Cibola County, New Mexico (NM), United States, North America
Latitude
34°52'N
Longitude
107°40'W
Acoma
(A-kuh-muh) or Acoma, pueblo (1990 pop.
2,590), Cibola co., W central N.Mex.; 34°52'N 107°40'W. Elev.
c.7,000 ft/2,130 m. Founded c.1100-1250; in
Acoma Indian Reservation. This “sky city” on top of a steep-sided
sandstone mesa, 357 ft/109 m high and hard to
access, is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited community
in the U.S. (since about 1150). The residents, who speak a Western
Keresan language, are known for their fine Acoma pottery. Below the
mesa are the cultivated fields and grazing grounds that help support
the community. The pueblo's location has impressed visitors from Fray
Marcos de Niza (1539) and Coronado's men (1540) to present-day
tourists. Juan de Onate was allowed entry in 1598, but the Native
Americans resisted and were subdued only after intense fighting. The
missionary Fray Juan Ramirez arrived in 1629. The Acoma people
joined in the Pueblo revolt of 1680, were forced to submit to Diego de
Vargas in 1692, joined in the later uprising of 1696, and were subdued
again in 1699. They were later Christianized. Sheep, cattle; grain.
Part of Laguna Indian Reservation to E and S.
Capital city or county seat is shown by the symbol
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