U.S. Political Geography

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Further reading

Mesilla

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

Mesilla , town (1990 pop. 1,975), SW N.Mex., on the Rio Grande and near Las Cruces; settled c.1850. The whole Mesilla Valley became part of the United States under the Gadsden Purchase (1853). Mesilla was a central station on the overland mail route. From July, 1861, to Aug., 1862, it was headquarters for Col. John R. Baylor of the Confederate army, who proclaimed Mesilla the capital of the new Confederate territory. A museum commemorates Billy the Kid, who once stood trial there.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Lingering in old Mesilla; near Las Cruces, it was a Mexican frontier town. Magazine article from: Sunset; 10/1/1990
	AT&T Selected by Mesilla Valley Transportation for New Networking Contract. PR Newswire; 10/3/2006
	SIDE DISH: LA MESILLA CHEF SHOULD TAKE STATE BY STORM.(Taste) Newspaper article from: The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM); 3/12/2008