:Las Cruces, New Mexico

File:St. Genevieve Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico, dedicated on October 15, 1887.jpg

During the Mexican–American War, the Battle of El Bracito was fought nearby on Christmas Day, 1846. The settlement of Las Cruces was founded in 1849, when the US Army first surveyed the town, thus opening up the area for American settlement. The town was first surveyed as the result of the American acquisition of the land surrounding Las Cruces, which later became the New Mexico Territory. This land had been ceded to the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848, which ended the Mexican-American War.{{Rp|36,40}} The town was named Las Cruces (Spanish: "the crosses") after three crosses that its earliest settlers had reported seeing just north of the town. The crosses were thought to be "either marked graves or were similar to roadside memorials called descansos".{{cite web | year = 2012 | url = https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/62371243/historic-las-cruces | title= Historic Las Cruces | last = Schurtz | first = Christopher | publisher = Historical Publishing Network | accessdate = 2021-06-28}} See pages 9–11.

Initially, Mesilla became the leading settlement of the area, with more than 2,000 residents in 1860, more than twice what Las Cruces had; at that time, Mesilla had a population primarily of Mexican descent.{{Rp|48}} When the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway reached the area, the landowners of Mesilla refused to sell it the rights-of-way, and instead residents of Las Cruces donated the rights-of-way and land for a depot in Las Cruces.{{Rp|58}} The first train reached Las Cruces in 1881.{{Rp|62}} Las Cruces was not affected as strongly by the train as some other villages, as it was not a terminus or a crossroads, but the population did grow to 2,300 in the 1880s. Las Cruces was incorporated as a town in 1907.{{Rp|135}}{{Rp|63}}

File:The land of sunshine; a handbook of the resources, products, industries and climate of New Mexico (1904) (14800304523).jpg courthouse, 1904]]

Pat Garrett is best known for his involvement in the Lincoln County War, but he also worked in Las Cruces on a famous case, the disappearance of Albert Jennings Fountain in 1896.{{Rp|68}}

New Mexico State University was founded in 1888, and it has grown as Las Cruces has grown. The growth of Las Cruces has been attributed to the university, government jobs, and recent retirees.

File:New Mexico State University Goddard Hall (cropped).jpg was built in 1913.]]

The establishment of White Sands Missile Range in 1944 and White Sands Test Facility in 1963 has been integral to population growth. Las Cruces is the nearest city to each, and they provide Las Cruces' workforce with many high-paying, stable, government jobs. In recent years, the influx of retirees from out of state has also increased Las Cruces' population.

In the 1960s, Las Cruces undertook a large urban renewal project, intended to convert the old downtown into a modern city center.{{Rp|115}} As part of this, St. Genevieve's Catholic Church, built in 1859, was razed to make way for a downtown pedestrian mall.{{Rp|44,75,115}} The original covered walkways have been removed in favor of a more traditional main-street thoroughfare.

On February 10, 1990, seven people were shot, four fatally, in the Las Cruces bowling alley massacre. The incident remains unsolved.

File:LasCruces NewMexico ISS011-E-8410.jpg

The approximate elevation of Las Cruces is {{convert|3908|ft|m|0}} above mean sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|198.5|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.4|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, or 0.18%, is covered by water.

Las Cruces is the center of the Organ Caldera; the Doña Ana Mountains to the north and the Organ Mountains to the east are its margins.{{cite web

|url = http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/federal/monuments/gila_cliff_dwellings/home.html

|author=Shari A. Kelley

|title = Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

|publisher = New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources

|date=24 October 2019

|access-date = April 29, 2010 }} citing from {{Cite book |quotation=The Late Eocene—Oligocene peak of Cenozoic volcanism in southwestern New Mexico |editor=Mack, G.H. |editor2=Giles, K.A. |title=The Geology of New Mexico, a Geologic History |pages=271–294 |publisher=New Mexico Geological Society Special Publication |year=2004 |author=Chapin, C.E. |author2=McIntosh, W.C. |author3=Chamberlin, R.M.}} Its major eruption was 32 Ma.{{cite journal

|last= Seager |first= W.R. |year= 1981 |title= Geology of Oregon Mountains and southern San Andreas Mountains, New Mexico |journal= Memoir of the New Mexico Bureau of Mineral Resources |volume= 36 |pages= 1–97 }}

Doña Ana County lies within the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, and the vegetation surrounding the built portions of the city are typical of this setting; it includes creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), soaptree (Yucca elata), tarbush (Flourensia cernua), broom dalea (Psorothamnus scoparius), and various desert grasses such as tobosa (Hilaria mutica or Pleuraphis mutica) and black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda).

The Rio Grande bisects the Mesilla Valley and passes west of Las Cruces proper, supplying irrigation water for the intensive agriculture surrounding the city.{{cite web|title=Elephant Butte Irrigation District|url=http://www.ebid-nm.org/wris2008/index.asp|access-date=22 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911052259/http://www.ebid-nm.org/wris2008/index.asp|archive-date=11 September 2013}} Since the institution of water rights, though, the Rio Grande fills its banks only when water is released from upstream dams, which before 2020 usually occurred at least from March to September.{{cite web | last=Minardi | first=Di | title=A river used to run through it: how New Mexico handles a dwindling Rio Grande | website=the Guardian | date=2021-01-12 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/12/rio-grande-new-mexico-river-water | access-date=2021-01-12}} Drought conditions,{{cite news| title=New Mexico is the driest of the dry |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-parched-20130806-dto,0,5922502.htmlstory#axzz2oFc0nGAC| access-date=22 December 2013| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=Aug 6, 2013}} exacerbated by climate change, mean that the Rio Grande experiences increasingly short or small flows.

File:San Andres Mountains east Las Cruces (cropped).jpg]]

Prior to farming and ranching, desert shrub vegetation extended into the valley from the adjacent deserts, including extensive stands of tornillo (Prosopis pubescens) and catclaw acacia (Acacia greggii). Desert grasslands extend in large part between the edges of Las Cruces and the lower slopes of the nearby Organ and Robledo Mountains, where grasses and assorted shrubs and cacti dominate large areas of this mostly rangeland, as well as the occasional large-lot subdivision housing.

The desert and desert grassland uplands surrounding both sides of the Mesilla Valley are often dissected with arroyos, dry streams that often carry water following heavy thunderstorms. These arroyos often contain scattered small trees, and they serve as wildlife corridors between Las Cruces' urban areas and adjacent deserts or mountains.

File:LasCrucesNM WellsFargoTower.jpg is the tallest building in downtown Las Cruces.]]

Unlike many cities its size, Las Cruces lacks a true central business district, because in the 1960s, an urban-renewal project tore down a large part of the original downtown. Many chain stores and national restaurants are located in the rapidly developing east side. Las Cruces' shopping mall and a variety of retail stores and restaurants are located in this area.

The historic downtown of the city is the area around Main Street, a six-block stretch of which was closed off in 1973 to form a pedestrianized shopping area. The downtown mall has an extensive farmers' market each Wednesday and Saturday mornings, where a variety of foods and cultural items can be purchased from numerous small stands that are set up by local farmers, artists, and craftspeople.{{Cite web| title = Farmers' and Crafts Market of Las Cruces {{!}} FCMLC| url = http://www.fcmlc.org| website = www.fcmlc.org| access-date = 2015-10-28}} This area also contains museums, businesses, restaurants, churches, art galleries, and theaters, which add a great deal to the changing character of Las Cruces' historic downtown.

In August 2005, a master plan was adopted, the centerpiece of which was the restoration of narrow lanes of two-way traffic on this model portion of Main Street, which was reopened to vehicular traffic in 2012.

In February 2013, Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima announced during his "State of the City" address that a {{convert|700|acre|adj=on}} park in the area behind the Las Cruces Dam was under construction, in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers. The area features trails through restored wetlands, and serves as a major refuge for migratory birds and a key recreational area for the city.{{cite web|url=http://krwg.org/post/full-text-las-cruces-state-city-address|title=Full Text: Las Cruces State Of The City Address|first=KRWG News And|last=Partners|date=13 February 2013 }}

File:Jardin de Mesquite Las Cruces New Mexico.jpg

Las Cruces has a cool desert climate (Köppen BWk). Winters alternate between colder and windier weather following trough and frontal passages, and warmer, sunnier periods; light freezes occur 69 nights on average. Spring months can be windy, particularly in the afternoons, sometimes causing periods of blowing dust and short-lived dust storms. Summers begin with the hottest weather of the year, with some extended periods of over {{convert|100|°F|°C|1}} temperatures not uncommon, while the latter half of the summer has increased humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms, with slightly lower daytime temperatures. Autumns feature decreasing temperatures and precipitation.

Precipitation is very light from October to June, with only occasional winter storm systems bringing any precipitation to the Las Cruces area. Most winter moisture is in the form of rain, though some light snowfalls happen most winters, usually enough to accumulate and stay on the ground for a few hours. Summer precipitation is often from heavy thunderstorms, especially from the late summer monsoon weather pattern.

File:Veterans Memorial Park Las Cruces New Mexico.jpg]]

Since records began in 1892, the lowest temperature recorded at New Mexico State University has been {{convert|−10|°F|°C|1}} on January 11, 1962 – though only 10 nights have ever fallen to or below {{convert|0|°F|°C|1}} – and the highest {{convert|110|°F|°C|1}} on June 28, 1994. The lowest maximum on record is {{convert|16|°F|°C|1}} on January 28, 1948, and the highest minimum {{convert|83|°F|°C|1}} on June 8, 2024. The wettest calendar year has been 1941 with {{convert|19.60|in|mm|1}}, although 1905 with {{convert|17.09|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} is the only other year to exceed {{convert|15|in|mm|abbr=on}}. The only months to exceed {{convert|6|in|mm|abbr=on}} have been September 1941 with {{convert|7.53|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} and August 1935 with {{convert|7.41|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}. The wettest single day has been August 30, 1935, with {{convert|6.49|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} and the driest calendar year 1970 with {{convert|3.44|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}.

{{Weather box

|location = Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 78

|Feb record high F = 86

|Mar record high F = 90

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 104

|Jun record high F = 110

|Jul record high F = 109

|Aug record high F = 109

|Sep record high F = 103

|Oct record high F = 95

|Nov record high F = 87

|Dec record high F = 78

|year record high F = 110

|Jan avg record high F = 70.2

|Feb avg record high F = 76.1

|Mar avg record high F = 83.7

|Apr avg record high F = 89.1

|May avg record high F = 97.1

|Jun avg record high F = 103.8

|Jul avg record high F = 103.5

|Aug avg record high F = 100.1

|Sep avg record high F = 96.9

|Oct avg record high F = 90.7

|Nov avg record high F = 79.6

|Dec avg record high F = 71.1

|year avg record high F = 105.0

|Jan high F = 58.9

|Feb high F = 64.1

|Mar high F = 71.3

|Apr high F = 78.5

|May high F = 87.1

|Jun high F = 96.2

|Jul high F = 95.6

|Aug high F = 93.6

|Sep high F = 88.4

|Oct high F = 79.6

|Nov high F = 67.9

|Dec high F = 58.1

|year high F = 78.3

|Jan mean F = 44.2

|Feb mean F = 48.8

|Mar mean F = 55.2

|Apr mean F = 62.1

|May mean F = 70.6

|Jun mean F = 80.0

|Jul mean F = 82.4

|Aug mean F = 80.6

|Sep mean F = 74.8

|Oct mean F = 64.0

|Nov mean F = 52.2

|Dec mean F = 43.9

|year mean F = 63.2

|Jan low F = 29.6

|Feb low F = 33.5

|Mar low F = 39.2

|Apr low F = 45.7

|May low F = 54.2

|Jun low F = 63.7

|Jul low F = 69.1

|Aug low F = 67.7

|Sep low F = 61.1

|Oct low F = 48.3

|Nov low F = 36.6

|Dec low F = 29.7

|year low F = 48.2

|Jan avg record low F = 20.8

|Feb avg record low F = 23.3

|Mar avg record low F = 29.0

|Apr avg record low F = 35.9

|May avg record low F = 43.7

|Jun avg record low F = 55.5

|Jul avg record low F = 63.5

|Aug avg record low F = 62.7

|Sep avg record low F = 51.8

|Oct avg record low F = 36.3

|Nov avg record low F = 25.3

|Dec avg record low F = 19.9

|year avg record low F = 17.7

|Jan record low F = -10

|Feb record low F = -5

|Mar record low F = 8

|Apr record low F = 20

|May record low F = 27

|Jun record low F = 35

|Jul record low F = 42

|Aug record low F = 44

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 20

|Nov record low F = -4

|Dec record low F = -1

|year record low F = -10

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.48

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.36

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.26

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.22

|May precipitation inch = 0.38

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.65

|Jul precipitation inch = 1.77

|Aug precipitation inch = 1.73

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.41

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.82

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.42

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.64

|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 0.4

|Feb snow inch = 0.1

|Mar snow inch = 0.0

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.1

|Dec snow inch = 0.4

|year snow inch = 1.0

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 3.3

|Feb precipitation days = 2.5

|Mar precipitation days = 2.0

|Apr precipitation days = 1.6

|May precipitation days = 2.1

|Jun precipitation days = 3.2

|Jul precipitation days = 8.9

|Aug precipitation days = 8.4

|Sep precipitation days = 5.2

|Oct precipitation days = 4.0

|Nov precipitation days = 2.6

|Dec precipitation days = 3.3

|year precipitation days =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.3

|Feb snow days = 0.1

|Mar snow days = 0.0

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.1

|Dec snow days = 0.3

|year snow days =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00298535&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: State Univ, NM

|access-date = August 26, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=epz

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS El Paso

|access-date = August 26, 2023

}}

}}

File:Las Cruces - Our Lady of Health church - 5.jpg style Church of Our Lady of Health]]

{{US Census population

|1910= 3836

|1920= 3989

|1930= 5811

|1940= 8385

|1950= 12325

|1960= 29387

|1970= 37857

|1980= 43377

|1990= 57866

|2000= 74267

|2010= 97618

|2020= 111385

|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
2018 Estimate{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:35&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}

}}

As of the 2020 census, Las Cruces had a population of 111,385.

Estimates for 2019 indicate that Las Cruces had a population of 103,432. Its demographics were 32.5% non-Hispanic White, 2.8% African American or Black, 1.4% Native American, 1.8% Asian, and 2.9% from two or more races: 60.5% were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. The 39,925 households had an average household size of 2.51 people each. Median household income was $43,022, and the level of people in poverty was 23.6%.

As of the 2010, census Las Cruces had a population of 97,618.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3539380| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Las Cruces city, New Mexico| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 3, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213084109/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3539380| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}} The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was:[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/3539380.html Las Cruces (city), New Mexico] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220080233/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/3539380.html |date=2014-02-20 }} – United States Census – State and County Quickfacts

• 56.8% Hispanic and Latino Americans (Hispanics may be of any race)
• 34.3% Non-Hispanic White
• 2.4% African American or Black
• 1.7% Native Americans
• 1.6% Asian
• 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• 3.5% Two or more races

As of the census of 2000, 74,267 people, 29,184 households, and 18,123 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,425.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 31,682 housing units had an average density of {{convert|608.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 69.0% White, 2.3% African American, 1.7% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.6% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.7% of the population.

File:LasCrucesNM EastMesa (cropped).jpg

Of the 29,184 households, 30.4% had children under 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were not families. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the age distribution was 25.1% under 18, 16.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,375, and for a family was $37,670. Males had a median income of $30,923 versus $21,759 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,704. About 17.2% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

File:Foster Hall New Mexico State University Las Cruces (cropped).jpg]]

Major employers in Las Cruces include New Mexico State University, Las Cruces Public Schools, the City of Las Cruces, Memorial Medical Center, Walmart, MountainView Regional Medical Center, Doña Ana County, Doña Ana Community College, Addus HealthCare, and NASA.

Movies and TV series shot in Las Cruces include:

• The 2018 film, The Mule, written, produced, directed by, and starring Clint Eastwood, filmed for six days in and around Las Cruces.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/money/business/2018/08/15/mule-showcases-possible-film-spending-las-cruces-and-southern-nm/952181002/|title=Filming Las Cruces: How local businesses benefit when Hollywood visits|website=Las Cruces Sun-News|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}}
• The 1964 pilot, Calhoun: County Agent, starring Jackie Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, was filmed in and around Las Cruces, but never aired.{{IMDb title|qid=Q127788400|title=Calhoun: County Agent}} The process of writing and shooting the pilot is the subject of Merle Miller and Evan Rhodes's book Only You, Dick Daring!

{{cite book |title=Only You, Dick Daring! or, How to write one television script and make $50,000,000 |last1=Miller |first1=Merle |author-link1=Merle Miller |last2=Rhodes |first2=Evan |year=1964 |publisher=Bantam }}

Most of Las Cruces's cultural events are held late in the calendar year.{{cite web| title=Area Events| url=http://lascrucesmagazine.com/html/resources/rec_events.php| publisher=Real View Publishing| access-date=7 February 2014}}{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Las Cruces Style: TGI (thank goodness it's) FTFS—let's party on! |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |issn=1081-2172 |date=September 4, 2008 }}

File:Las Cruces Branigan Cultural Center.jpg | Branigan Cultural Center

File:New Mexico State University Art Gallery.jpg | University Art Gallery

File:New Mexico State University Center for the Arts.jpg | New Mexico State University Center for the Arts

File:New Mexico State University Conroy Honors Center.jpg | William Conroy Honors Center

File:New Mexico State University Museum.jpg

The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is state-operated and shows the history of farming and ranching in New Mexico. It is located just east of New Mexico State University.{{cite web| url= http://www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/about.php |title= About the Museum |access-date= August 5, 2008 |publisher= New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum}}

The New Mexico State University Arthropod Museum and Collection contains roughly 500,000 arthropod specimens.{{cite web|url=http://arthropods.nmsu.edu|title=Arthropod Museum - New Mexico State University|website=Arthropods.nmsu.edu}}

The University Museum (Kent Hall) at New Mexico State University focuses on archeological and ethnographic collections and also has some history and natural-science collections.{{cite web |url= http://univmuseum.nmsu.edu |title= University Museum |access-date= April 27, 2014 |publisher= New Mexico State University}}

The Zuhl Museum (located in the Alumni and Visitors' Center) at New Mexico State University focuses on geologic collections, including the finest collection of petrified wood on display and a large fossil and mineral collection.{{cite web |url= http://www.nmsu.edu/zuhl/index.html |title= The Zuhl Collection |access-date= August 5, 2008 |publisher= New Mexico State University |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090914231532/http://www.nmsu.edu/zuhl/index.html |archive-date= September 14, 2009 }}

The four city-owned museums include the Branigan Cultural Center, which examines local history through photographs, sculpture, paintings, and poetry. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Las Cruces Museum of Art offers art exhibits and classes. The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History makes science and natural history more accessible to the general public and has an emphasis on local animals and plants. The Las Cruces Railroad Museum is in the historic Santa Fe Railroad station. It exhibits the impact of the railroads on the local area.{{cite web |url= http://www.las-cruces.org/public-services/museums |title= Experience the City of Las Cruces Museums |access-date= August 6, 2008 |publisher= City of Las Cruces |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080719165109/http://las-cruces.org/public-services/museums/ |archive-date= July 19, 2008 }}

File:Dona Ana County New Mexico Courthouse (cropped).jpg courthouse]]

The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra is an 80-member orchestra, conducted by Dr. Ming Luke.{{cite web|url=https://lascrucessymphony.com/meet-your-conductor-candidates/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908033107/http://www.lascrucessymphony.com/lcso.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2007 |title=Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra at New Mexico State University |access-date=October 10, 2008 |publisher=Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra }} The orchestra consists of 47% students, 17% NMSU faculty, 20% other local musicians, and 16% professionals from outside Las Cruces.{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra plans spectacular season |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |issn=1081-2172 |date=May 2, 2008 }} The venue of the orchestra is the NMSU Music Center Recital Hall. The orchestra received attention with the world premiere of Bill McGlaughlin's Remembering Icarus, a tribute to local radio pioneer Ralph Willis Goddard, performed by the LCSO on October 1, 2005.

{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Symphony to honor radio pioneer |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |issn=1081-2172 |date=September 30, 2005 }}

The performance was taped and broadcast nationally on NPR's Performance Today on December 9, 2005

{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5046198 |title=McGlaughlin's 'Remembering Icarus' |newspaper=NPR.org |access-date=October 10, 2008 |publisher=National Public Radio |date=December 9, 2005 }}

and on July 4, 2007, on Performance Today and on Sirius Satellite Radio.

{{cite news |title=In 2007, the Las Cruces arts and entertainment scene was... HOT, HOT, HOT |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/yearinreview/ci_7830764 |access-date=October 10, 2008 |issn=1081-2172 |date=December 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202215838/http://www.lcsun-news.com/yearinreview/ci_7830764 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }}

Several water tanks in Las Cruces have been painted with murals by Tony Pennock, including one at the intersection of Triviz Drive and Griggs Avenue.

{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=427 |title=Water Tanks Being Restored To Original Luster |access-date=November 24, 2008 |publisher=City of Las Cruces |date=April 14, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028024051/http://www.las-cruces.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=427 |archive-date=October 28, 2007 }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1EAD |title=500th Anni of Columbus' Discovery of America Waymark |access-date=November 24, 2008 |publisher=Waymarking.com |date=April 18, 2007 }}

Multimedia artist group Keep Adding has a large mural titled Wave Nest on Picacho Avenue at the Lion's Park.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces.

File:NMSU AggiesFootballGame.JPG play at Aggie Memorial Stadium]]

Las Cruces is the home of Vado Speedway Park, a 3/8th-mile dirt track that hosts the annual Wild West Shootout.

At the university level, the New Mexico State Aggies compete in Conference USA for various sports, such as men's and women's basketball, as well as football. Aggies men's basketball has had a rich history of success. Between 2010 and 2019, the Aggies made the NCAA tournament eight times. The team also reached the Final Four of the tournament in 1970. The 2014-15 NMSU women's basketball team reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1988, when it won both the WAC regular season and tournament championships.

The Las Cruces Kings have been a long running semiprofessional football team in the city.

Beginning in the 2010 season, the Las Cruces Vaqueros{{cite web| url=http://www.lascrucesvaqueros.com/ |title=Welcome to Las Cruces Vaqueros Professional Baseball Team |publisher=Lascrucesvaqueros.com |access-date=November 12, 2010}} were the first professional sports team in Las Cruces. In the 2011 season, the Vaqueros joined the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs{{cite web|url=http://www.pecosleague.com/ |title=Welcome to the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs! |publisher=Pecosleague.com |access-date=November 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827075702/http://www.pecosleague.com/ |archive-date=August 27, 2010 }} against the White Sands Pupfish, Roswell Invaders, Ruidoso Osos, Alpine Cowboys and Carlsbad Bats.{{cite web |url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_13548629?source=most_viewed |title=City 'very close' to pro ball agreement – Las Cruces Sun-News |publisher=Lcsun-news.com |access-date=November 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015083840/http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_13548629?source=most_viewed |archive-date=October 15, 2009 }} The Vaqueros played in the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs for the 2011–2013 seasons. The team returned for the 2015 season, but structural damage to their home ballpark in January 2016 forced them to sit out the 2016 season. They planned to return for the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=2462|title=The Las Cruces Vaqueros will return to the Pecos League for the 2017 Season|date=July 29, 2016|access-date=August 11, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820225627/http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=2462|archive-date=August 20, 2016}}

File:New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum building (cropped).jpg]]

Las Cruces operates 87 city parks, 18 tennis courts, and four golf courses.

{{cite web

|title = 2008 Reference Guide: Information on City of Las Cruces Departments and Services

|publisher = City of Las Cruces Public Information Office

|url = http://www.las-cruces.org/PDFs/2008RG.pdf

|access-date = July 24, 2008

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080912115656/http://www.las-cruces.org/PDFs/2008RG.pdf

|archive-date = September 12, 2008

}}

{{Rp|41}}

A list of parks, with facilities and maps, is available.{{Rp|8}}

{{cite web

|url = http://www.las-cruces.org/facilities/parks/locations.shtm

|title = Parks Locations

|access-date = July 24, 2008

|publisher = City of Las Cruces

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080327143307/http://www.las-cruces.org/facilities/parks/locations.shtm

|archive-date = March 27, 2008

}}

Las Cruces holds a Ciclovía, a citywide event featuring exercise and physical activities, on the last Sunday of each month at Meerscheidt Recreation Center.

{{cite news

| title = City encourages Las Crucens to get active

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

|issn=1081-2172

| date = March 27, 2008

}}

The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is a 47-acre (190,000 m2) interactive museum that chronicles the New Mexico's 3,000-year history of farming and ranching. The museum is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

{{see also|List of mayors of Las Cruces, New Mexico}}

File:Las Cruces New Mexico City Hall 2010.jpg

Las Cruces is a charter city

{{cite web |title=Municipal Code Part I: Charter |url=http://www.las-cruces.org/legal/city_clerk/codes/Municipal%20Code/CH000%20-%20PART%20I%20%20CHARTER.htm |date=March 5, 1985 |publisher=City of Las Cruces, City Clerk |access-date=July 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616152454/http://www.las-cruces.org/legal/city_clerk/Codes/Municipal%20Code/CH000%20-%20PART%20I%20%20CHARTER.htm |archive-date=June 16, 2010 }}

(also called a home rule city) and has a council–manager form of government.

{{cite web |title=City Manager |url=http://las-cruces.org/manager/ |publisher=City of Las Cruces |access-date=July 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612035250/http://www.las-cruces.org/manager/ |archive-date=June 12, 2009 }}

The city council consists of six councilors and the mayor, who chairs the meetings.{{Rp|Article II}} The mayor is elected at-large, and each of the city councilors represents one neighborhood district within the city.{{Rp|Article II}} Each resident of Las Cruces is thus represented by the mayor and by one city councilor. The mayor and city council members serve staggered four-year terms. As of the 2024, the mayor is Eric Enriquez. Councilors are Cassie McClure, Dist. 1; Bill Mattiace, Dist. 2; Becki Graham, Dist. 3; Johana Bencomo, Dist. 4; Becky Corran, Dist. 5; Yvonne Flores, Dist. 6.{{Cite web |title=City Council {{!}} Las Cruces, NM |url=https://www.lascruces.gov/1487/City-Council |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=www.lascruces.gov}} Live and archived video of city council meetings are available anytime at [https://www.las-cruces.org/1824/CLC-TV Las Cruces, NM].https://www.facebook.com/CityofLasCruces [https://twitter.com clcgov twitter.com] [https://www.youtube.com/user/CLCTV20 youtube.com]

{{cite web |title=City Council |url=http://las-cruces.org/council/ |publisher=City of Las Cruces |access-date=July 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714092728/http://www.las-cruces.org/council/ |archive-date=July 14, 2009 }}

{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}

In the November 2019 municipal election, ranked-choice voting was used for the first time.

File:DACC East Mesa campus.jpg]]

Public schools are in the Las Cruces Public School District, which covers the city of Las Cruces, as well as White Sands Missile Range, the settlement of Doña Ana, and the town of Mesilla. The system has 26 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and six high schools. Of the high schools, Rio Grande Preparatory is an alternative high school.{{cite web

|url= http://www.lascruces.org/education.php

|title= Education

|access-date= August 8, 2009

|publisher= Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090816173638/http://www.lascruces.org/education.php

|archive-date= August 16, 2009

|url-status= dead

}}

Four charter schools are within the Las Cruces Public Schools. Alma d'arte is a high school with a focus on an integrated arts curriculum. Las Montañas is a charter high school that opened in fall 2007 and caters to at-risk students. New America High School offers schooling for young and older adults who want to go back to school for their diploma or GED. Academia Dolores Huerta Middle School is the only recognized dual language program in the state.

{{cite news

| first = Christopher

| last = Schurtz

| title = Charter schools post statewide growth

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = July 21, 2008

}}

{{cite news

| first = Jason

| last = Gibbs

| title = School board OKs new at-risk charter school

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = October 17, 2006

}}

New Mexico School for the Deaf operates a preschool facility in Las Cruces.{{cite web|url=https://www.nmsd.k12.nm.us/about_n_m_s_d|title=About NMSD|publisher=New Mexico School for the Deaf|accessdate=2021-07-20}}

File:Las Cruces High School.jpg campus]]

• Arrowhead Park Early College High School{{cite web|title=Arrowhead Park Early College High School|url=http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/departments/Instruction/echs/index.asp|publisher=Las Cruces Public Schools|access-date=24 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718050236/http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/departments/Instruction/echs/index.asp|archive-date=18 July 2012}}
• Centennial High School{{cite web|title=School Information Centennial High School|url=http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/Schools/SchoolInfo2.asp?SchoolID=300|publisher=Las Cruces Public Schools|access-date=24 July 2012}}
• Las Cruces High School{{cite web|title=School Information Las Cruces High School|url=http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/Schools/SchoolInfo2.asp?SchoolID=255|publisher=Las Cruces Public Schools|access-date=24 July 2012}}
• Mayfield High School{{cite web|title=School Information Mayfield High School|url=http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/Schools/SchoolInfo2.asp?SchoolID=260|publisher=Las Cruces Public Schools|access-date=24 July 2012}}
• Organ Mountain High School{{cite web|title=School Information Organ Mountain High School|url=http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/Schools/SchoolInfo2.asp?SchoolID=270|publisher=Las Cruces Public Schools|access-date=24 July 2012}}
• Alma d'arte Charter High School{{cite web|url=http://www.almadarte.org/contact.html|title=Contact|first=James|last=Schmidt}}

Five private Christian schools operate in Las Cruces.

{{cite news

|first = Amanda L.

|last = Husson

|title = Private schools offer options

|url = http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_12982782

|newspaper = Las Cruces Sun-News

|date = August 3, 2009

|access-date = September 4, 2009

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120304080739/http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_12982782

|archive-date = 2012-03-04

|url-status = dead

}}

College Heights Kindergarten is a private Christian kindergarten, founded in 1954.

{{cite news

| first = Argen

| last = Duncan

| title = Local earns award after lifetime of contributions

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = July 19, 2005

}}

Desert Springs Christian Academy,{{cite web |title=Desert Springs Christian Academy

|url=https://dscalions.org/ |access-date=December 6, 2023}}

Las Cruces Catholic Schools,{{cite web|url=https://lccsonline.org/ |title=Las Cruces Catholic Schools |publisher=Las Cruces Catholic Schools |access-date=November 12, 2010}}

Mesilla Valley Christian School, and a small independent Baptist school called Cornerstone Christian Academy{{Cite web |title=Cornerstone Baptist Church {{!}} Las Cruces, NM |url=https://www.cornerstn.org/cornerstone-christian-academy |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.cornerstn.org |language=en}} are other Christian schools in the area.

A secular nonprofit private school, Las Cruces Academy offers kindergarten through grade eight, with plans to eventually enroll up to grade 12.

{{cite web

|url= http://www.lascrucesacademy.org

|title= Las Cruces Academy

|access-date= August 1, 2010

|publisher= Las Cruces Academy

}}

{{cite news |first=Todd G. |last=Dickson |title=Couple creating a school for advanced education; Las Cruces Academy to open by August 2009 |work=Las Cruces Bulletin |oclc=53462847 |page=A16 |date=November 21, 2008 }}

File:NMSU Skeen Hall 2008.jpg.]]

New Mexico State University (NMSU) is a land-grant university that has its main campus in Las Cruces.{{cite web| url=http://www.nmsu.edu |title=New Mexico State University |publisher=Nmsu.edu |access-date=November 12, 2010}} The school was founded in 1888 as Las Cruces College, an agricultural college, and in 1889, the school became New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. It received its present name, New Mexico State University, in 1960. The NMSU Las Cruces campus had about 18,500 students enrolled as of fall 2012, and had a faculty-to-student ratio of about one to 19. NMSU offers a wide range of programs, and awards associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through its main campus and four community colleges. For 10 consecutive years, NMSU has been rated as one of America's 100 Best College Buys for offering "the very highest quality education at the lowest cost" by Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc., an independent research and consulting organization for higher education. NMSU is one of only two land-grant institutions classified as Hispanic-serving by the federal government. The university is home to New Mexico's NASA Space Grant Program and is one of 52 institutions in the United States to be designated a Space Grant College. During its most recent review by NASA, NMSU was one of only 12 space grant programs in the country to receive an excellent rating.

File:Burrell College on NMSU's campus (cropped).jpg]]

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM), a private osteopathic medical school, opened on the campus of NMSU in 2013. The first class began instruction in August 2016.

Doña Ana Community College is a branch of New Mexico State University. When it first opened in 1973, it had 500 students in six programs.{{cite web| title=Doña Ana Community College Self-Study February 2008| url=http://lib.nmsu.edu/accreditation/ss/dacc/DACC_SelfStudy2008.pdf| work=University Accreditation| publisher=NMSU Board of Regents| access-date=23 July 2012}} In the 2015–2016 school year, there were 4,997 full-time equivalent credit enrollments and 4,246 non-credit students, served by 136 full-time faculty, 401 part-time instructors, together with 225 full-time staff and 55 part-time staff.{{cite web|url=https://dacc.nmsu.edu/iep/wp-content/uploads/sites/101/2017/08/DACC-2017-Factbook-v1.pdf|title=2017-2018 Factbook|publisher=Doña Ana Community College|access-date=April 5, 2019}}

DACC operates centers in Anthony, Sunland Park, Chaparral, and White Sands Missile Range.{{cite web| title=Doña Ana Community College Organizational Chart January 2011| url=http://dabcc.nmsu.edu/us/DACC-Org-Chart-2011.pdf| access-date=23 July 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731074021/http://dabcc.nmsu.edu/us/DACC-Org-Chart-2011.pdf| archive-date=31 July 2012}} In Las Cruces, its central campus is at 3400 S. Espina Street, and its East Mesa campus is at 2800 Sonoma Ranch Boulevard. Community Education is available at all centers and campuses and also in Las Cruces at the Mesquite Neighborhood Learning Center at 804 N. Tornillo, and Workforce Center at 2345 E. Nevada Street.{{cite web| title=Campuses and Facilities| url=http://dacc.nmsu.edu/us/facilities.shtm/| publisher=Doña Ana Community College| access-date=23 July 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702203518/http://dacc.nmsu.edu/us/facilities.shtm| archive-date=2 July 2012}}

File:Branson Library New Mexico State University Las Cruces.jpg

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is the city's public library. It was constructed in 1979

{{cite book

|last= Harris

|first= Linda G.

|title= One Book at a Time: The History of the Library in New Mexico

|publisher= New Mexico Library Foundation

|location= Albuquerque, NM

|isbn= 978-1-887045-03-2

|oclc= 38324662

|year= 1998

}}

{{Rp|93}}

and has a collection of about 185,000 items.

{{cite report |title=Public Library Statistics Summary File, July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 |url=http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/annualreport/2007-2008publiclibrarystats.xls |format=XLS |access-date=September 5, 2009 |publisher=New Mexico State Library |date=May 15, 2009 }}

The previous library building, also called Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, opened in 1935.{{Rp|68–69}} That building is now the Branigan Cultural Center.{{Rp|8}} and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The two university libraries at the New Mexico State University campus, Branson Library and Zuhl Library, are open to the public. Any New Mexico resident can check out items from these libraries.{{cite web|url=http://lib.nmsu.edu/aboutlib/libfaq.shtml |title=Frequently Asked Questions about the NMSU Library |access-date=May 21, 2008 |publisher=New Mexico State University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812125124/http://lib.nmsu.edu/aboutlib/libfaq.shtml |archive-date=August 12, 2007 }}

Las Cruces is part of the El Paso – Las Cruces Designated Market Area (DMA) as defined by Nielsen Media Research. The City of Las Cruces operates CLC-TV cable channel 20, an Emmy award-winning 24-hour government-access television (GATV) and educational-access television channel on Comcast cable TV in Las Cruces. CLC-TV televises live and recorded Las Cruces city council meetings, Doña Ana County commission meetings, and Las Cruces School board meetings. The channel had previously televised City Beat, a monthly news magazine, hosted by Jennifer Martinez, with information directly related to the City of Las Cruces. The program is no longer available, but segments can still be found on Youtube.com/Clctv20. Also available for viewing are health news and other government/education related programming, as well as current weather reports and road and traffic information. CLC-TV is not a public-access television cable TV channel. In addition to a 2009 Emmy Award by the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, CLC-TV received a first- and third-place award by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors and five national Telly Awards, four platinum and one gold.

File:Branigan Library Las Cruces (cropped).jpg]]

Las Cruces Sun-News is a daily newspaper published in Las Cruces by Digital First Media. Las Cruces Bulletin is a weekly community newspaper published in Las Cruces by FIG Publications, LLC. It is tabloid size and covers local news, business, arts, sports, and homes. The Round Up is the student newspaper at NMSU. It is tabloid size and published twice weekly. The Ink is a monthly tabloid published in Las Cruces, covering the arts and community events in southern New Mexico and West Texas.

Las Cruces has one television station, the PBS outlet KRWG-TV, operated by NMSU. The Telemundo outlet KTDO is licensed in Las Cruces, but serves El Paso. The city also receives several Albuquerque, El Paso, and Ciudad Juárez stations. Las Cruces is in Nielsen Media Research's El Paso/Las Cruces television media market.

Las Cruces has one local commercial independent cable television station called "The Las Cruces Channel" (LCC98). It can be seen on Comcast cable channel 98. LCC-98 is not a public-access television channel. The channel airs programs that are produced locally in their studio facility and by outside producers.

About 10 commercial radio stations broadcast in the Las Cruces area, running a variety of formats. Four of these stations are owned by Adams Radio Group and four are owned by Bravo Mic Communications, LLC, a Las Cruces company. The local NPR outlet is KRWG-FM, operated by NMSU, which also operates a college radio station, KRUX. KRUC is a Spanish-language station in Las Cruces. Many El Paso stations are received in Las Cruces. See list of radio stations in New Mexico for a complete list of stations. Las Cruces is in Arbitron's Las Cruces media market.

File:SC20130719-235817.jpeg]]

• Las Cruces International Airport has had no regularly scheduled commercial passenger flights since July 25, 2005, when Westward Airways ceased operations. General aviation, New Mexico Army National Guard (4 UH-72 Lakota Helicopters), private charters, and the Civil Air Patrol use the airport, among others.
• El Paso International Airport is the nearest airport with regularly scheduled commercial flights.

• Interstate 10, east–west travel: south-southeast to El Paso, Texas; west to Tucson, Arizona
• Interstate 25, north–south travel: north to Albuquerque, Las Cruces is the southern terminus for Interstate 25, where it intersects Interstate 10.
• U.S. Route 70, east–west travel: northeast to Alamogordo, to the west it is merged with Interstate 10.
• U.S. Route 85 (unsigned; follows I-25 north to Albuquerque and I-10/US-180 east to El Paso)
• U.S. Route 180

File:Las Cruces New Mexico Railroad Museum (cropped).jpg

Las Cruces is served by the BNSF Railway' El Paso Subdivision, which provides freight service and extends from Belen, New Mexico to El Paso, Texas. Passenger service on this line was discontinued in 1968, due to low ridership numbers on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway's (predecessor to the BNSF) El Pasoan train.

The city operates a small transit authority known as RoadRUNNER Transit. It operates a total of eight routes, and two Aggie routes running Mondays through Saturdays.{{Cite web|url=http://www.las-cruces.org/en/departments/quality-of-life/transit/schedulesfares|title=Road Runner Maps and Schedule|website=las-cruces.org|access-date=April 5, 2019}}

NMDOT Park and Ride's Gold Route connects Las Cruces to El Paso on Monday through Friday during commute hours. The Silver Route connects Las Cruces to White Sands Missile Range.

South Central Regional Transit District's Green Line connects Las Cruces to Hatch, and the Red Line connects Las Cruces to Anthony.{{cite web | url=https://scrtd.org/routesschedules/ | title=Routes/Schedules }}

Ztrans connects Las Cruces with Alamogordo.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ztrans.org/-Home|title=Zia Therapy Center Inc > Home}}

Greyhound buses departing Las Cruces serve El Paso, Amarillo, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles, and San Diego.{{Cite web|title=Greyhound System Timetable |access-date=2015-05-08 |url=http://extranet.greyhound.com/Revsup/schedules/pageset.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227103405/http://extranet.greyhound.com/revsup/schedules/pageset.html |archive-date=2014-12-27 }}

File:FortSeldenStateMonumentEntrance.jpg]]

The City of Las Cruces provides water, sewer, natural gas, and solid-waste services, including recycling centers.{{cite web|title=Las Cruces Utilities|url=http://www.las-cruces.org/departments/utilities.aspx|work=Departments|publisher=City of Las Cruces|access-date=24 July 2012}} El Paso Electric is the electricity provider, CenturyLink is the telephone land line provider, and Comcast is the cable TV provider.

Memorial Medical Center is a for-profit general hospital operated by LifePoint Hospitals Inc. The physical plant is owned by the City of Las Cruces and the County of Doña Ana, which signed a 40-year, $150 million lease in 2004 with Province HealthCare, since absorbed into LifePoint.

{{cite news

| first = Christopher

| last = Schurtz

| title = MMC holding annual open meeting

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = June 12, 2005

| page = 1C

}}

{{cite news

| first = Steve

| last = Ramirez

| title = Province merger a done deal

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = April 16, 2006

| page = 1A

}}

Prior to 2004, it was leased to and operated by the nonprofit Memorial Medical Center Inc.

{{cite news

| first = Christopher

| last = Schurtz

| title = Hospital deal with MMCI to end

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = May 13, 2004

| page = 1A

}}

{{cite news

| first = Christopher

| last = Schurtz

| title = County, city end MMCI lease

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = May 14, 2004

| page = 1A

}}

The hospital is a licensed, 286-bed, acute care facility and is accredited by JCAHO. It offers a wide range of patient services.

{{cite news

| first = Steve

| last = Ramirez

| title = Hospital's ER set to get bigger

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = June 16, 2005

| page = 1A

}}

The University of New Mexico Cancer Center-South opened in 2006 on the MMC campus. It is {{convert|5300|sqft|m2}} and has 9 examination rooms.

{{cite news

| title = Cancer center opens in Las Cruces

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = December 4, 2006

}}

The original facility was called Memorial General Hospital and was opened in April 1950 at South Alameda Boulevard and Lohman Avenue after the city obtained a $250,000 federal grant. In 1971, the city and county joined to build a new hospital on South Telshor Boulevard. In 1990, it was renamed Memorial Medical Center.

{{cite conference

| first = Martha

| last = Dooley

| year = 1999

| title = Healthy Growth: Memorial Medical Center has grown to keep up with Las Cruces' population and technological advances

| book-title = Celebrating 150 years of Las Cruces history

| publisher = Las Cruces Sun-News

| location = Las Cruces, New Mexico

| pages = 129

| oclc = 50154273

}}

MountainView Regional Medical Center is a for-profit general hospital operated by Community Health Systems (formerly Triad Hospitals). It opened for business in August 2002. It is a 168-bed facility with a wide range of patient services.

{{cite news

| first = Christopher

| last = Schurtz

| title = Hospitals cooperating, but poised to begin competing

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = February 8, 2005

| page = 1A

}}

Mesilla Valley Hospital is a 125-bed, private, psychiatric hospital operated by Universal Health Services. It is an acute inpatient and residential facility offering a variety of treatments for behavioral health issues.

{{cite web

|url = http://www.uhsinc.com/facilities/find-a-location/?lt=88005&d=15

|title = Mesilla Valley Hospital

|access-date = January 21, 2015

|publisher = Universal Health Services

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20150121145904/http://www.uhsinc.com/facilities/find-a-location/?lt=88005&d=15

|archive-date = January 21, 2015

}}

Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico is a 40-bed, rehabilitative-care hospital, operated by Ernest Health Inc. It opened January 2005. It treats patients after they have been cared for at general hospitals for injuries or strokes.{{Cite web|url=http://rhsnm.ernesthealth.com/gallery-item/rehabilitation-hospital-of-southern-new-mexico/|title=Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico | RHSNM}}

{{cite news

| first = Brook

| last = Stockberger

| title = Profile: Profile: Rehab facility manager likes making a difference

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = February 15, 2008

}}

Advanced Care Hospital of Southern New Mexico is a 20-bed, long-term, acute care facility operated by Ernest Health Inc. It opened in July 2007.

{{cite news

| first = Brook

| last = Stockberger

| title = Profile: Quillen helps bring health care to East Mesa

| work = Las Cruces Sun-News

| date = August 1, 2008

}}

File:Frank Borman.jpg]]

File:Buck Pierce.jpg]]

File:Delano lewis.JPG]]

• Richard Artschwager, painter and sculptor, grew up in Las Cruces.
• Anwar al-Awlaki, alleged Al-Qaeda spokesman and regional leader, was born in Las Cruces; he was killed by the U.S. government in 2011 for his alleged propaganda on behalf of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
• Luis Barraza, soccer player{{Cite web |title=Luis Barraza |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/luis-barraza/ |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}
• Barnard Elliott Bee, Jr., a career U.S. Army officer and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War, spent six years in Las Cruces prior to the war.
• Rich Beem, a professional golfer who played high school and college golf at Las Cruces High School and NMSU, was the winner of the 2002 PGA Championship.
• Joseph Benavidez, Mexican-American mixed martial arts fighter
• Baxter Black, cowboy, poet, philosopher, former large-animal veterinarian, and radio commentator, grew up in Las Cruces and attended NMSU.
• Frank Borman, NASA astronaut and engineer, had a home and auto dealership in Las Cruces. He is known for Gemini VII, a nearly 14-day, low-Earth-orbital mission (1965) and Apollo 8, the first humans to leave low-Earth orbit, reach and orbit the Moon, and return safely (1968).
• William Bowers, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, was born in Las Cruces.
• Randy Brown, professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls while winning three NBA titles during 1996–98, had previously played at NMSU.
• Pamela Burford, novelist, was born in Las Cruces.
• Edgar Castillo, soccer player who represented the Mexico and United States national teams{{Cite web |title=Edgar Castillo |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/edgar-castillo/ |access-date=March 24, 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}
• Denise Chávez, author, playwright, and stage director
• Steve Colter, a professional basketball player in the NBA, played at NMSU.
• John A.D. Cooper, physician and educator, and first president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, grew up in Las Cruces.
• Sharon Douglas, actress, attended Las Cruces Union High School.
• Doug Eddings, Major League Baseball umpire, lives in Las Cruces.
• Albert Fall, U.S. senator from New Mexico and U.S. Secretary of the Interior
• Richard Farrer, South African–American soccer player, grew up in Las Cruces.
• Albert Jennings Fountain, a lawyer, Indian fighter, and Republican politician in Texas and New Mexico, whose disappearance remains a mystery
• Chuck Franco, first gentleman of New Mexico
• Pat Garrett, Old West lawman who killed Billy the Kid
• Mimi Reisel Gladstein, professor of English and Theatre Arts at the University of Texas at El Paso, is a specialist on authors Ayn Rand and John Steinbeck.
• Lou Henson, basketball coach, led NMSU and University of Illinois teams to the Final Four.
• Po James, a running back who played four seasons for NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, played collegiately at NMSU.
• Albert Johnson, first black mayor in New Mexico{{Cite news |date=September 2, 1976 |title=First black mayor |page=53 |work=Albuquerque Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56795016/albuquerque-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200807194541/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56795016/albuquerque-journal/ |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 21, 2020 }}
• Charley Johnson, NFL quarterback, professor of chemical engineering at his alma mater, NNMSU, resides in Las Cruces.
• Freddy Juarez, American soccer coach and former player.
• Paul Wilbur Klipsch, engineer and high-fidelity audio pioneer, is known for developing the high-efficiency, folded-horn loudspeaker; he graduated from NMSU.
• Timothy Kraft, a political consultant and the 1980 campaign manager for Jimmy Carter, retired in Las Cruces.
• Kiki Lara, soccer player, was born in Las Cruces/
• Delano Lewis, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and president and CEO of National Public Radio, resided in Las Cruces.
• Kerry Locklin, football coach, was most recently defensive line coach for NFL's New York Jets.
• Mireille Marokvia, a French writer best known for two books about her ordeals during World War II in Nazi Germany, lived in Las Cruces later in life until her death in 2008.
• Mark Medoff, Tony Award-winning playwright of Children of a Lesser God
• Rose Marie Pangborn, scientist and pioneer in the sensory analysis of food, was born in Las Cruces.
• J. R. Patton, racing driver, was born in Las Cruces.
• Bertha M. Paxton was the first woman elected to the New Mexico Legislature.{{cite book | last1 = Eisenstadt | first1 = Pauline | last2 = Belshaw | first2 = Jim | title = A Woman in Both Houses: My Career in New Mexico Politics | publisher = University of New Mexico Press | date = 2012 | isbn = 9780826350244 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mnuHrGKSqQgC&pg=PP1}}
• Lenny Pickett, the saxophonist and musical director of the Saturday Night Live band, was born in Las Cruces.
• Buck Pierce, professional Canadian football quarterback who played for NNSU, lives in Las Cruces during the off-season.
• Bashir Ramzy, a long jumper in track and field, won a bronze medal in the 2007 Pan American Games; he was born in Las Cruces.
• Patricia Ryan, writer of romance, mystery and erotic novels, was born in Las Cruces.
• Mai Shanley, Miss USA 1984
• Tom Smith, playwright and director, teaches at NMSU, and resides in Las Cruces.
• Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer who discovered Pluto, lived in Las Cruces until his death in 1997.
• Xochitl Torres Small, congressional representative from New Mexico and United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
• Austin Trout, a former WBA light-middleweight champion of the world, was born in and fights from Las Cruces.
• Prentiss Walker, member of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi, lived part of his childhood in Las Cruces.
• Cora Witherspoon, stage and screen character actress, was a Las Cruces resident along with her sister, Maud Witherspoon.
• Fredd Young, four-time Pro Bowl football player for the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts, played for NMSU, and lives in Las Cruces.

• Las Cruces Police Department

{{SisterCities|Las Cruces|two}}

• {{flagdeco|Mexico}} Ciudad Lerdo, Durango, Mexico
• {{flagdeco|Germany}} Nienburg, Lower Saxony, Germany

Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation{{cite web |url=https://lascrucessistercitiesfoundation.wildapricot.org/ |title=Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation |date=September 14, 2019 |access-date=September 14, 2019 }} is responsible for overseeing sister cities activities on behalf of the citizens of Las Cruces. The Foundation was created in 1989 to officially recognize a relationship that began in 1982 with exchanges between Doña Ana Community College and the Centro de Bachilleratio Technológico Industrial y de Servicios Numero 4 of Lerdo, Durango, Mexico. In 1993, a second partnership was established with Nienburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, which grew from a school exchange between Mayfield High School and {{ill|Albert Schweitzer School (Nienburg)|de|Albert-Schweitzer-Schule (Nienburg)|lt=Albert Schweitzer School}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Las Cruces}}

• [http://www.las-cruces.org/ City of Las Cruces official website]
• [http://www.lascrucescvb.org/ Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Las Cruces

|North = Doña Ana

|Northeast = Alamogordo

|East = Organ

|Southeast = El Paso, Texas

|South = University Park

|Southwest = Mesilla

|West = Deming

|Northwest = Hatch

}}

{{Doña Ana County, New Mexico}}

{{New Mexico}}

{{New Mexico county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Doña Ana County, New Mexico

Category:County seats in New Mexico

Category:New Mexico populated places on the Rio Grande

Category:Cities in New Mexico