That the county of Catron is hereby created out of that portion of the state of New Mexico lying and being situate within the following metes and bounds:

beginning at the corner marking the southeast corner of township 9 south, range 9 west and the southwest corner of township 9 south, range 8 west, New Mexico principal meridian and base lines, as shown by the United States survey, and located on the north boundary of Sierra county; thence north on the range line between range 8 west and range 9 west through townships 9, 8, 7 and 6 south, New Mexico principal meridian and base lines to the United States first standard parallel south line; thence west on said first standard parallel south to the southeast corner of township 5 south, range 9 west, and the southwest corner of township 5 south, range 8 west, New Mexico principal meridian and base lines; thence north on the range line between range 8 west and range 9 west, New Mexico principal meridian and base lines, through townships 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 south to the New Mexico base line, United States survey; thence west on said New Mexico base line to the southeast corner of township 1 north, range 9 west and the southwest corner of township 1 north, range 8 west, New Mexico principal meridian and base lines; thence north on the range line between range 8 west and range 9 west, New Mexico principal meridian and base lines through townships 1, 2, 3 and 4 north, to the south boundary line of Valencia county; thence westerly along the south boundary line of Valencia county to the boundary line between the states of New Mexico and Arizona; thence southerly along said boundary line between the states of New Mexico and Arizona to a point where the north boundary line of Grant county intersects said state boundary lines; thence easterly along said north boundary line of Grant county to the western boundary line of Sierra county; thence northerly along the western boundary line of Sierra county to the northwest corner of Sierra county, and thence easterly along the north [boundary] line of Sierra county to the place of beginning.

History: Laws 1921, ch. 28, § 1; C.S. 1929, § 33-201; 1941 Comp., § 15-201; 1953 Comp., § 15-2-1.

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.

Compiler's notes. — Catron county was created out of the western portion of Socorro county.

The boundary line between Catron and Valencia counties is in reality the section line 2 miles south of the first standard parallel north.

Cross references. — For boundary between Grant and Catron counties, see 4-9-2 NMSA 1978.

For original boundaries of Sierra county, see 4-27-1 NMSA 1978.

For original boundaries of Valencia county, see 4-32-1 NMSA 1978.

Attempt to abolish county and distribute territory void. — Laws 1927, ch. 185, attempting to abolish Catron county and to distribute its territory between two other counties, was void as violating N.M. Const., art. IV, § 24, prohibiting the passage of local or special laws changing county lines, except in creating new counties. State ex rel. Dow v. Graham, 1928-NMSC-022, 33 N.M. 504, 270 P. 897.