San Rafael New Mexico Map

About San Rafael, New Mexico

San Rafael is a locality in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. San Rafael is located at 35.4920°N, 104.4564°W. It observes the Mountain Time (America/Denver) timezone. ZIP code: 87020.

San Rafael lies cradled by the vast, undulating plains of New Mexico, a landscape sculpted by wind and sun. It lies 84.3 miles east of Santa Fe, NM (from Santa Fe, NM: bearing 99°T), and is situated 38.4 miles south-south-east of Wagon Mound. The earth here is a palette of ochre and rust, interrupted by the hardy green of sagebrush and the occasional stoic juniper, their branches reaching like gnarled fingers towards a sky that stretches, unbroken, for miles. The air, especially in the early mornings, carries a dry, clean scent, a hint of dust and distant piñon, and a profound stillness that seems to absorb all hurried sounds. Even the shadows, cast long and sharp by a sun that often feels like a benevolent overseer, have a certain weight, a quiet presence against the sun-baked earth. The history of San Rafael is as weathered as the adobe walls that still stand, a testament to generations who worked this land. This was a place of trade and passage, a crossroads where ancient routes intersected with the needs of a burgeoning territory. Ranching and agriculture, though challenged by the arid climate, remain the pulse of the local economy, with cattle grazing on vast tracts of grassland and hardy crops coaxed from the soil. The enduring spirit of the people is woven into the very fabric of San Rafael, evident in the quiet resilience of its residents and the enduring traditions that echo through the dusty streets.

About This San Rafael Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of San Rafael, New Mexico — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 35.49199, -104.456372. 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 San Miguel County.

Detailed location data for San Rafael includes the ZIP code (88439), telephone area code (575, 505), county seat of San Miguel County (Las Vegas), 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.