Jose Jacinto Gallegos raised the idea of building a church, went to his land with his neighbors, tossed his hat to the four winds and built the church on the spot it landed.

The first schoolhouse appeared in the late 19thc with the Agua Fría Elementary School being built using adobe bricks in 1934 by the WPA.

Agua Fria is now served by Agua Fria Elementary and R. M. Sweeney Elementary schools, Edward Ortiz Middle School and Capital High School. Combined with affordable homes, the nearby stores, restaurants and food shops, this area is perfect for families.

Great thanks to William Mee, ‘Agua Fría As a State of Mind’ – Agua Fría Village Association.