Corona, New Mexico an isolated, unique
mountain community of some 215 persons, lies
on U.S. 54 approximately at the Lincoln and
Torrance County lines. It is a compact
community surrounded by vast areas of open
range and U.S. forest land and is located at the
geographic center of New Mexico. The Village
began as a cowtown in 1899, serving as a
regional trade center for mining and ranching
interest.
The old El Paso and Northeast Railroad was
constructed from El Paso to Carrizozo in 1899
and ended in Corona until 1902 when the line
was extended to Santa Rosa to connect with the
Rock Island Line. The route passed through
Corona and a station was established. This
connection initiated the growth of Corona as a
trade center.
The Village has a post office and has a
mayor/council form of government. There is a
mayor, four village council members and a village
clerk/treasurer. Fire protection is provided by a
20-member volunteer fire department. Corona
does not have a police department but is
patrolled by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
Health services for the Corona area are provided
by two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's)
who provide ambulance service and a nurse
practitioner who comes weekly from the
Carrizozo Health Center to serve the citizens of
Corona.
Corona's business district is located along U.S.
Highway 54 and consists of one full service
gasoline station, one self-serve gasoline station
combined with a mini-mart, one grocery store,
one cafe', one food grill, a laundry, one bar, one
auto repair service, one hardware store, and one
gift shop.