Butterfield Overland Mail in New Mexico Territory

The Butterfield Overland Mail was a transport and mail delivery system that employed stagecoaches that travelled on a specific route between St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, California and which passed through the New Mexico Territory.

The route that was operated extended from where the ferry across the Colorado River to Fort Yuma Station, California was located, through New Mexico Territory via Tucson to the Rio Grande and Mesilla, New Mexico then south to Franklin, Texas, midpoint on the route.

The New Mexico Territory mail route was divided into two divisions each under a superintendent.

Tucson was the headquarters of the 3rd Division of the Butterfield Overland Mail Company.

These were located on Captain Pope's New Road to Franklin (1st route used, until August 1, 1859, when the route was moved to the Lower Road.)