When it comes to advocacy, this nonprofit community service organization is a regional leader. For more than 30 years, the San Marcos Association has worked to protect the unique rural residential character of the San Marcos area, the site of the ancient Pueblo city Ya’atze (“Cornville”) renamed San Marcos in 1591 by the Spanish, namely Captain Gaspar Costaño de Sosa.

The association monitors development to ensure that it is consistent with the area’s rural lifestyle and also with Santa Fe County’s applicable plans and ordinances. It also represents the area’s property owners and residents in public service, utilities and other matters, including a fight to prevent strip mining on the historic La Bajada Mesa.

With an active Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/sanmarcosassn), the group provides news about county politics, local events and more, and its website contains a rich archive of regional history.

http://www.sanmarcosassociation.org