Taos County, New Mexico
Questa -- originally called San Antonio del Rio Colorado (St. Anthony of the Red River) -- was initially settled in 1828 by Francisco La Foret who "built a home down in the bottoms near the river but was forced to leave" (Stanley, 1962) because of hostilities from the northern Indians (Utes and Commanches). In 1842 a group of thirty-five families officially established San Antonio del Rio Colorado, with a U.S. land grant (San Antonio del Rio Colorado Tract No. 76). One of the founders was Antonio Elias Armenta the father-in-law of La Foret, who was a noted leading citizen of early Rio Colorado (as it was known for short).
Questa is located on a ridge of gravel on the north side of the Red River and west of Cabrestro creek 7,469 feet above sea level. It is about nineteen miles south of Costilla and about twenty-six miles north of Taos (Stanley, 1962). On the map it is located at the juncture of route 522 and 38.
For more history of Questa, read F. Stanley's, The Story of Questa.
San Antonio Rio del Colorado - the Past
FAMILY HISTORY STORIES: EARLY QUESTA by Garcia Raines
QUESTA POST OFFICE HISTORY by James W. White
EARLY RESIDENTS OF QUESTA from F. Stanley
Questa - the Present
REFERENCES
Stanley, F. The Story of Questa, 1962.
Original grant can be found at the University New Mexico e-library
(Search for San Antonio del Rio Colorado, then select Spanish Archives of New Mexico I, 1685-1912, then go to Land Grant Records.)
Reel: 33
Frame: 521
Item: PLC Case 4
Contents: San Antonio del Rio Colorado Grant (aka Francisco Montoya Grant)
Webmaster
Shalane Sheley-Cruz