Rio Arriba County

Rio Arriba County was the ninth county originally created for the Territory of New Mexico in 1852. The county seat was initially sited at San Pedro de Charmita, and shortly afterwards at Los Luceros. In 1860, the seat was moved to Plaza del Alcalde.

Since 1880, Tierra Amarilla has been the county seat. The Battle of Embudo Pass took place in the southern part of the county during the American invasion in January 1847.

The county has a total area of 5,896 square miles, a population of approximately 40,040, and its northern border is the Colorado state line. It is the fifth largest county in NM by area. The highest point in the county is the summit of Truchas Peak at 13,102 feet. Española is one of the more populated cities in the county with a portion of the central and eastern section in Santa Fe County.

The county has an abundance of outdoor activities and points of interest including Abiquiu Lake, the Chama River (a tributary of the Rio Grande), the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, Puye Cliff Dwellings, and the Monastery of Christ in the Desert.

Upcoming Events

FREE Online Webinar: Writing Effective Disciplinary Actions

Tickets

Jun 30 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

ON-LINE: Writing Effective Disciplinary Actions

INSTRUCTOR: Mark Allen, NMC General Counsel

Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Time: 10am to 11:30am

Participant certificates will be provided.

Target Audience: Any county supervisor, manager, and HR employees tasked with advising on discipline.

Description: Discipline is often overturned not because the misconduct didn’t occur, but because it was not properly evaluated, documented, or written. This training will focus on the critical decisions that must be made before discipline is imposed and the writing skills necessary to ensure those decisions withstand scrutiny.

Participants will learn how to:

Determine whether discipline is warranted and supported by evidence

Select the appropriate level of discipline based on severity, intent, and prior disciplinary history (progressive discipline)

Avoid disparate treatment claims

Marshal the facts with clarity, precision, and objectivity

Draft disciplinary actions that are clear, complete, persuasive, and with an understanding the final audience may be an arbitrator, a judge, or a jury.

Registration Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AthlhFgUSN6V6DPo3fJVkw

Employment Opportunities

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444 Galisteo St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 | Phone: 505-983-2101 | Toll Free: 877-983-2101