BlockBefore

Otero County, New Mexico

135 topographic sheets and 5 fire insurance atlases across 1 place.

Research this county

From the record

24 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

New Mexico within the United States
Otero County within New Mexico
Explore by year 1900 1913

What the record shows

  • 1 place in this county was surveyed for fire insurance: Alamogordo, between 1905 and 1942.
  • 5 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
  • 469 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 24 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 14 buildings, 6 structures and 4 districts.
  • 3 of the 24 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 45 populated places in this county; 45 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

7 photographs, 1936 to 2018

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Man who once owned the land being used for the White Sands project. Otero County, New Mexico
Man who once owned the land being used for the White Sands project. Otero County, New Mexico
Rothstein, Arthur, 1936. Library of Congress
Mineral spring. White Sands project. Otero County, New Mexico
Mineral spring. White Sands project. Otero County, New Mexico
Rothstein, Arthur, 1936. Library of Congress
A 15-foot-tall scrap-metal roadrunner sculpture inside the gate at the Basin Pipe and Recycling Co. facility in Alamagordo, New Mexico
A 15-foot-tall scrap-metal roadrunner sculpture inside the gate at the Basin Pipe and Recycling Co. facility in Alamagordo, New Mexico
Highsmith, Carol M, 2018. Library of Congress
Canyon and mesa. Otero County, New Mexico
Canyon and mesa. Otero County, New Mexico
Rothstein, Arthur, 1936. Library of Congress
Double House, Cienega (historical), Otero County, NM
Double House, Cienega (historical), Otero County, NM
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Mescalero Indian Hospital, 318 Abalone Loop, Mescalero, Otero County, NM
Mescalero Indian Hospital, 318 Abalone Loop, Mescalero, Otero County, NM
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Town of La Luz, La Luz Canyon Creek, Alamogordo, Otero County, NM
Town of La Luz, La Luz Canyon Creek, Alamogordo, Otero County, NM
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

24

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Administration Buildingbuilding198988001564
Alamogordo Woman's Clubbuilding200303000734
Auditorium and Recreation Buildingbuilding198988001565
Bluewater Lookout Complexstructure198887002486
Bridge A 249-Cloudcroft, New Mexicostructure201515000948
Carrisa Lookout Complexstructure198887002488
Central Receiving Buildingbuilding198988001566
Circle Cross Ranch Headquartersbuilding198080002563
Juan Garcia Housebuilding198080002559
Infirmary Buildingbuilding198988001567
Jackson Housebuilding200403001511
La Luz Historic Districtdistrict198080002560
La Luz Pottery Factorybuilding197979001544
Mayhill Administrative Sitedistrict198989000476
Mexican Canyon Trestlestructure197979001543
Orogrande Schoolbuilding2025100011237
Queen Anne Housebuilding198080002561
St. Joseph Apache Mission Churchbuilding200504001588
D. H. Sutherland Housebuilding198080002562
Tularosa Original Townsite Districtdistrict197979001545
US Post Office-Alamogordobuilding200000000510
Weed Lookout Towerstructure198887002487
White Sands National Monument Historic Districtdistrict198888000751
Wofford Lookout Complexstructure198887002484

Digitised newspapers

6 issues

Sampled issues, machine-read from the Library of Congress scan and published page by page, so every headline and column is searchable text.

Alamogordo News-Advertiser

Alamogordo, Otero County, N.M., 1912 to 1914. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Alamogordo News

Alamogordo, N.M., 1899 to 1912. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

Photographs from libraries nationwide

3 of 5 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 5 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

A yucca taken at the White Sands, National Monument, New Mexico, Boston Public Library - undated
A yucca taken at the White Sands, National Monument, New Mexico. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Moonlight on the great white sands. White Sands National Monument, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, Boston Public Library - undated
Moonlight on the great white sands. White Sands National Monument, near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
The great white sand of New Mexico, White Sands Monument, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, Boston Public Library - undated
The great white sand of New Mexico, White Sands Monument, near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

48 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 7,808 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 48 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1942-01-30, scale 1:43000
1942-01-30, scale 1:43000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1942-01-30, scale 1:43000
1942-01-30, scale 1:43000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1942-01-30, scale 1:43000
1942-01-30, scale 1:43000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1942-01-30, scale 1:43000
1942-01-30, scale 1:43000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1943-01-20, scale 1:50000
1943-01-20, scale 1:50000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1943-01-20, scale 1:50000
1943-01-20, scale 1:50000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1943-01-20, scale 1:50000
1943-01-20, scale 1:50000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1943-01-20, scale 1:50000
1943-01-20, scale 1:50000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-02-28, scale 1:27230
1948-02-28, scale 1:27230. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-02-28, scale 1:27230
1948-02-28, scale 1:27230. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-02-28, scale 1:27230
1948-02-28, scale 1:27230. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-02-28, scale 1:27230
1948-02-28, scale 1:27230. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-03, scale 1:54000
1954-02-03, scale 1:54000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-03, scale 1:54000
1954-02-03, scale 1:54000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-03, scale 1:54000
1954-02-03, scale 1:54000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-03, scale 1:54000
1954-02-03, scale 1:54000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-08-30, scale 1:130000
1956-08-30, scale 1:130000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-08-30, scale 1:130000
1956-08-30, scale 1:130000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-08-30, scale 1:130000
1956-08-30, scale 1:130000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-08-30, scale 1:1032500
1956-08-30, scale 1:1032500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-06-21, scale 1:17200
1958-06-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-06-21, scale 1:17200
1958-06-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-06-21, scale 1:17200
1958-06-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-06-21, scale 1:17200
1958-06-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-28, scale 1:31800
1963-05-28, scale 1:31800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-28, scale 1:31800
1963-05-28, scale 1:31800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-28, scale 1:31800
1963-05-28, scale 1:31800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-28, scale 1:31800
1963-05-28, scale 1:31800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-06-14, scale 1:32800
1964-06-14, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-06-14, scale 1:32800
1964-06-14, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-06-14, scale 1:32800
1964-06-14, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-06-14, scale 1:32800
1964-06-14, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-06-29, scale 1:32800
1965-06-29, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-06-29, scale 1:32800
1965-06-29, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-06-29, scale 1:32800
1965-06-29, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-06-29, scale 1:32800
1965-06-29, scale 1:32800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-19, scale 1:30800
1968-02-19, scale 1:30800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-19, scale 1:30800
1968-02-19, scale 1:30800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-19, scale 1:30800
1968-02-19, scale 1:30800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-19, scale 1:30800
1968-02-19, scale 1:30800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-19, scale 1:108552
1971-02-19, scale 1:108552. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-19, scale 1:108552
1971-02-19, scale 1:108552. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-19, scale 1:108552
1971-02-19, scale 1:108552. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-19, scale 1:108552
1971-02-19, scale 1:108552. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-31, scale 1:32000
1972-12-31, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-31, scale 1:32000
1972-12-31, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-31, scale 1:32000
1972-12-31, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-31, scale 1:32000
1972-12-31, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

93 stations, 5 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

37 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 19-1Election Precinct 1, Alamogordo: Alamogordo town: Alamogordo town - That part Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; 12th, 12th extended, 12th; Florida Ave., 16th, Florida Ave., Florida Ave. extended
  • 19-2AElection Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part, excluding New Mexico School for the Blind Bounded by Town limits, Old Town limits, Town limits; Florida Ave. extended, Florida Ave., 16th, Florida Ave.; 15th, 15th extended; Town limits
  • 19-2BElection Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; Old Town limits; Town limits
  • 19-3New Mexico School for the Blind (In Alamogordo town, Election Precinct 1, Alamogordo)
  • 19-4Election Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part Bounded by 15th extended, 15th; Florida Ave.; 10th, 10th extended; Town limits
  • 19-5Election Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part Bounded by 12th; Cuba Ave.; 7th; Florida Ave., 10th, Florida Ave.
  • 19-6Election Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part Bounded by 12th, 12th extended, 12th; Town limits; Town limits, Canyon Rd.; Cuba Ave.
  • 19-7Election Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part Bounded by 7th; Cuba Ave., Canyon Rd.; Town limits; Florida Ave. extended, Florida Ave.
  • 19-8Election Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part Bounded by 10th; Florida Ave.; 5th; New York Ave.
  • 19-9Election Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part Bounded by 5th; Florida Ave., Florida Ave. extended; Town limits; U.S. Highway 70, 1st, New York Ave.
  • 19-10Election Precinct 1: Alamagordo town - That part Bounded by 10th extended, 10th; New York Ave., 1st, U.S. Highway 70; Town limits; Town limits
  • 19-11Election Precinct 1, Alamogordo - That part outside Alamogordo town, excluding parts of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base
  • 19-12White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base - That part in Election Precinct 1, Alamogordo (Remainder of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military and Holloman Air Force Base is in Election Reservation, Precincts 2, La Luz, 3, Tularosa, Lincoln, 4, Three and Rivers, Socorro and 9, Orogrande, and in Dona Ana, Counties. Part of Fort Bliss Military Reservation is also in Texas)
  • 19-13Election Precinct 2, La Luz: Election Precinct 2, La Luz, excluding parts of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military and Holloman Air Force Base
  • 19-14White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base - That part in Election Precinct 2, La Luz (Remainder of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base is in Election Precincts 1, Alamogordo, 3, Tularosa, 4, Three Rivers, and 9, Orogrande, and in Dona Ana, Lincoln, and Socorro Counties. Part of Fort Bliss Military Reservation is also in Texas)
  • 19-15Election Precinct 3, Tularosa: Tularosa village: Tularosa village - That part Bounded by Village limits; Village limits; Village limits; U.S. Highway 70, 4th, U.S. Highway 54
  • 19-16Election Precinct 3: Tularosa village - That part Bounded by Village limits; U.S. Highway 54, 4th, U.S. Highway 70; Village limits; Village limits
  • 19-17Election Precinct 3, Tularosa - That part outside Tularosa village, and excluding parts of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base
  • 19-18White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base - That part in Election Precinct 3, Tularosa (Remainder of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base is in Election Precincts 1, Alamogordo, 2, La Luz, 4, Three Rivers, and 9, Orogrande, and in Dona Ana, Lincoln, and Socorro Counties. Part of Fort Bliss Military Reservation is in Texas also)
  • 19-19Election Precinct 4, Three Rivers: Election Precinct 4, Three Rivers - That part in Mescalero Indian Reservation
  • 19-19Election Precinct 4, Three Rivers: Election Precinct 4, Three Rivers - That part in Mescalero Indian Reservation
  • 19-20Election Precinct 4, Three River - That part outside Mescalero Indian Reservation, and excluding parts of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base "The Indians in this Enumeration District were included in the Special Indian Tabulation."
  • 19-21White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base - That part in Election Precinct 4, Three Rivers (Remainder of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base is in Election Precincts 1, Alamogordo, 2, La Luz, 3 Tularosa, and 9, Orogrande, and in Dona Ana, Lincoln, and Socorro Counties. Part of Fort Bliss Military Reservation is in Texas also)
  • 19-22Election Precinct 5, Bent - Mescalero Indian Reservation (part)
  • 19-22Election Precinct 5, Bent - Mescalero Indian Reservation (part)
  • 19-23Election Precinct 6, High Rolls
  • 19-24Election Precinct 7, Weed
  • 19-24Election Precinct 7, Weed
  • 19-25Election Precinct 8, Mayhill
  • 19-26Election Precinct 9, Orogrande: Election Precinct 9, Orogrande, excluding parts of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base
  • 19-27White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base - That part in Election Precinct 9, Orogrande (Remainder of White Sands Proving Ground, Fort Bliss Military Reservation, and Holloman Air Force Base is in Election Precincts 1, Alamogordo, 2, La Luz, 3, Tularosa, and 4, Three Rivers, and in Dona Ana, Lincoln, and Socorro Counties. Part of Fort Bliss Military Reservation is in Texas also.)
  • 19-28Election Precinct 10, Cloudcroft: Cloudcroft village
  • 19-28Election Precinct 10, Cloudcroft: Cloudcroft village
  • 19-29Election Precinct 10, Cloudcroft - That part outside Cloudcroft village
  • 19-30VOID
  • 19-31Election Precinct 14, Lulu
  • 19-32Election Precinct 15, Pinon

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

2,494 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2,494 of them, burning about 345,329 acres. 872 started naturally and 139 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural872
Missing data/not specified/undetermined500
Recreation and ceremony343
Debris and open burning253
Arson/incendiarism139
Equipment and vehicle use120
Misuse of fire by a minor83
Power generation/transmission/distribution60
Other causes52
Smoking38
Fireworks29
Firearms and explosives use5

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
18 June 2008Natural49,092 acresLincoln National ForestROCKY
9 May 2011Power generation/transmission/distribution31,861 acresCarlsbad Field OfficeMAYHILL
17 May 2000Arson/incendiarism19,000 acresLas Cruces Field OfficeHAY MEADOW
20 July 2011Natural18,835 acresLincoln National ForestACREY
23 March 2002Missing data/not specified/undetermined16,422 acresMescalero AgencyNUMBER 5#2
11 May 2000Power generation/transmission/distribution16,034 acresLincoln National ForestSCOTTABLE
30 April 2002Smoking16,020 acresLincoln National ForestPENASCO
1 June 1993Natural14,103 acresLas Cruces Field OfficeMASHED O

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1957 to 2025

60 of 312 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 312 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 5 injuries and about $7,212,760 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail121
Thunderstorm Wind91
Flash Flood69
Tornado18
Heavy Rain11
Flood1
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2010Thunderstorm WindDesert4 hurt, $1,000A peak gust of 82 mph was reported 10 miles north of El Paso at the KQMG ASOS on the McGregor Range. The Fort Bliss Weather section reported four soldiers were injured when a field tent collapsed during the storm.
June 2019Tornado (EF1)Boles1 hurt, $250,000Storm survey showed a mobile home was completely destroyed with 3 other residences receiving moderate damage due mainly to flying debris. Several out buildings including sheds and barns were either completely destroyed or heavily damaged. One out building was shifted off it's foundation and moved approximately 9 feet north. A metal silo used for storage was lifted off it's foundation and traveled airborne for approximately 400 feet before striking one of the residential structures.
May 2008HailTularosa$2,500,000Hail from quarter to golf ball size, with occasional hail stones the size of tennis balls accumulated to about 3 inches in the Tularosa area. The hail was driven by wind gusts up to 80 mph, and broke windows, damaged roofs and sidings to more than 500 homes in Tularosa.
June 2006Flash FloodAlamogordo$1,300,000no account filed
August 2006Flash FloodAlamogordo$600,000Heavy rainfall along the western slopes of the southern Sacramento Mountains led to excessive runoff and major flooding in Alamogordo and Boles Acres. Numerous roads throughout the area were closed, covered with water and debris. There were also some rescues of people trapped in their homes.
August 2006Flash FloodEast Portion$400,000Several thunderstorms with heavy rains moved southward across the southern Sacramento Mountains, dropping 2 to 3 inches of rain. Flash flooding occurred from Cloudcroft to Timberon, with many roads washed out and structures damaged in the Timberon area.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindTularosa$360,000A wet microburst estimated at 80 mph destroyed a double wide mobile home, flipped several others, unroofed a few homes, and blew down several trees, power poles and power lines.
August 2006Flash FloodMayhill$300,000A stationary thunderstorm dropped several inches of rain on Mayhill, with some residents and area ranchers reporting up to 5 inches in an hour. This resulted in a wall of water 9 to 10 feet high down the Rio Penasco River. Extensive flash flooding closed Highway 82, and damaged roads, bridges and homes.
May 1982Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2009Flash FloodWooten$200,000Slow moving thunderstorms dropped nearly 3 inches of rain in the Cloudcroft area, which led to flash flooding in and near the town. Water was over two feet deep in parts of Cloudcroft, resulting in some apartments flooded. Rock slides also occurred along Highway 82 in the area.
July 2008Flash FloodMescalero$200,000Rainfall amounts of up to 2 inches fell on the South Tularosa Fire burn scar above Mescalero, resulting in excessive runoff. Logs washed on to Route 10, and much debris blocked residences. A fish hatchery was destroyed which killed all the fish.
August 2014Flash FloodBoles$100,000Law enforcement reported that numerous streets in Alamogordo were flooded. Between 20 to 30 homes on the north side of town were flooded.
September 2013Flash FloodWooten$100,000Highway 244 was closed near Silver Lake with 5 to 6 feet of water over the road. In addition, US Highway 82 and Highway 130 were also closed around Cloudcroft. A couple of bridges in area canyons were also washed out. The flood waters pushed over utility poles and trees as well as damaged some buildings. One rain gauge in Sixteen Springs Canyon measured more than 7 inches of rain in 4 hours.
July 2008Flash FloodMescalero$100,000Moisture associated with the remnants of Dolly resulted in very heavy rain over the South Tularosa Canyon Fire burn scar. Flood waters over-topped containment ponds leading to a widespread flash flood event. Parts of U.S. 70 were closed, the road to the Mescalero Fire Station was washed out, and numerous secondary roads were closed die to high water. Two dams failed at Mud Canyon. Several buildings were affected by the flood waters.
August 2006Flash FloodBoles$50,000Runoff from heavy rain above Alamo Canyon eventually flooded Boles Acres.
August 2006Flash FloodCentral Portion$50,000Thunderstorms dropped heavy rain on Marble Canyon, with the runoff flooding eastern Alamogordo and Boles Acres downstream.
June 2000Flash FloodSacramento$50,000A thunderstorm dropped heavy rain on an area scarred from a recent forest fire. Mudslides, ash and debris covered roads and damaged some buildings around Sacramento.
August 2009Thunderstorm Wind(Alm)Wh Sands/Alamag$40,000A microburst with a wind gust measured at 74 mph by the Alamogordo Airport ASOS blew a roof off a trailer and a steeple off a church in nearby Boles Acres. Power lines were also blown down.
September 2002Flash FloodNortheast Portion$40,000Heavy rains resulted in numerous road closures in the southern Sacramento Mountains, as well as Highway 54 between Alamogordo and Tularosa. Highway 82 between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft was impassible due to rock slides.
March 2020Tornado (EF0)(Alm)Wh Sands/Alamag$25,000Eye-witness accounts, from two residents located on both ends of|the damage track, provided visual evidence of the occurrence of a|tornado. In addition, a video was taken of tornado formation just|upstream of the damage area. The community impacted is bounded by|open desert to the south and north with little to no access. Thus|the event could have been of somewhat longer duration and track|length, but no evidence was obtainable to support that. The|community is only 0.80 miles wide along the damage track and there|was damage at both ends as the storm entered the community on the|south and exited to the north. Most of the damage was light and|superficial to the homes impacted. At least six homes sustained|damage, mainly associated with their roofs. The damage appeared to|be a combination of tornado and straight-line winds. A toppled|mature pine tree and tossed pergola indicated rotation in the|damage pattern. A resident who witnessed most of the short-lived|event reported seeing a funnel pass over his neighbor`s home and|then touch down in mesquite covered open ground beside his home.|He indicated the circulation was no bigger than his home. The|tornado likely lifted and then touched back down on the north end|of the community where it did its most significant damage to a|home. It removed the homes back porch, lifted a large section of|the roof, and spread the debris in a 120-degree swath downwind.|This homeowner watched the tornado approach and pass from his|workshop, about 50 ft separated from the home. An anemometer at|this home, on a post 4.5 ft off the ground, registered a 61 mph|wind gust at the time of the damage.
August 2019HailValmont$25,000Hail up to an inch and a half in diameter broke 10 skylights at a park facility at Oliver Lee State Park. There was also some hail dents on park vehicles and some light debris on Dog Canyon Road from the heavy rain.
August 2018Thunderstorm Wind(Hmn)Holoman Afb Alm$25,000KHMN AWOS reported a peak gust of 66 mph with a wet microburst detected on radar. Considerable wind damage on base.
January 2017HailBoles$25,000Some damage to vehicles caused by hail slightly smaller than golf balls.
July 2009FloodThree Rivers$25,000Part of a bridge was damaged on US Highway 54 near mile marker 93. Edges of the roadway eroded and were washed away.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindAlamogordo$25,000Thunderstorm outflow blew down billboards, power lines and trees, and left at least one house without a roof.
April 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1989Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 2014Thunderstorm WindAlamogordo$20,000Reports of trees down across the county from winds. Car windows were broken and a roof was blown off a trailer home in Alamogordo. A transformer fell into a tree and the tree then fell into a house. About 2000 people in the area were without power for several hours. Some locally dense blowing dust was also reported with the storm.
July 2008Flash FloodMayhill$20,000Upslope conditions within a tropical air mass resulted in 6 to 10 inches of rainfall within 6 hours. The area is remote, so the only effects were a ranch under water (according to the rancher) and a couple of highways flooded. Dark Ridge Observatory near Weed reported more than 6 inches of rain from the event.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindAlamogordo Arpt$15,000Damaging winds blew part of a roof off of a Baptist church in Boles Acres. A gust of 67 mph was measured at the nearby Alamogordo Airport.
July 2022Flash FloodBent$10,000A total of 2.25 inches of rain fell at the Newcalero Tribal Fish Hatchery in about an hour and a half. Flash flooding was subsequently reported between mile markers 247 and 252 on Highway 70 with 3 feet of water and debris crossing the road. In addition to the highway flooding, six inches of water flowed into the Mescalero Community Center.
July 2001Flash FloodAlamogordo$10,000A cluster of thunderstorms dropped an estimated 3 inches of rain on the western Sacramento Mountains between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft. Mudslides resulted and caused the closure of US Highway 82 for at least two hours.
May 2008HailAlamogordo$10,000no account filed
September 2025Thunderstorm WindTularosa$5,000The White Sands Missile Range site at Tula recorded a peak gust of 78 mph. Another site at the Tula Airstrip recorded a peak gust of 73 mph but could have been higher as comms were cut-off prior to storms arrival. The tower was bent by winds about 30 degrees.
October 2010HailOrogrande$5,000Border Patrol reported ping pong ball sized hail at the checkpoint on Highway US54. Hail covered the ground and impeded traffic for some time.
August 2009Flash FloodMescalero$5,000The Mescalero Fire Department reported water and mud covering IR-10 at the west end of a large burn scar. Bulldozers were dispatched to clear the road.
May 2008HailAlamogordo$5,000no account filed
June 1959Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1959Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
August 2022Flash FloodPinon Runyan Arpt$2,000A spotter reported torrential downpour with a lot of fast moving running water near their residence. The flood waters damaged a few of their fences.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindNewman$2,000Two carport roofs were blown off near the southeast edge of Chaparral (extreme southwest Otero County).
September 2004Thunderstorm WindAlamogordo$2,000no account filed
June 2020Thunderstorm WindAlamogordo$1,000Power line blown down in Alamogordo.
May 2019HailPinon Runyan Arpt$1,000Golfball sized hail and strong winds occurred, resulting in broken windows.
October 2010HailTurquoise$1,000Bureau of Land Management employee reported baseball sized hail on highway 506 about 1 mile east of Highway US54. Vehicle was damaged due to the hail.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindAlamogordo$1,000Strong thunderstorm winds blew down a few trees in Alamogordo.
July 2003HailOrogrande$1,000no account filed
August 2015Thunderstorm WindTularosa$500Winds blew a fence down in Tularosa. An inch of rain also fell in about 20 minutes with the storm.
July 2013HailCloudcroft$250Golf ball size hail was reported on Highway 244 east of Cloudcroft which broke a windshield.
July 2012HailCloudcroft$10A local trained spotter reported several minutes of .70 inch hail across western portions of the city of Cloudcroft in association with a strong thunderstorm that moved over the area. .50 inches of heavy rain was also reported from this storm.
June 2025Flash FloodOrogrande-The Orogrande Gate on the White Sands Missile Range received 4.62 of rain and caused some portions of the road from Highway 54 to get flooded.
June 2025Flash FloodTularosa-White Sands Missile Range personnel reported flooding around the intersection of Range Route 6 and 9 with roads impassable in places.
June 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Hmn)Holoman Afb Alm-A gust to 63 mph was recorded at the Malone Mesonet site on the White Sands Missile Range.
July 2025Flash FloodWhite Tail-The public reported high water flowing out of Bear Canyon and flooding of the Cherokee Mobile Village and along US 70 going into Ruidoso Downs.
July 2025Flash FloodWhite Tail-The Mescalero Emergency Manager reported heavy flows coming out of Bear Canyon towards US 70 due to heavy rain on the Salt Burn scar.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindTularosa-The Rita Mesonet site on the White Sands Missile Range recorded a peak gust of 61 mph.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindTularosa-The Tula Mesonet site on the White Sands Missile Range recorded a peak gust of 62 mph.
July 2025HailCloudcroft-An NWS Student Volunteer reported hail up to one inch in diameter east of Cloudcroft.
July 2025HailCloudcroft-Hail up to the size of quarters and as deep as 4 inches in areas was reported around Cloudcroft. Snow plows were called in order to remove the hail from roads.
July 2025Flash FloodMescalero-Flash flooding was reported with 6 inches of water coming out of Soldier Canyon onto Highway 70 and into Mescalero.

Mines and quarries

185 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 185 workings inside this county. 28 still produce and 157 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Iron65
Sand and Gravel, Construction61
Copper14
Stone8
Copper, Lead5
Copper, Gold, Silver3
Semiprecious Gemstone3
Copper, Iron3
Copper, Silver, Gold2
Gold, Silver, Copper2
Geothermal2
Uranium2
Bismuth1
Zinc1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Alabama GroupSemiprecious Gemstone, IronProducer
Alice MineIron, CopperUnknown
Almora Marble QuarryMarble, DimensionUnknown
Courtney MineCopper, Lead, SilverPast Producer1914, 1961
Grandview MineCopper, BismuthOccurrence
I MineGold, IronPast Producer
Jarilla MountainsGemstonePast Producer1892
Laura MineIron, Copper, Semiprecious GemstoneUnknown
Lucky MinesIron, Copper, GoldPast Producer
Mid-Day Zinc DepositZinc, Copper, LeadOccurrenceReplacement
Monte Carlo ClaimsBarium-Barite, Gold, ManganeseUnknown
Nannie Baird GroupIron, Gold, CopperPast Producer
Nannie Baird MineCopper, Gold, Silver, LeadPast Producer1895, 1897, 1932
Otero County PitLimestone, GeneralPast ProducerSedimentary
Pajarito MountainZirconium, REEProspect1984
Pines No.2 ClaimUranium, VanadiumPast Producer
Pinon Site PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
State Hwy Pit No. 59-37-SSand and Gravel, Construction, StoneUnknown
Surprise PlacersGoldUnknown
The Adobe PatchClayProducerSedimentary
Three Bears MineGold, CopperUnknown
Virginia MineCopper, SilverPast Producer1905, 1917
Warnock MineLead, Copper, Silver, Zinc, Cobalt, VanadiumPast Producer1916, 1956
White Sands GypsumGypsum-AnhydriteUnknown
Cinco De Mayo MineIron, Copper, Silver, GoldPast Producer1885, 1916, 1921
Garnet MineGold, Silver, CopperPast Producer1887, 1953
Garton WellGeothermalUnknown
Geothermal WellGeothermalUnknown
Lincoln MineIron, Copper, Silver, GoldPast Producer1906, 1921
Luz ProspectsUraniumUnknown
Unnamed ProspectUraniumUnknown
Virginia MineGold, Silver, CopperPast Producer
Adah MagnetiteCopper, IronPast Producer
By Chance MineCopper, Gold, SilverPast Producer1950, 1960
Copper HillCopper, IronUnknown
Copper King GroupCopper, IronUnknown
Cornudas Mountain ProspectSemiprecious GemstoneUnknown
De MeulesSemiprecious GemstoneUnknown
Lucky MineCopper, Gold, SilverPast Producer1897, 1929
Three Bears MineCopper, Gold, SilverPast Producer1882, 1887, 1905
Tiffany TurquoiseSemiprecious GemstoneUnknown
Black BearCopper, LeadPast Producer
DollinsCopper, LeadPast Producer
Red Hill DepositCopper, LeadPast Producer
Warnock MineCopper, LeadUnknown
Paul Blankenship's Gravel PitStonePast ProducerStratabound
State Hwy Pit No 58-48-SStoneUnknown
State Hwy Pit No 60-76-SStoneUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 58-50-SStoneUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 58-99-SStoneUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 59-36-SStoneUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 63-8-SStoneUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 64-5-SStoneUnknown
AdyCopperUnknown
Courtney MineCopperPast Producer
Daugherty ProspectCopperUnknown
Garnet GroupCopperUnknown
Garnet LodeCopperUnknown
Holmes MineCopperUnknown
Iron Mask MineIron, CopperPast Producer1913, 1915
Mont AltoIron, CopperUnknown
Speckled Bird NoseCopperProspect
Thorny ProspectCopperProspect
Virginia GroupIron, CopperUnknown
Alamo No2 PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Armstrong and Armstrong Rock PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Cloudcroft C335Sand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Cloudcroft PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Dog Canyon PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Downs PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Dugan PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerSedimentary
La Luz PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerSedimentary
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materias PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Mescalero Apache PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Orogrande PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Ortega PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Pit 76-3-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Materials PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
State Hwy Pit No 56-23-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No 59-41-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No 63-26-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No 74-3-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No 58-54-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
State Hwy Pit No. 56-24-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 56-65-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 57-38-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 58-103-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 58-13-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 58-49-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 58-57-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 60-33-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 75-3-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 77-8-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 80-2-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy Pit No. 80-3-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Three RiversSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Tom H. Blankenship PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerSedimentary
Annie RooneyIronProducer
Apache No1 MagnetiteIronProducer
BarbaraIronProducer
Brown BearIronProducer
By-Chance GroupIronPast Producer
CharlestonIronProducer
Cinco De MayoIronProducer
Cinnamon BearIronProducer
ContactIronUnknown
Cotton Top PlacerIronProducer
Emma LodeIronUnknown
Escondio MagnetiteIronProducer
FannieIronProducer
Grizzly BearIronUnknown
Iron Duke MineIronUnknown
Iron King & Iron Queen ClaimsIronPast Producer
Iron MaskIronPast Producer
Lincoln MineIronProducer
Little Annie LodeIronUnknown
Little Bear LodeIronUnknown
Little Joe GroupIronUnknown
Lone StarIronProducer
Macon GroupIronUnknown
Mary H FractionIronUnknown
MayIronProducer
Mescalero Magnetite-HematiteIronUnknown
Missing LinkIronProducer
Parallel LodeIronProspect
Pasadena LodeIronProspect
PhiladelphiaIronProducer
ProvidenceIronProducer
Raton LodeIronProspect
Seven Come ElevenIronUnknown
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectIronOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectsIronOccurrence

Every populated place in the county

45

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 1 place that was also surveyed for fire insurance comes first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

The vanished settlements of Otero County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Recorded here

Alamogordo, New Mexico

12 topographic sheets and 5 fire insurance atlases, 1905 to 1942

Everything this county holds

The complete index, with nothing left out. Each of these is a separate record with its own page: a federal survey report, or the case file that argued a property on to the National Register. Both are public domain and reproduced word for word.

Surveyed structures

3 structures

The vanished settlements of Otero County, the places these records name that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.