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Las Cruces, New Mexico

15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1891 and the latest in 1996. It stands in the Las Cruces census division. It lies in ZIP code area 88001. It stands on Las Cruces Arroyo. The Survey maps it on the Las Cruces quadrangle. 111,385 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,907 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Las Cruces within Doña Ana County

Population over time

5 figures

Las Cruces grew from 45,086 to 111,385 between 1980 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
198045,086
199062,360+17,274 (+38%)
200074,267+11,907 (+19%)
201097,618+23,351 (+31%)
2020111,385+13,767 (+14%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 surveys from 15 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 of 31 photographs shown, 2021

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.

The three-story City Hall building, completed in 2010 in Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico, 27 miles from the border with far-western Texas
The three-story City Hall building, completed in 2010 in Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico, 27 miles from the border with far-western Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress
A religious icon and adjacent art in the sanctuary of the Basilica of San Albino on the plaza of Mesilla (locally called Old Mesilla), a historic town adjacent to Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico
A religious icon and adjacent art in the sanctuary of the Basilica of San Albino on the plaza of Mesilla (locally called Old Mesilla), a historic town adjacent to Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress
A parade of burger boys and girls dominates the skyline at Sparky's Burgers & BBQ (barbecue), a must-see roadside attraction in tiny Hatch, New Mexico, north of Las Cruces, that offers not only green-chili cheeseburgers, espresso, and other coffee drinks but also what one might call vintage, sometimes giant and funky, memorabilia assembled over 20 years by Sparky's owners, Josie Nunn and her husband, Teako
A parade of burger boys and girls dominates the skyline at Sparky's Burgers & BBQ (barbecue), a must-see roadside attraction in tiny Hatch, New Mexico, north of Las Cruces, that offers not only green-chili cheeseburgers, espresso, and other coffee drinks but also what one might call vintage, sometimes giant and funky, memorabilia assembled over 20 years by Sparky's owners, Josie Nunn and her husband, Teako
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress
An enormous, and quite angular, grain elevator in Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico, 27 miles from the border with far-western Texas
An enormous, and quite angular, grain elevator in Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico, 27 miles from the border with far-western Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress
The Basilica of San Albino on the plaza of Mesilla (locally called Old Mesilla), a historic town adjacent to Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico
The Basilica of San Albino on the plaza of Mesilla (locally called Old Mesilla), a historic town adjacent to Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress
A distant view of Tortugas, New Mexico, a community at the base of the Organ Mountain Range below Las Cruces
A distant view of Tortugas, New Mexico, a community at the base of the Organ Mountain Range below Las Cruces
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress
Decorative entrance to Rosie's Cafe in Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico, 27 miles from the border with far-western Texas
Decorative entrance to Rosie's Cafe in Las Cruces, the hub city of southern New Mexico, 27 miles from the border with far-western Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress
Old gas pumps, amusement-ride bumper cars, and the Big Boy restaurant advertising symbol keep unlikely company at Sparky's Burgers & BBQ (barbecue), a must-see roadside attraction in tiny Hatch, New Mexico, north of Las Cruces, that offers not only green-chili cheeseburgers, espresso, and other coffee drinks but also what one might call vintage, sometimes giant and funky, memorabilia assembled over 20 years by Sparky's owners, Josie Nunn and her husband, Teako
Old gas pumps, amusement-ride bumper cars, and the Big Boy restaurant advertising symbol keep unlikely company at Sparky's Burgers & BBQ (barbecue), a must-see roadside attraction in tiny Hatch, New Mexico, north of Las Cruces, that offers not only green-chili cheeseburgers, espresso, and other coffee drinks but also what one might call vintage, sometimes giant and funky, memorabilia assembled over 20 years by Sparky's owners, Josie Nunn and her husband, Teako
Highsmith, Carol M, 2021. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Doña Ana County

Fires near this place

7 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 7 fires within 5 miles of Las Cruces between 1994 and 2002, burning about 57 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined7

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
23 May 2000Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreLas Cruces Field OfficePICACHO
2 May 1995Missing data/not specified/undetermined7.0 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionLEVEE
10 May 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.0 acresLas Cruces Field OfficeANGI
27 April 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined3.0 acresLas Cruces Field OfficeCOSMO
14 April 2002Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresLas Cruces Field OfficeMESILLA
14 April 2000Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreLas Cruces Field OfficeGLASS
14 April 1994Missing data/not specified/undetermined40 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionWOODMAN PARK

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Doña Ana County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 22 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 22 workings within 5 miles of Las Cruces: 6 producers, 6 past producers, 6 unknowns, 4 occurrences. 6 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Manganese, Fluorine-Fluorite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
East Dagger Flat ProspectCopperOccurrenceMalachite
Las Alturas Estates WellsGeothermalUnknown
Jones and Santiago DepositFluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceFluorite
Last Chance GroupManganeseOccurrenceVein
Manganese NoManganeseOccurrence
SantiagoFluorine-FluoriteUnknown
Materials Pit 57-8-SStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Materials Pit 60-46-SStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducerLimestone
A Mountain - Inman PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Storms near this place

49 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Las Cruces in 49 storm reports between 1993 and 2017: 20 hail, 14 thunderstorm wind, 10 flash flood, 3 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 1997HailLas Cruces$3,500,000no account filed
September 2005Flash FloodLas Cruces$1,000,000Major flooding occurred across most of the Las Cruces area as a thunderstorm complex dropped heavy rain during a 3 hour time frame. Rainfall reports were widespread 2 to 3 inches with isolated amounts around 4 inches. All major roads were flooded with a few intersections under 4 feet of water. Sandbags were put up until resources were exhausted. The rainfall amounts were not extremely unusual, just the areal coverage.
June 1999Flash FloodLas Cruces$300,000Three to four inches of rain fell in the East Mesa area of Las Cruces. Water running off the nearby Organ Mountains caused considerable damage to mobile homes, homes and washed out roads. The high water had some residents on the east side of Las Cruces trapped in their homes for several hours. A 70 year old woman had to be rescued after trying to cross a flooded road in her car.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces$50,000A wind gust of 58 mph was measured at the Las Cruces Airport during a severe thunderstorm. However, the winds were estimated at 65 mph near Mayfield High School were several trees were blown over and minor structural damage occurred.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces$30,000A wet microburst blew the roof off a portion of an apartment complex. Some windows were blown out in the downtown area, and several power lines were downed.
August 2002FloodLas Cruces$30,000no account filed
August 2005Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces$20,000no account filed
August 2002Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces$20,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces$1,000no account filed
July 2014Flash FloodLas Cruces-Las Cruces Police reported flooding in the Picacho Hills area down by the river.
July 2012Heavy RainLas Cruces-Thunderstorms continued to form over the region and produce periods of heavy rainfall. Minor flooding was reported along US Highway 70 at Porter road. Meanwhile lightning strikes in the nearby Organ Mountains resulted in the ignition of a small wildfire.
July 2010HailLas Cruces-One inch hail was reported 3 miles northwest of Las Cruces and also 2 miles northeast of Las Cruces.
April 2007Tornado (EF0)Las Cruces-A funnel cloud briefly touched down north of Interstate 10 near mile marker 112.
July 2006Flash FloodLas Cruces-Arroyos were running out of banks, with water 1 foot deep on streets 5.5 miles northeast of Las Cruces.
September 2006Tornado (F0)Las Cruces-A Las Cruces City Police officer sighted a tornado which briefly touched down west of Mesilla. It was in an area with no structures.
September 2006Flash FloodLas Cruces-Several roads were flooded with a number of them closed in Las Cruces.
October 2006HailLas Cruces-The fourth and final supercell of the outbreak brought nickel to quarter size hail that piled more than 6 inches high in the southern part of the city. Patches of hail were still visible the next afternoon.
June 2001Tornado (F0)Las Cruces-A weak tornado (landspout), which began as a dust devil that eventually moved under a developing thunderstorm, stayed on the ground for 15 minutes just east of Las Cruces. It remained over open country but was observed by thousands. Unrelated wind damage from 45 mph thunderstorm outflow elsewhere in the city was falsely attributed to this landspout.
October 2000Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-A low top supercell with a weakly rotating wall cloud was accompanied by 70 mph winds, 1/4 to 1/2 inch hail which completely covered the ground, and 0.9 inches of rain in less than 10 minutes as it passed over the Mesilla Park area.
May 1994Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-An early evening thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 65 mph which blew over several utility poles and damaged several small sheds and carports.
May 1994HailLas Cruces-A short, but intense hail storm ravaged fields of chile, cotton and pecans. Hail to one-half inch accumulated to nearly six inches deep in a few locations.
March 1993Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-Thunderstorm winds were estimated at 55 knots (63 mph) at the Las Cruces airport at 1625 MST.
January 2017HailLas Cruces-no account filed
October 2015HailLas Cruces-no account filed
October 2015HailLas Cruces-no account filed
July 2014HailLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2009HailLas Cruces-no account filed
May 2007HailLas Cruces-no account filed
August 2006Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-no account filed
August 2006Flash FloodLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2006Flash FloodLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2006HailLas Cruces-no account filed
February 2005HailLas Cruces-no account filed
August 2005Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-no account filed
June 2004Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-no account filed
June 2004Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-no account filed
August 2004HailLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2004HailLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2004HailLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2004HailLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2004Flash FloodLas Cruces-no account filed
August 2004Flash FloodLas Cruces-no account filed
August 2004HailLas Cruces-no account filed
September 2003Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindLas Cruces-no account filed
May 1999HailLas Cruces-no account filed
August 1999HailLas Cruces-no account filed
August 1997HailLas Cruces-no account filed
August 1997Flash FloodLas Cruces-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Doña Ana County

Newspapers printed here

307 digitised pages

1 paper published in this town, digitised by the Library of Congress and free to read: 76 issues, 307 pages. Every page is searchable, so a name or a street can be looked for directly in what the town printed about itself at the time.

NewspaperPublished
Rio Grande Republican1881 to 1914

What the paper printed

968 words

Front pages of the local paper, read from the Library of Congress scans: 2 issues spread across its run from 1888 to 1889, 968 words in total. Each is reproduced on its own page, exactly as the recogniser returned it.

These pages read less well than anything else here, and the number is worth stating: about three words in four come through cleanly, against nine in ten for the building records. An 1896 broadsheet sets eight-point type in seven columns on microfilm, which is the hardest thing in this archive to read by machine. We tested our own recognisers against the Library's and they were not better, so the Library's text is what appears, with the wholly unreadable columns removed. Read it as a guide to what the paper covered, and follow the link to the scan before quoting anything.

IssuePaper Length
1888-11-24Rio Grande Republican268 words
1889-03-23Rio Grande Republican700 words

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
University Park2.4 miles15
Mesilla Park2.6 miles15
Mesilla3.1 miles15
San Ysidro3.2 miles15
Tortugas3.2 miles15
Four Points3.3 miles15
Fairacres3.7 miles15
Picacho3.9 miles15

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Las CrucesAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q33264The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 899715. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.