Currently, the town of Dawson, New Mexico, sits nestled between Cimarron and Raton, but it is often overlooked by the public. This can be attributed to the fact that the only remaining evidence of its past as a mining settlement is the cemetery. However, it is not just its ghost town status that keeps visitors away. Dawson is infamous for being a haunted location in New Mexico. Are you ready to explore one of the most eerie abandoned spots in the state?
In the early 20th century, Dawson thrived with a population of around 2,000 residents and boasted essential amenities like a hotel, post office, newspaper, mercantile, and school. In 1906, the Phelps Dodge Corporation acquired the town’s mines, transforming Dawson into a company town.
The company made large financial contributions, adding amenities like a hospital, cinema, pool, bowling alley, and opera house, resulting in a sharp increase in the population to around 9,000. The accompanying image shows the busy main street in 1916. By its highest point in 1918, Dawson’s mines generated an astonishing 4 million tons of coal.