RATON  , a

city and the county seat of Colfax county, New Mexico, U.S.A., in the N.E. part of the state, and about 193 M. by rail N.E. of Santa Fe . Pop . (189o) 1255; (1900) 3540 (337 foreign-born); (1910 census) 4539 . Raton is served by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, the Saint Louis, Rocky Mountain & Pacific, and the Santa Fe, Raton & Eastern railways . The city lies immediately W. of the Raton Mountains, from which it derives its name, and has an elevation of 6400-6650 ft. above the sea . Among its institutions are a miners' hospital, maintained by the state, and a picturesque public park . The city lies within the Raton coal field, a southern continuation of the field of the same name in Colorado, and the richest coal-producing area in New Mexico . In 1907 70% of the total coal product of New Mexico came from Colfax county, in which this field is situated . Ores of gold, silver and lead have been mined in Colfax county . South and east of the city there is good farming land . Raton is a place of railway origin, and owes its development to its extensive railway shops, as well as to the proximity of mines . It was incorporated in 1891 .