Editing White Rock, New Mexico (section)

== History ==
In 1947 the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission]] acquired about 100 acres from the [[United States Forest Service]] to build a [[company town]] to house construction and other contractors’ workers who did not qualify to reside within the secured city of Los Alamos. The town was erected quickly from early 1949, with the intent to provide accommodation for up to 1800 residents by mid-September of that year. This was accomplished with standard building designs, many [[prefabrication|prefabricated]], and included dormitories for 912 men and 32 women, 64 single-, 297 double- and 48 three-bedroom houses, all as rental properties, as well as provision for 217 mobile homes. A school, shopping center, post office and administration building were also included.<ref>Lyon, F. and Evans,J., editors ''Los Alamos: The First Forty Years'' (extract from ''Los Alamos Skyliner'', June 16, 1949), Los Alamos Historical Society, 1984, ISBN 0-941232-06-9</ref>

By June 1950 the population was estimated 1000 to 1200 persons, including 325 families,<ref>Lyon, F. and Evans,J., editors ''Los Alamos: The First Forty Years'' (extract from ''Los Alamos News'', June 30, 1950), Los Alamos Historical Society, 1984, ISBN 0-941232-06-9</ref> but from 1952 steadily dropped with the decline in major construction projects. By 1953, 251 of the prefab dwelling units had been declared surplus and disposed of, and by 1957 only 9 houses and 20 mobile home spaces were rented. The town was officially closed on September 30, and the remaining structures disposed of by the end of that year.<ref>Lyon, F. and Evans,J., editors ''Los Alamos: The First Forty Years'' (extract from ''Albuquerque Journal'', June 6, 1957), Los Alamos Historical Society, 1984, ISBN 0-941232-06-9</ref>

In early 1960 the site was offered as a housing development site to interested developers, for up to 200 houses, with purchase priority being given to people connected to [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|LASL]].<ref>Lyon, F. and Evans,J., editors ''Los Alamos: The First Forty Years'' (extract from ''Santa Fe New Mexican'', December 1, 1959), Los Alamos Historical Society, 1984, ISBN 0-941232-06-9</ref> Work on the second and present White Rock was begun in 1962.