Bloomfield residents love their lifestyle, thanks to the amazing natural beauty of the area. The city's two claims to fame are somewhat unusual. First, the area produces a significant amount of the country's natural gas, making it the "Gas Plant Capital of the United States". Second, Bloomfield gained national attention when controversy erupted over the erection of a Ten Commandments monument at City Hall. The nearby city of Farmington experienced another unique moment in history, when in 1950, half of residents saw a whole fleet of flying saucers. Will Bloomfield be the next stop on ET's tour of Earth?
In the northwestern-most corner of New Mexico, the city of Bloomfield is 8,000 residents strong
Bloomfield residents love their lifestyle, thanks to the amazing natural beauty of the area. The city's two claims to fame are somewhat unusual. First, the area produces a significant amount of the country's natural gas, making it the "Gas Plant Capital of the United States". Second, Bloomfield gained national attention when controversy erupted over the erection of a Ten Commandments monument at City Hall. The nearby city of Farmington experienced another unique moment in history, when in 1950, half of residents saw a whole fleet of flying saucers. Will Bloomfield be the next stop on ET's tour of Earth?
In the northwestern-most corner of New Mexico, the city of Bloomfield is 8,000 residents strong. That's just enough to stay anonymous when you feel like keeping to yourself, but not so many that you miss out on a warm sense of community. Those with wanderlust can hit three additional states in a well-planned long-weekend, as Bloomfield's placement means easy access to Colorado, Utah and Arizona.
If you're looking to Bloomfield as your next home, make sure you bring along with you all the right papers. We're talking about rental history, letters of reference (business, professional and even from your mom -- just kidding on the last one), bank statements, copies of your ID and some sort of proof of income to show you can pay rent.
There are several neighborhoods in Bloomfield, and making a selection depends on what sort of building you want to live in and whether you are going for a suburban or rural feel.
North: The northern section of town around Blanco and the Navajo Dam is affordably priced and relatively rural. There are plenty of rental property and mobile homes available, and they are generally on the small to medium side. Hiway Grill will keep you from going hungry.
Turley: Turley is in the middle of town, and it is also fairly rural. Oddly, prices are higher than in the Blanco / Navajo Dam area, though the available apartments for rent are of similar size and quality. Check it out, since you might find a real deal. There are many available, so a motivated homeowner is likely to give you a great price. Be sure to check out Green Chile Grill.
South: The southern section of the city, the area around Huerfano and Lake Valley, is the best neighborhood for easy-to-find, affordably-priced studio apartments for rent in Bloomfield. There are also mobile homes and single-family houses for rent. This neighborhood is quite rural.
San Juan River: A suburban neighborhood runs just along the south bank of the San Juan River, making for glorious water views. If you are looking for a larger home for rent, this is a great choice. Single-family houses are typically three to five bedrooms, and there are a variety of mobile homes and apartments to rent to suit any living situation.
When you need some new sights, there are plenty of ways to get out of Bloomfield. Luckily, it's even easier to get home after your adventures. Just outside of the city, you can take flight at the Four Corners Regional Airport. Sadly, if you are a train buff, you are out of luck. However, an excellent network of highways makes car travel quick. U.S. Route 666 (now U.S. Highway 491) is the closest major North / South road, and U.S. 64 is the best bet for East / West travel, conveniently running right through Bloomfield.
Staying Busy
Since the small city of Bloomfield was built right on the banks of the San Juan River, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself entertained. Fly-fishermen can float or wade with one of the many local guides, or they can venture out on their own to catch trophy-sized trout. Take your visitors on an extra-special tour of the area in a hot air balloon.
Other outdoor activities include hiking at the Carson National Forest or the Simon Canyon Natural Area, exploring the Aztec Ruins National Monument or the Salmon Ruins, and most exciting of all--driving off-road at the 800-acre Dunes Vehicle Recreation Area.
