Seniors Drop By Anthony

 The City of Anthony, New Mexico sits on the Texas-New Mexico border in the Upper Mesilla Valley. Senior travelers will find Anthony on Interstate 10, 27 miles south of Las Cruces and 21 miles north of El Paso, Texas.

According to the 2010 census, Anthony, Texas was estimated to have a population of 5,011 and Anthony, New Mexico had a population of 9,360.  Surrounded by numerous small communities, the area population is estimated to be over 25,000.

Anthony, New Mexico was at one time called Halfway House because it is located half-way between Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Two stories of how the post office in 1884 became Anthony exist.

One says a local lady built a chapel in her home and dedicated it to her patron saint, San Antonio. When a post office was requested under that name, another city in New Mexico had already claimed it, so the English form, Anthony, was chosen. The other story is that it was named by a Catholic priest who had established a church there.

 Seniors Find Gateway of Trade Routes

The area produces crops such as cotton, alfalfa, pecans, onions, lettuce, chile and wine grapes.  The area also hosts numerous dairies. The community was at one time also known as “La Tuna”, (prickly pear in Spanish) after the Federal Correctional Institution located nearby.

Anthony has long been the gateway of trade routes in the Southwest. The Butterfield Overland Mail Trail passed just north of Anthony and the Camino Real Trade Route from Mexico City passed directly through the community.

In 1988, Mary Ann Brown, a member of the Anthony Chamber of Commerce and born on Leap Year, founded the Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club. The Chamber voted to proclaim the New Mexico/Texas town “Leap Year Capital of the World” and to sponsor the one and only World-Wide Leap Year Birthday Club and celebration.

Then New Mexico Governor Garrey Carruthers and Texas Governor William B. Clements joined in the special proclamation. Thus today Anthony has taken on the name “Leap Year Capital of the World.”

 A Horse Stable And Wineries Invite Seniors

The seven acre farm, San Francisco Stables, began with the dream to give back to the community. The owners wanted to create a place for fun, surrounded by animals, fields and trees where anyone could  enjoy the fresh air of the country and the love of animals.

La Viña Winery provides state-of-the-art winemaking facilities and a tasting room as well as grounds and patio suitable for weddings, picnics or any special event. La Viña is New Mexico’s oldest winery and continues along an ancient tradition along the Don Juan De Oñate trail in Anthony.

Sightseeing in the Mesilla Valley is a favored pastime for senior visitors to New Mexico. The New Mexico hospitality is a famed as the landscape. -jeb