Magdalena National Forest was established as the Magdalena Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico on November 5, 1906, with 153,781 acres (622.33 km2).
It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907.
On July 1, 1908, San Mateo National Forest was added.
On February 23, 1909, the forest was combined with Datil National Forest[1] The Magdalena Forest is now part of the Magdalena Ranger District of Cibola National Forest, in the Magdalena Mountains to the south of Magdalena in Socorro County.
[2]