Cimarron, NM

Tucked right where the southern Rockies meet the northeastern New Mexico plains, Cimarron is a quiet village of fewer than 800 people. Life here moves at a relaxed pace along the banks of the Cimarron River. Wide-open cattle ranches and the sprawling Philmont Scout Ranch border the community, providing big skies and dramatic mountain backdrops. U.S. Highway 64 runs straight through town, giving residents a direct route west into Cimarron Canyon State Park or east toward Raton for larger shopping runs.

ATTRBilly Hathorn . Original uploader was Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

The town has deep roots in the Old West, starting out as a lively stop on the Santa Fe Trail. You can still see that frontier character around town, especially at historic spots like the 1860s Aztec Mill Museum and the St. James Hotel. For anyone thinking about relocating, Cimarron offers dark night skies, incredible outdoor recreation, and a tight-knit community where neighbors know each other and life stays simple.