Carrizozo: An Illustrated History by Rick Geary

Carrizozo is the country seat of Lincoln, which comprises a full quarter of the state of New Mexico. But it's a small town, once a moderately important stop on a then-important train line and now a place best described as quaint and artsy, cheap enough for artistic types from across the country to move to and make their stuff there.

This book exists because of one of them: the cartoonist Rick Geary. Geary moved to Carrizozo a decade or so ago -- I think from San Diego, though he was originally born in Kansas City. And he clearly likes the place enough to research and draw a sixty-page book about it.

But, for the rest of us, this is the cartoon version of those small-published books that sit in the Local History section of the independent book store,  the ones typically with old-timey sepia photos of local landmarks on the cover and a lot of random local trivia (local famous families and how long some of them have been mayor! what that big stone building in the center of town was originally! careful tap dancing around a despicable history of racial animus! historical photos of groups of people, some of whom you may be distantly related to!).

Which is to say: this is a book that I assume will be sold in Carrizozo's local tourist office, and was sold to Geary's nutty fans [1], and otherwise will be beneath the notice of everyone else in the world. (And, let's be honest: every single book is beneath the notice of the vast majority of the world. Only a tiny few of them will ever hit 10% market penetration, the marketer in me wants to point out.)

So: Carrizozo! Jewel of the Tularosa Basin! Named for a local plant, with an extra "zo" thrown on the end for emphasis! Once site of a major roundhouse for the mighty El Paso and Southwestern Railway! Peaking in population at 2000 in 1920! [2] This is the book that will tell you all those things and more.

I can honestly say that this is the only book about Carrizozo you will ever need, unless by some bizarre quirk of fate you are the town historian of Carrizozo. If, by some bizarre chance, you are the town historian of Carrizozo, please update your website to include your name.

I don't have my usual Amazon link this time, but, if you are as nutty as I am, Carrizozo: An Illustrated History can be purchased directly from the author's website.


[1] Of whom I clearly am one. I debated backing the Kickstarter for quite a while: I usually back Geary's as soon as I see them, but I was close to the deadline on this one. Of course, how long you debated before doing a silly thing is obviously not evidence that you didn't do the silly thing.

[2] I live in what's considered a small town in New Jersey, and we have 10,000 people here. You likely live somewhere as large or larger; most people do.