The pass to the south of the peak became known as Magdalena Gap, and when a town grew up it received the same name.

[4][5] Magdalena continues to be a ranching community while strengthening its art, astronomy and geology venues.

The reopening of the Magdalena Hall Hotel (circa 1917) and the renovation of other historical buildings allow visitors to connect to the past.

The ghost town of Kelly and two festivals, the "Open Studio and Gallery Tour" and the "Old Timers Reunion and Rodeo", bring tourists to the area.

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory lies 25 miles (40 km) southeast at an elevation of 10,600 feet (3,200 m).

Magdalena is known as the "Trails End" for the railroad spur line that was built in 1884 by the New Mexico Railroad company (A local subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe) [6] from Socorro to Magdalena to transport the cattle, sheep wool, timber and ore. Thousands of cattle and sheep were driven into town (cowboy style) from the west, using the historic "Magdalena Trail".

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16 km2), all land.

Shortly after being founded in 1888, it merged with the Socorro Times,[10] and the combined paper failed in the following year.

[13] In the second half of the 20th century, the name Mountain Mail was revived in 1979 as a monthly,[14] and starting in 1992 it had a weekly edition called the High Country Round-Up.

The Kelly Mine produced lead, silver, zinc and smithsonite until the markets collapsed.