Daniel B Flores

Billy the Kid Daniel B Flores

Billy the Kid, His Legacy in Guadalupe County is about several connections that the famous outlaw of the Old West had in what is now New Mexico's Guadalupe county. Billy was very active in Lincoln and San Miguel counties during his heyday, though his exploits also extended to other parts of New Mexico. Billy the Kid, His Legacy Guadalupe County includes several sections about those people who had strong ties to Guadalupe county and knew Billy or were somehow associated with those who knew him. Guadalupe county was created by the New Mexico territorial legislature in 1891 and officially came into existence in 1893. The land which became part of the new county was taken from the southern part of San Miguel county. In 1903 Guadalupe county ceased to exist and was replaced by Leonard Wood county. The eastern part of Guadalupe county became Quay county. The western part of the Guadalupe county became the new Leonard Wood county. Puerto de Luna had been the county seat of the old Guadalupe county. The new railroad towns of Santa Rosa and Tucumcari became the county seats of Guadalupe and Quay counties. Billy the Kid, His Legacy in Guadalupe County consists of ten sections devoted to nine men and a woman who had strong direct or indirect associations with the outlaw. The nine men all knew Billy the Kid. Three of the men were Billy's close friends. The other six included two lawmen and four acquaintances. The only woman in the group was born after Billy the Kid's death but had strong family ties to Billy Kid's stomping grounds in Fort Sumner. Also included is a section about a Puerto de Luna building that through the years has played a major role in preserving the Guadalupe county legacy and lore about Billy the Kid. Billy himself is known to have visited the building. The building over the years has been the subject of many news articles about the famous outlaw. During the depression the building was used as a headquarters by two men who have played an important role in preserving his legacy for posterity. Though now dilapidated, the building still stands in Puerto de Luna as a reminder of the rich and colorful past of the area.