Velarde is a census-designated place (CDP) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States.

[2][3][4] In 1750 Juan Matias Velarde, who established the town as "La Joya", the name most likely originating from a 1712 Spanish land grant given to Sebastian Martin in the post-Pueblo Revolt resettlement of the region.

The Tewa name for the location was Phahu'bu'u, or Tsigubu'u, which meant "basin of the chico bush or rabbit thorn".

[4] The community, located at the mouth of the Rio Grande canyon along the Low Road to Taos (not really part of the Camino Real, despite the ancient pathway over Embudo Pass being designated so by a historical marker [5]), had through its Spanish-settled history served mostly as a peaceful resting spot for passing travelers, especially for those heading north out of the low river country.

Despite the shelter of "dense masses of cedar and large fragments of rock" that were formed into defensive positions, the Tewa warriors and Mexican defenders in the battle were routed by U.S. Col. Sterling Price, military governor, and his Missouri Mounted Volunteers, leading to the U.S. siege of Taos Pueblo less than a week's forced march later.

Sometime after the battle, Col. Edwin Vose Sumner, who later served as military governor of New Mexico between 1851 and 1853, sent a Major Gordon with a detachment of infantry to establish a post below the Rio Grande canyon in present Velarde, but no sooner had his men settled in, the unit was ordered to return to Taos.

[5] Roadside stands greeted passing travelers when a modern highway was constructed to Taos through the village along the Rio Grande.