La Union is an old community from from two original Spanish settlements. The current La Union village is partly along NM Highway 28 and partly on NM Highway 182 stretching westward about a mile. It is a colorful Spanish American agricultural area, with pecan groves, chiles, pumpkins, and a variety of other crops. It is one of the southern-most communities in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.

According to information found at New Mexico Wanderings, two early Mexican settlements in the 1800′s merged to form “La Union”. The two were “Los Ojitos” and “Los Amoles”. People in both suffered from periodic flooding of the Rio Grande River washing out crops and sometimes even homes. They moved to higher ground. Today locals recognize both “new” and “old” La Union. The “new” community is “La Union Nueva”, along NM Highway 28, and the “old” is “La Union Vieja”, west along NM Highway 182.

• Visit New Mexico Wanderings for historic photos and stories about the origins of La Union.
• Go to SouthernNewMexico.com for an article by Phyllis Eileen Banks, “Anthony, New Mexico/Texas – Leap Year Capitol of the World”