Nestled in the picturesque Cimarron River Valley, Folsom, New Mexico, stands as a semi-ghost town steeped in a dramatic history of boom, bust, and groundbreaking archaeological discoveries. This resilient community, situated at the crossroads of New Mexico Highways 325 and 456 in Union County, tells a compelling story of frontier life, natural disaster, and the origins of human habitation in North America. The area surrounding Folsom, New Mexico, with its stunning buttes, mesas, and ancient volcanic cones, served for centuries as a vital hunting ground for indigenous peoples, including the Comanche, Ute, and Jicarilla Apache tribes.
Madison: The Town Before Folsom
Before Folsom emerged, the first white settlement in the vicinity was Madison, founded in 1862 by Madison Emery. Emery built a cabin, and as more settlers arrived, the town grew to include homes, stores, and even a rough hotel. Madison gained notoriety for its proximity to
