This community, settled in 1865, originally was on the west side of the Pecos River, where it was called Agua Negra Chiquita, "little black water." In 1873 the community acquired a post office, which took the name Santa Rosa. Postmaster Celso Baca is credited with the name Santa Rosa, from a small chapel he built around 1890, the Capilla de Santa Rosa, for St. Rose of Lima, a maiden who was the first canonized saint of the New World. Rosa also was the name of Baca's wife, Dona Rosa Viviana Baca y Baca, who was buried beneath the chapel that was dedicated, at least in part, to her.
The town of Santa Rosa was a minor community until the coming of the railroad in 1901. Since then, the city has continued as an important transportation service center. Billboards proclaim Santa Rosa to be "the City of Natural Lakes," because numerous artesian lakes are here. From “The Place Names of New Mexico” Revised Edition, by Robert Julyan
*** Congrats to Tux for FTF (8 FTF in a row on a long drive to Texas and back and in snow)!!! ***