Mesquite Traditional Cache

This is a series of geocaches to commemorate our Great State of New Mexico.  All of the geocaches are named for settlements that once thrived in Dona Ana county but some of them are now nothing more than footnotes in our history.  They have all played an important role in the settling and growth of our county and some of them are still active communities, rich with culture, architecture, and historic buildings.
 

Spanish for "desert shrub" and from Nahuatl "mizquitl. Farming and ranching community on US 80, 12 miles S of Las Cruces on AT & SF RR. Established in 1881 and named by railroad executives for the many mesquite bushes here. Post Office, 1913 - . Mesquite had its beginnings as a switch station for the SFRR in 1881.  The first Post Office was also a store and service station and still stands at the corner of Hwy 478 and the road to the freeway.  The Mesquite Mercantile was built in 1927 and is still in operation