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Water has always been the life blood of communities in the arid
southwest. Placitas has both modern subdivisions (mostly on the west side) and a traditional area which has come to be known as Las Placitas Communities District. Las Placitas encompasses the San Antonio de las
Huertas Land Grant Patent Lands and includes the neighborhoods of the Village of Placitas, Dome Valley, Caņon de Las Huertas, Las Huertas, Tecolote, Rosa de la Castilla spring area, La Otra Banda, Placitas Heights,
La Buena Vista and Des Montes. These are traditional settlements with similar historical use located within the San Antonio de las Huertas grant boundaries, founded in 1768 along the banks of Las Huertas Creek (Las
Huertas translates to "the gardens).
The residents of
Las Placitas have continued to preserve and protect the cultural heritage and historical legacy that has sustained them for hundreds of years. Las Placitas has its own unique "sense of place" with three historic acequias, small farms, gardens and orchards, wild animals, farm animals, eclectic and traditional architecture and an attitude of "live and let live. Descendents of the original 21 families live along side more recent immigrants, sharing the values of Placitas' history, culture and community whether they have been here for generations or for decades.
At the heart of the history and culture is the scarce and precious
surface waters, fed by springs from the Sandia Mountains, cared for by Mayordomos and parcientes in traditional ways that have been passed down for centuries.
Read about water news and issues here.
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