There's good news in Rodeo. No more traveling to Lordsburg for greens: the Rodeo Tavern now offers a twenty-two-item salad bar. And, according to the sign, "You asked for it!" Though vaguely threatening, I suspect the residents of Rodeo really did ask for a salad bar. The Rodeo Tavern saw a need and filled it. That's how Rodeo seems to work.

• COUNTY:  Hidalgo
• LOCATION:  33 miles south of I-10
• POST OFFICE: 1903-present
• NAME ORIGIN:  From the Spanish, meaning roundup.

     Rodeo is a self-sufficient place, probably because it's so far away from everything else. Except Arizona, but who cares about Arizona? Despite being a victim of geography, Rodeo is doing fine. It has two stores, its own post office, even an art gallery. For the kids, there's a playground north of town, with basketball hoops, jungle gyms and see-saws. But now, admit it -- you didn't even know this town even existed, did you?

     I'm not sure how Rodeo got started, but I suspect someone came to the area, said "There ought to be a town here," and got one started. See a need, fill it. That's how Rodeo is. Many signs around town are handwritten. Just get the point across, simple, plain and direct. Leave the fancy stuff for Animas.

     Rodeo is like translucent scotchtape: it's there, doing its job, but nobody notices it. Rodeo isn't hiding, but I doubt it's in any great hurry to be discovered either. I think Rodeo is happy as it is: a quiet railroad town with one heck of a salad bar.