Hispanics in Concho

Vanessa Fonseca-Chávez is a Nuevomexicana with roots in northwestern New Mexico and has family connections in Concho. Angela Perea Murphy grew up in Concho and resides across the street from her childhood home. They are both proud to share more than 150 photographs showcasing Concho life from the early 1910s though the 1970s, provided by private collections and now archived as part of the Voces Oral History Center at the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection as well as photographs from photographer Russell Lee that can be found at the Library of Congress.

Settled in 1861 by Manuel Antonio "M.A." Candelaria, the town of Concho, or Old Concho, is situated in northeastern Arizona in what is now Apache County. Many New Mexican Hispano Catholic families migrated to Concho from the central and western New Mexico Territory, establishing a sheepherding community that continued into the early 20th century. The valley had a natural spring that enabled orchards, farms, and ranches to thrive. The town saw the establishment of important businesses in Concho, including the first bank in Apache County. One of the most beloved buildings, the San Rafael Catholic Church, was established in 1925 and is still standing today. Many of the founding families--Ortega, Padilla, Sandoval, Martínez, Romero, García, Durán, Candelaria, Baca, Saiz, Chávez, Archuleta, and others--were part of this lively village community and are proud to carry on its legacy. Though Concho is now classified as a ghost town, the photographs and stories contained in this book share a different narrative.