Cliff, New Mexico

Cliff is a census-designated place in Grant County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 293 as of the 2010 census.[2]

Cliff, New Mexico
Census-designated place
Cliff Show map of New Mexico Cliff Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 32°57′43″N 108°36′40″W
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Grant
Area [1]
• Total	10.253 sq mi (26.56 km^2)
• Land	10.253 sq mi (26.56 km^2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km^2)
Elevation	4,498 ft (1,371 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	293
• Density	29/sq mi (11/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	88028
Area code(s)	575
FIPS code	35-17-15860
GNIS feature ID	898744

History

Cliff and the nearby town of Gila were settled in 1884, in the Gila River Valley. The area was and is primarily a ranching and farming community.[3] The local Cliff Post Office was established on August 4, 1894.

Stolen de Kooning painting

In 2017, Woman-Ochre, a 1955 painting by Willem de Kooning, which was stolen from the University Of Arizona Museum Of Art in 1985, was found in the home of a recently deceased couple in Cliff.[4]

Culture

The annual Grant County Fair is held annually at the adjoining fairgrounds next to Cliff High School.

Education

Cliff schools are part of the Silver Consolidated School District. The District's main office is located in Silver City.

• Cliff Elementary School (K-6)
  • Students: 124
  • Teachers: 7.7
• Cliff High School (7-12)
  • Students 155
  • Teachers 12.1

Transportation

U.S. Route 180 connects Cliff to Silver City, and NM 211 connects Cliff to Gila.

Points of interest

• Bill Evan's Lake
• Gila Riparian Preserve

References

1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
3. SouthWest New Mexico, Historic Silver City Area Scenic Tours, page 19, 2008.
4. https://www.thedailybeast.com/who-stole-the-dollar165m-de-kooning-found-behind-a-bedroom-door