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Santa Rosa, New Mexico

7 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Santa Rosa census division. It lies in ZIP code area 88435. It stands on El Rito Creek. The Survey maps it on the Santa Rosa quadrangle. 2,744 people lived here at the 2021 count. It stands 4,616 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Santa Rosa within Guadalupe County

On record in Santa Rosa

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 4 records

Population over time

3 figures

Santa Rosa grew from 1,093 to 2,850 between 1920 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
19201,093
20102,848
20202,850+2 (+0%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 7 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.

Fires near this place

30 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 30 fires within 5 miles of Santa Rosa between 1994 and 2020, burning about 4,238 acres in total. 4 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/undetermined13
Debris and open burning5
Natural4
Smoking3
Railroad operations and maintenance3
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Misuse of fire by a minor1

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
17 September 2000Misuse of fire by a minor1.0 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionGUTIERREZ
28 August 2001Natural100 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionMOISE
23 August 2002Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionBUZZARD
25 July 2000Natural1.0 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionLAGUNAS
24 July 2006Natural1.0 acresNew Mexico State Forestry Divisionnot named
10 July 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreLas Vegas District21-40090062X
4 June 1998Missing data/not specified/undetermined12 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionEXIT
26 June 2011Smoking10 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionLOVES

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Guadalupe County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 13 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 13 workings within 5 miles of Santa Rosa: 9 unknowns, 3 past producers, 1 occurrence. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Uranium. 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
Santa Rosa Railroad CutUraniumOccurrence1952
Materials 56-47-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials Pit 57-54-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials Pit 57-6-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials Pit 57-84-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Materials Pit 62-34-FSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials Pit 66-23-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials Pit 66-24-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Materials Pit F-020-3Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sandstone TunnelSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Guadalupe County

Storms near this place

60 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Santa Rosa in 60 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 40 hail, 7 flash flood, 6 thunderstorm wind, 3 heavy rain. 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
August 2015Flash FloodSanta Rosa$120,000State police had to pull 3 vehicles out of mud on Highway 91 created by the heavy rains. Reilly Road between Highway 91 and Blue Hole was later closed as it was covered by flash flood water. These waters also went into the nearby senior center.
June 2023Flash FloodSanta Rosa$100,000Flash flooding reported across Santa Rosa via NM State EOC and County EM. Extent of impacts and potential damages are unknown.
July 2013HailSanta Rosa$100,000Nickel to golfball sized hail pounded the Santa Rosa area resulting in major damage. Partial roof collapses and broken skylights were common throughout the central and western portions of the community. Smaller hail accumulated to depths of up to two feet in areas. Snow plows were required to clear roads. Many local residents and motorists described the scene as snow in July.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindSanta Rosa$60,000State police reported thunderstorm winds causing damage to the roofs of several buildings along old route 66 in the center of town.
September 2013FloodSanta Rosa$50,000State EOC Situation Report #2 reported Blue Hole Road closed due to flooding. The Santa Rosa golf course and a pump house flooded with extensive damage. Entire golf course was under water. Flooding was also reported near the KSRR transmitter.
July 2014LightningSanta Rosa$30,000Two lightning bolts just a few seconds apart made direct hits to the TravelCenters of America just after midnight on July 16th. The strikes caused a power surge which fried circuitry and temporarily knocked 17 fuel pumps out of service. The pumps were not restored to service until the late afternoon during that day as electricians worked to repair the damage caused by the strikes.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindSanta Rosa$20,000A semi trailer was blown over from thunderstorm winds 6 miles west of Santa Rosa. The airport in Santa Rosa reported a peak wind gust up to 60 mph around the time of the incident. Damage amounts are estimated for an overturned semi trailer with unknown contents.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindSanta Rosa$10,000Five inch diameter tree limbs downed. Small electrical pole toppled. Some siding stripped off roof of McDonalds.
July 2013HailSanta Rosa$3,000A SKYWARN Spotter relayed a report of automobile damage due to large hail just north of Santa Rosa. Hail sizes in this area ranged from nickel to golfball sized.
August 2025Flash FloodSanta Rosa-Heavy rain from severe thunderstorms resulted in five inches of water on 8th Street near Eddy Avenue and 6 inches of water on Park Lake Drive in Santa Rosa, NM.
May 2024HailSanta Rosa-A local resident south of Santa Rosa reported quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm moving east.
May 2024HailSanta Rosa-Local law enforcement reported a severe thunderstorm producing golf ball size hail in Santa Rosa.
September 2019HailSanta Rosa-Quarter size hail reported east of U.S. Highway 84 several miles southeast of Santa Rosa.
May 2017HailSanta Rosa-Quarter size hail on Interstate 40 four miles west of Santa Rosa.
July 2016HailSanta Rosa-Dime to nickel size hail on I-40 west of Santa Rosa.
July 2015Heavy RainSanta Rosa-Very heavy rainfall overnight dumped 3.20 inches at Santa Rosa. Minor flooding was observred around town and within the El Rito Creek and Pecos River drainages. Areas downstream toward Puerto de Luna saw flooding in the same area where damage occurred to Power Dam in 2013.
August 2015HailSanta Rosa-Spotter reported quarter size hail north of Santa Rosa.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindSanta Rosa-Trained spotter reported an estimated wind gust of 60 mph.
July 2014Heavy RainSanta Rosa-Trained spotter reported 3.10 inches of rainfall overnight.
September 2014HailSanta Rosa-Nickel size hail reported and accumulated 3 to 4 inches deep just east of town.
September 2013FloodSanta Rosa-Widespead heavy rainfall and flooding around Santa Rosa led to a near record crest on the Pecos River at Puerto de Luna. The crest peaked at 35,800 cfs at 615pm on the 11th, which is the 2nd highest crest ever observed going back to 1942. The gauge was above flood stage for several hours.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindSanta Rosa-A gas station attendant reported customers were unable to hold their footing in the high wind gusts.
June 2009HailSanta Rosa-Quarter size hail was reported along Interstate 40 at Exit 267.
August 2006Flash FloodSanta Rosa-Highway 91 between Santa Rosa and Puerto de Luna was closed during heavy rain.
April 2004Heavy RainSanta Rosa-Three people were killed (indirect) and two others injured (indirect) when a car traveling west on Interstate 40 near Santa Rosa slid into on-coming traffic in a rain and hail storm. Small hail reportedly covered the roadway. Additional information on the victims was not available.
September 2001HailSanta Rosa-Hail to dime size covering the roadway and delaying traffic along Interstate 40 at Santa Rosa.
August 2001Flash FloodSanta Rosa-Strong and slow moving thunderstorms which produced estimated rains of 4-6 inches in several hours across rural western and central Guadalupe County moved into Santa Rosa with widespread and heavy street flooding.
October 2000Flash FloodSanta Rosa-Highway 91 at Puerto de Luna closed by high water.
May 1997Funnel CloudSanta Rosa-Funnel Cloud observed over open range north of Santa Rosa by National Weather Service employee traveling along Interstate 40 at Cuervo.
May 1997HailSanta Rosa-Dime hail covered the ground.
May 2023HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 2023HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 2010HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
August 2008HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
August 2008Thunderstorm WindSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 2005HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 2005HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 2005HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 2005HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 2005HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
August 2004HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 2004HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
August 2004HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
August 2004HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
October 2004Flash FloodSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 2002HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
July 2002HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
July 2002HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 2002HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 2000HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 2000HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 1999HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 1999HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
August 1998HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
July 1997HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 1997HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 1997HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
May 1997HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
June 1997HailSanta Rosa-no account filed
September 1996HailSanta Rosa-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Guadalupe County

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
Agua Negra (historical)4.3 miles7
Arabella7.5 miles6
Puerto De Luna8.0 miles7
Los Tanos8.4 miles6
Double Mills12.2 miles13
San Ignacio14.1 miles6
Colonias14.7 miles14
Cuervo15.9 miles6

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 Santa RosaAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q610649The 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 918353. 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.