San Rafael New Mexico Map

About San Rafael, New Mexico

San Rafael is a locality in Cibola County, New Mexico, United States. It has a population of approximately 1,039. The population density is 15.1 people per km². San Rafael is located at 35.1125°N, 107.8826°W. It observes the Mountain Time (America/Denver) timezone. ZIP code: 87020.

San Rafael unfolds across a high plateau, a quiet sentinel under the vast New Mexico sky. It lies 68.5 miles west of South Valley, NM (from South Valley, NM: bearing 276°T), and is situated 3.0 miles south-west of Grants. The land here is a study in ochre and sage, with low-lying mesas rising like ancient witnesses to the passing sun. The air, thin and carrying the scent of dry earth and distant piñon, hums with a stillness that can feel profound. The terrain slopes gently towards the north, a subtle invitation to the vastness of the Cibola National Forest that begins to assert its dominion in the distance. Here, the light at dusk paints the eroded rock faces with hues of rose and violet, a fleeting masterpiece before the stars claim their dominion. San Rafael holds within its quiet streets the echoes of a long past, its origins tied to the Spanish colonial era and the enduring legacy of the Catholic Church. The mission, a stoic presence with its weathered adobe walls, stands as a silent testament to generations of faith and community. The local economy, historically rooted in ranching and agriculture, now finds a more diversified footing, though the spirit of the land remains deeply ingrained. The rhythm of life in San Rafael is one of measured steps, where the whisper of the wind through the sparse vegetation seems to dictate the pace, a gentle counterpoint to the broader currents of the world beyond.

About This San Rafael Map Page

This page provides an interactive Google map of San Rafael, New Mexico with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on San Rafael and Cibola County.

Detailed location data for San Rafael includes the ZIP code (88439), telephone area code (575, 505), county seat of Cibola County (Grants), and school district assignment (Grants-Cibola County Schools). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct San Rafael is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.