Las Cruces, NM

Cradled between the Organ Mountains and the Rio Grande River and close to Mexico, Las Cruces, New Mexico, boasts 350 days of sunshine a year. Las Cruces had about 87,000 residents in 2007, making it the second most populated city in New Mexico.

The city, deemed one of the best college and retirement towns, is home to New Mexico State University and has four senior centers that provide important services and programs to the retired population.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The majority of jobs in Las Cruces are supplied by New Mexico State University and the White Sands Missile Range, creating a relatively stable economy. White Sands is used by every branch in the military and, at 2.2 million acres, is the largest Army base in the Western Hemisphere, which supplies the greatest number of jobs to the Las Cruces area.

A much smaller percentage of jobs is found in the small goods/manufacturing sector.

Earnings in Las Cruces continue to fall behind the rest of the country, even though New Mexico provides tax incentives for new businesses.Additionally, there have been many movies and television shows that have been filmed within the city limits of Las Cruces. Major employers in the area include the Army National Guard and Harris Information Technology.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The downtown area of Las Cruces went into economic decline after an urban renewal plan in the 1960s demolished many buildings but the city is moving on plans to bring the area back as a major shopping and entertainment district. The major retailing area now is to the east around Telshor Boulevard and Lohman Avenue. The neighboring small town of Mesilla retains its traditional adobe buildings and plaza. The White Sands Missile Range is 20 miles to the east of Las Cruces.

EDUCATION

• New Mexico State University: A four-year university founded in 1888, New Mexico State University has roughly 30,000 students in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Dona Ana Community College: A branch of New Mexico State University, this two-year community college serves over 4,000 students and provides courses for over 10,000 senior citizens.
• The Las Cruces Public School District covers the city of Las Cruces as well as White Sands Missile Range. The system has 24 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 high schools. There are also three charter schools within the Las Cruces Public School system: Alma d'arte, Las Montañas, and La Academia Dolores Huerta Middle School. Las Cruces is also home to three private Christian schools.

LOCAL MEDIA

• Las Cruces Sun-News is the local newspaper.
• KRWG-TV, an affiliate of PBS, is run through of New Mexico State University.
• Radio stations KRUX and KRWG-FM are affiliated with New Mexico State University.
• KRUC is a Spanish-language radio station.

EVENTS

Las Cruces's most notable events include:

• Whole Enchilada Fiesta: Drawing in over 50,000 people each year, the Whole Enchilada Fiesta involves creating, slicing, serving, and eating the world's largest enchilada, along with "the whole Ensalada," a huge organic salad.
• Renaissance Arts Faire: Each year, 25,000 people#8212;many in costume#8212;make their way to Las Cruces's Young Park for medieval-inspired games, music, mock battles, dancing, acrobatics, and more.
• Cowboy Days: Sponsored by the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, Cowboy Days celebrates everything having to do with the cowboy: food, dancing, horse riding, roping demonstrations, and even cowboy poetry.
• Fiesta de San Ysidro: Commemorating Las Cruces's 3,000-year-old farming background, farm-related events include a blessing of the fields and an evening dance.

FOR VISITORS

Popular activities in Las Cruces include exploring the ghost towns that dot the area, camping, and sports such as golf and tennis. Las Cruces is also home to several museums and professional, community, and children's theaters, and the region possesses more than 40 art galleries and 200 artists. Some of the noteworthy cultural attractions are:

• Dona Ana Lyric Opera
• Las Cruces Chamber Ballet
• Las Cruces Symphony
• New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum: Displaying the farm and ranch history of New Mexico through exhibits and programs on blacksmithing, animals, plants, tools, and implements, this is the largest museum of its genre in the world.
• Las Cruces Museum of Natural History: Hosting traveling exhibits and educational programs on science and natural history topics, this museum holds a popular hands-on exhibit of the Chihuahuan Desert, which contains 40 animals and real plants.
• Las Cruces Railroad Museum: Housed in an historic Santa Fe Railroad depot, this museum highlights the influence that the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroads had on Las Cruces. Displays include models, photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia.
• The Las Cruces Museum of Art: Featuring rotating art exhibits of well-known contemporary Southwestern artists, this museum hosts various classes and traveling displays as well as lectures, musical performances, and guided tours.
• The Branigan Cultural Center: Serving as the hub for Las Cruces culture, this center provides an array of services and contains historic memorabilia and cultural artifacts. The center strives to continue collecting valuable pieces of Las Cruces multicultural history.

SHOPPING

Three malls are located in the Las Cruces area:

• Mesilla Valley Mall
• Laguna Seca Plaza, New Mexico's largest mall, is composed primarily of discount department and sports-related stores.
• Historic Mesilla Plaza and Mesilla Mercado house diverse shops with a Southwestern flavor.