"Archaeologists relate the Pueblo to an older Southwest culture known by the term Basket Maker. The entire cultural sequence is called the Anasazi (Navajo, ìancient onesî) culture. During the early Basket Maker phase (circa 100 bc-ad 500) prehistoric settlements were established in the northern part of the Southwest. The Indians practiced weaving; they lived in caves or built shelters of poles and adobe mud. Pumpkins and corn were grown as a supplement to hunting and the gathering of wild plants. Food was stored in undergound pits, often lined with stone slabs. With the addition of a bean crop and the domestication of the turkey, agriculture became more important than hunting and gathering during the Modified Basket Maker period (500-700). Pottery was introduced. The food storage pits developed into semisubterranean houses and ceremonial chambers, and buildings began to take their present connected form."

"The transition from the Basket Maker to the Pueblo culture occurred about 700. Stone construction was adopted, and the connected, now-aboveground houses became larger. The ceremonial chamber developed into the kiva, an underground chamber used for rituals and as a male lodge. Several kinds of corn were grown, and the cultivation of cotton may have been introduced. Pottery was produced in a diversity of shapes and styles. During this period the Anasazi made their greatest territorial expansion, reaching as far as central Utah, southern Colorado, and a large part of northern Mexico."

"During the Classic Pueblo period (1050-1300) the northernmost regions were no longer occupied, and the population became concentrated in large multistoried, terraced pueblos and in similar villages built in recesses in cliffs. See: Casa Grande National Monument; Chaco Culture National Historical Park; Cliff Dweller; Mesa Verde National Park. Notable advances occurred in pottery and weaving. At the end of this period many large centers of Pueblo life were abandoned, possibly because of drought or because of invading bands of Navajo and Apache. During the Regressive Pueblo period (1300-1700) many villages inhabited today were founded. Houses became less elaborate, but pottery and weaving continued to develop."

To read more on the history of the Pueblo peoples visit Pueblo Indians .

Santa Fé county had been under Spanish rule since 1607, when the Spaniards arrived under Don Juan de Onate. They had settled Santa Fé in hopes of converting the Indians to Catholocisim.

In 1680, however, the Pueblos revolted against the Spanish under Chief Pope, driving the Spanish out of the area down south to modern-day El Paso. Only to be reconquered by the Spanish again in 1692 led by Don Diego de Vargas. (This conquest being celebrated every Septemeber, as Fiestas de Santa Fé, since 1712.)

Mexico seceded from Spain in 1821, thus Santa Fé, became a part of Mexico. During the same year, the Santa Fé trail was opened up by William Becknell, at the end of which stands the Loretto Church .

The United States first laid claim to Santa Fé in 1846 by the United States Army, lead under General Stephen Watts Kearney, during the US-Mexican War. In 1848, under the Treaty of Hidalgo, New Mexico was officially succeeded to the United States, becoming New Mexico Territory. For a short time the Confederate Flag flew over Santa Fé, until the Union regained control in the Battle of Glorieta. New Mexico remained a territory until 1912, when it became the 47th State of the United States.

Today Santa Fé has a population of 129,292. The county seat is located in Santa Fé:

Santa Fé was founded in 1607 by Don Pedro de Peralta as La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís (The Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi.) It was officially made the original capitol of Nuevo México, then a province of New Spain, in 1610.

Today it is known simply as Santa Fé and is both the capitol of the State of New Mexico, as well as, the County Seat of Santa Fé County. At an elevation of almost 7,000 feet and a population of 62,203 it is the 3rd largest arts center in the United States just behind New York and Los Angeles. It is home to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Loretto Chapel and much more.

The capitol is located at: