Editing Las Cruces, New Mexico (section)

==Geography==
[[File:LasCruces NewMexico ISS011-E-8410.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite view of Las Cruces]]
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.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

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.<ref name=gilacliff >{{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.}}</ref> Its major eruption was 32&nbsp;[[Megaannum#SI prefix multipliers|Ma]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name=":3">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="gu-2021-01-12">{{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}}</ref> [[Drought]] conditions,<ref name="latimes.com">{{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}}</ref> exacerbated by climate change, mean that the Rio Grande experiences increasingly short or small flows.<ref name="gu-2021-01-12"/>
[[File:San Andres Mountains east Las Cruces (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|View of the [[San Andres Mountains]]]]
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 [[Arroyo (watercourse)|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.

===Cityscape===
[[File:LasCrucesNM WellsFargoTower.jpg|right|thumb|[[Wells Fargo Tower (Las Cruces)|Wells Fargo Tower]] 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.<ref name=":4">{{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}}</ref> 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 [[comprehensive planning|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 [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]]. The area features trails through restored wetlands, and serves as a major refuge for [[migratory bird]]s and a key recreational area for the city.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Jardin de Mesquite Las Cruces New Mexico.jpg|thumb|left|Jardín de Mesquite]]
Las Cruces has a [[cool desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|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|thumb|right|[[Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park]]]]
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<ref name = 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
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{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
}}
</ref>
}}