Cerrillos, New Mexico

Officially named Los Cerrillos (meaning "The Small Hills" in Spanish), Cerrillos, as it is commonly known, is a small village in north-central New Mexico, located just off of Highway 14, about 25 miles south of Santa Fe. Tano and Keres Native peoples lived in the area for centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards in the late 1500s. The Spaniards, who were searching for gold, discovered silver and lead in the area and the small settlement was established as a mining camp. Mining operations continued on and off in the area as more prospectors, both Spanish and later American, explored the region. The official founding date of the village is 1880, the year the railroad arrived. The picturesque surroundings offer a unique setting for movie productions, and for tourists traveling the scenic route between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.