Socorro’s Most Notable Residents & Events, Past & Present

1906 Earthquake Shakes Socorro

The largest earthquake in New Mexico.

Apache Kid

Apache Scout and Renegade (c.1860-after 1894)

Battle of Valverde

Civil War Battle on February 20-21, 1862

Conrad Hilton

Founder of Hilton Hotel Chains (1887-1979)

Elfego Baca

Lawman, Lawyer, Politician (1865-1945)

Free State of Socorro

It all started in February 1953, when Socorro resident Elmer Brasher was arrested and found guilty of driving while intoxicated.

Haunted Socorro

We love a good ghost story!

Holm Olaf Bursum

Politician (1867-1953)

Jeff Bhasker

American Record Producer, Songwriter, Keyboardist, Vocalist, and Multi-Instrumentalist.

Juan de Oñate

Spanish Conquistador, Explorer, Colonial Governor (1550-1626)

Mayors of Socorro

Socorro has had many mayors. Take a closer look.

Piro Pueblos

The Piros were a Native American Pueblo people that lived in a number of pueblos in the Rio Grande Valley around modern Socorro, New Mexico.

San Marcial

Huge floods in 1929 and 1937 destroy San Marcial leaving it uninhabitable.

Socorro Landing: A UFO Story

One of the best documented UFO sightings in U.S. history was witnessed by City of Socorro Police Officer Lonnie Zamora and investigated by many top scientists. Below is a short summary of the events that occurred that day: In late afternoon on Friday, April 24, 1964, Socorro Police Sergeant Lonnie Zamora departed his cruiser on […]

Stirling Colgate

American Physicist (1925-2013)

Victorio

Leader of the Mimbreño Apaches (1825?-1880)

Willard Hughes Rollings

Scholar of Native American History (1948-2008)