Silver City's Own Billy the Kid

A special website of the Silver City - Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

Grant County is in the sunny southwest corner of New Mexico.

A large map of the county, showing points of interest, roads and features of the county, is available here.

Upcoming Events in Grant County

Hachita Focus Group
February 6, 1:00 pm
The Health Council conducts the Community Assessment to learn the health wellness needs of Grant County residents. These needs are prioritized and help leverage tens of millions of dollars for our community. Focus groups are one hour in length and limited to 15 people. All participants will be compensated for their time. All issues raised in the focus groups will be confidential, and participants' identities will be kept secret. Location: Hachita Community Center, corner of Railroad Ave and 4th St. Phone: (575) 388-1198 ext.

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Economic Development Sub-Committee of the Food Policy Council
February 7, 3:00 pm Location: Grant County Business & Conference Center, 3031 Hwy 180 East Phone: 388-1198 ext12

Hurley Focus Group - Community Assessment 2012
February 7, 6:00 pm
The Grant County Community Health Council conducts the Community Assessment to learn the health and wellness needs of Grant County residents. These needs are prioritized and help to leverage tens of millions of dollars for our community. The community assessment begins with focus groups throughout the county which are one hour in length and limited to 15 people. All participants will be compensated for their time. All issues raised in the focus groups will be confidential, and participants' identities will be kept secret. To reserve your seat at a focus group or for more information call the Health Council at (575) 388-1198, email: tknauf@grmc.org Location: Hurley Community Center, 302 Carrasco Ave. Phone: 388-1198 ext. 22

Senior Life Cycle
February 8, 3:30 pm
Grassroots advocacy for local senior concerns and issues. Everyone is welcome! Location: Grant County Business & Conference Center’s Silver Room, 3031 Hwy 180 East Phone: 388-1198 ext. 10

Ostomias Unidos – Colostomy Support Group
February 9, 5:00 pm
This month's topic is "Self-Advocacy Hopeless to Hopeful, Helpless to Self-Management" Location: Melinda’s Medical Supply, 910 E. 32nd St. Phone: 534-9254

Silver City's Own Billy the Kid

By Mary Alice Murphy,
Silver City Daily Press

The controversy over Billy the Kid’s life and death started when he was shot and killed by Pat Garrett in July 1888. But did Billy die, did Garrett really kill him or was somebody else the victim of Garrett’s bullets? The legend holds that Billy, also known as William Bonney Henry McCarty and Henry Antrim, was born in New York, or was it Texas? His mother was Catherine Antrim, or was he born to her sister and raised by Antrim?

The controversy of his life stems far beyond what documented history can tell us. However, a few things about Billy’s life are not controversial. He was raised in Silver City, New Mexico, by Antrim and known then as Henry McCarty. After her death, he had no role models, got involved with shady characters and began his brief life of crime. Also not disputed is that Billy the Kid attended Sixth Street Elementary School in Silver City.

A cabin, from the movie set of “The Missing” was donated by the movie’s director Ron Howard and sits at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center near the site where Billy (a.k.a. Henry) and his mother lived. So, while the stories of Billy change as quickly as time passes, one fact that will always remain is “the Kid” will always be known as one of the West’s most rumored and remembered outlaws.

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