Near this site, Presidio del Norte de la Junta was established by Captain Alonzo Rubin de Celis in 1759-1760, and the name of the post was retained in part by the present town and county. In this vicinity, the missions of San Antonio de los Puliques, San Francisco de Los Julimes, Santa Maria la Redonda, San Pedro Alcantara, El Apostol Santiago, and San Cristobal were first established in 1683-1684 by Don Juan Dominguez de Mendoza and Padre Fray Nicolas Lopez O. F. M. Franciscan missionaries maintained them for the Christianizing and civilizing of the Apache, Natages, Faraones, Puliques, Julimes, Jumanos, Zumas, and other Indian tribes, and in 1746 they were administered and controlled by the custodia of New Mexico.