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Introduction Las Cruces is located 45 miles from the Mexican border and 40 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas. To the east of Las Cruces lies the Organ Mountains and to the west lies Rio Grande. Spanish for “City of Crosses” Las Cruces is located in the heart of the fertile Mesilla Valley. It has a wonderful mix of forests, river valley, and vast desert. It is a county seat of Dona Ana and lies near White Sands Missile Range, where the first atomic bomb was tested. Since the end of the nineteenth century, the city has been the political, social, and business hub for southern New Mexico. The Forbes/Milken Institute named Las Cruces among the top three small metro areas for business and careers in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Las Cruces enjoys a wonderful climate with 350 days of annual sunshine and less than 9 inches of average annual rainfall, which happens mostly at night, and only 3.2 inches of snowfall. It does not suffer of water problems like other southwester cities because of its unique location over a natural underground aquifer. Also, unlike many desert cities, Las Cruces experiences four mildly distinct seasons. Winter is at its peak during December and January, when the average daytime temperature is 57 degrees. Light snow does fall in the winter but seldom lasts longer than one day. June is generally the hottest month, with an average temperature of 94 degrees. Monsoon experiences heavy thunderstorms.
Area: 52.22 square miles (2000)
Elevation: 3,909 feet above sea level
Latitude: 32.32 N
Longitude: 106.77 W
Average Temperatures: January, 41.5° F; June, 77.4° F; annual average, 64.0° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 8.5 inches of rain, 3.2 inches of snow
Population: 82,671 as on 2005
Attractions:The most popular attraction in Las Cruces is the monument and white crosses which mark the graves of the travelers from Taos who were ambushed and killed by Apaches in 1830, and for which the city is purported to be named.
Other places of attractions are:
* Sands National Monument
* Stahmann Farms
* San Albino Church in old Mesilla
* Fort Seldon State Monument
* Historical Museum of Lawmen
Festivals: * The Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally in January
* The La Vina Blues and JazzThing in April
* Trinity Site Tour in White Sands Missile Range in April
* Border Book Festival in April
* The annual Frontier Days at Fort Seldon in April
* Fiesta de San Ysidro in May
* Diez y Seis de Septiembre commemorates Mexican Independence day
* Southern New Mexico State Fair
* Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead