About Las Cruces, NM

Las Cruces is located in the verdant Mesilla Valley in south-central New Mexico, a growing community with a bright future. Las Cruces is the fastest growing city in New Mexico and the 11th fastest growing in the nation. Las Cruces history dates back to 1598, when Don Juan de Onate led the first colonists to the area. In 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed. In 1854, the Gadsden Purchase was ratified in the historic village of Old Mesilla. In 1881, the infamous William H. Bonney, better known as "Billy the Kid" was tried and sentenced for murder here, but later escaped. The Mesilla Valley has been "home" to people for at least 4,000 years, and that's no surprise to anyone who has seen Las Cruces. The Rio Grande flows through the middle of the valley with the majestic Organ Mountains rising to the east. The surrounding agricultural land yields pecans, onions, cotton and other produce, but it is renowned for growing the best-tasting green chile in the world. Today, Las Cruces offers a vast selection of annual events and attractions, great weather-an average of 350 days of sunshine a year-and without a doubt, the people of Las Cruces are the greatest asset. Las Cruces invites everyone to "Come for the History, Stay for the Fun!"

Facts & Statistics
Las Cruces is a city located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,267, making the city the second largest in the state. Las Cruces is the center of an agricultural region irrigated by the Rio Grande, which flows through the city. Las Cruces is also the home of New Mexico State University. NMSU is New Mexico's land-grant institution, citing more than 23,000 graduate and undergraduate students on the main campus and four branch campuses. The Organ Mountains are to the east of the city. Las Cruces has a city manager mayor-council form of government. It is the county seat of Doña Ana County6.

History
Las Cruces's name (Spanish for "the crosses") has been a disputed topic amongst historians. The most common theory is that in 1830, there was an Apache massacre of a party of nine travelers, including a Mexican Army General, a Priest, and five choir boys. Only one choir boy survived the massacre, and buried the other, marking the graves with three crosses. The area became known as "El Pueblo del Jardin de Las Cruces." The nearby village of Mesilla was founded in 1848 by settlers from Doña Ana, a village just north of the old Mexican border, who wished to stay in Mexican territory after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that year. However in 1853, the region was incorporated into the United States with the Gadsden Purchase. Las Cruces was incorporated as a city in 1907.

The completion of the Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir to the north of the city in 1916 provided water for agriculture and electricity for urban devolopment. Since World War II the growth of the nearby White Sands Missile Range and its National Aeronautics and Space Administration facilities added greatly to the local economy.

Geography
Las Cruces is located at 32°19'11" North, 106°45'55" West (32.319693, -106.765157)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 135.2 km² (52.2 mi²). 134.9 km² (52.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.25% water.

Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 74,267 people, 29,184 households, and 18,123 families residing in the city. The population density is 550.5/km² (1,425.7/mi²). There are 31,682 housing units at an average density of 234.8/km² (608.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 69.01% White, 2.34% African American, 1.74% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 21.59% from other races, and 4.10% from two or more races. 51.73% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 29,184 households out of which 30.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% are married couples living together, 15.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% are non-families. 27.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 3.05.

In the city the population is spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 16.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $30,375, and the median income for a family is $37,670. Males have a median income of $30,923 versus $21,759 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,704. 23.3% of the population and 17.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.