Editing Las Cruces, New Mexico

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Las Cruces
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in New Mexico|City]]
| nickname           = The City of the Crosses
| motto              = Mountains of Opportunity
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| align             = center
| border            = infobox
| perrow            = 1/2/2
| total_width       = 280
| caption_align     = center
| image1 = Las Cruces (cropped).jpg
| caption1 = Las Cruces with the [[Organ Mountains]] in the background
| image2 = Foster Hall NMSU.jpg
| caption2 = [[New Mexico State University]]
| image3 = Las Cruces NM - street scenery (cropped).jpg
| caption3 = Las Cruces Street
| image4 = Rio Grande Theatre Las Cruces New Mexico.jpg
| caption4 = [[Rio Grande Theatre]]
| image5 = Las Cruces - Our Lady of Health church - 2 (cropped).jpg
| caption5 = Our Lady of Health Church
}}
| image_flag         = Flag_of_Las_Cruces,_New_Mexico.svg
| image_seal         = Blue City Logo - Primary.svg
| image_map          = File:Dona Ana County New Mexico Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Las Cruces Highlighted.svg
| pushpin_map        = New Mexico#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within New Mexico##Location within the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_label      = Las Cruces
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Las Cruces within Doña Ana County and New Mexico
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in New Mexico|County]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|New Mexico}}
| subdivision_name2  = [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana]]
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Eric Enriquez
| leader_title1      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name1       = Cassie McClure, Bill Mattice, Becki Graham, Johana Bencomo, Becky Corran, Yvonne Flores
| leader_title2      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name2       = Ikani Taumoepeau
| leader_title3      = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name3       = Christine Rivera
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1849
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = 1907<ref name="Harris History">{{cite book | last = Harris | first = Linda G. | title = Las Cruces: An Illustrated History | publisher = Arroyo Press | location = Las Cruces | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-9623682-5-3 }}</ref>{{Rp|135}}
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='35'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 199.51
| area_land_km2      = 199.26
| area_water_km2     = 0.25
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total   = 111385
| population_metro   = 217,552 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|202th]])
| population_density_sq_mi = 1447.82
| population_density_km2 = 559.00
| timezone           = [[Mountain Standard Time|Mountain]]
| population_demonym = Las Crucen
| utc_offset         = −07:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Daylight saving time|DST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −06:00
| coordinates        = {{coord|32|18|52|N|106|46|44|W|region:US-NM|display=it}}
| elevation_ft       = 3901
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 77.03
| area_land_sq_mi    = 76.93
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.10
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 88001, 88003-88007, 88011-88013
| area_code          = [[Area code 575|575]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 35-39380
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2411629<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411629}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.lascruces.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Las Cruces''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɑ:|s|ˈ|k|r|u:|s|ɪ|s}}; {{IPA|es|las 'kruses|lang}}; lit. 'the crosses') is the [[List of municipalities in New Mexico|second-most populous city]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Mexico]] and the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana County]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 111,385,<ref name="CensusQuickFacts">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Las Cruces city, New Mexico|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lascrucescitynewmexico/PST045219|access-date=2021-09-26|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref> making Las Cruces the most populous city in both Doña Ana County and southern New Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid%3DDEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13%26prodType%3Dtable |title=American FactFinder |access-date=2011-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721034521/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table |archive-date=2011-07-21 }}</ref> The Las Cruces metropolitan area had an estimated population of 213,849 in 2017.<ref name="Metro 2014">{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|title=ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder|access-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214010714/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the principal city of the Las Cruces metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Doña Ana County. The city is also part of the [[El Paso–Las Cruces combined statistical area]], a larger trading and marketing region. The combined statistical area has a population of 1,088,420, making it the 56th-largest in the United States.

Las Cruces is the economic and geographic center of the [[Mesilla Valley]], the agricultural region on the floodplain of the [[Rio Grande]], which extends from [[Hatch, New Mexico|Hatch]] to the west side of [[El Paso, Texas]]. Las Cruces is the home of [[New Mexico State University]] (NMSU), New Mexico's only [[land-grant university]]. The city's major employer is the federal government on nearby [[White Sands Test Facility]] and [[White Sands Missile Range]]. The [[Organ Mountains]], {{convert|10|mi|0}} to the east, are dominant in the city's landscape, along with the [[Doña Ana Mountains]], [[Robledo Mountains]], and Picacho Peak. Las Cruces lies {{convert|225|mi|abbr=on}} south of Albuquerque, {{convert|42|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of El Paso, Texas, and {{convert|41|mi|abbr=on}} north of the [[Mexico–United States border|Mexican border]] at [[Sunland Park, New Mexico|Sunland Park]].

[[Spaceport America]], which has corporate offices in Las Cruces, operates from {{convert|55|mi|abbr=on}} to the north; it has completed several successful crewed, suborbital flights. The city is also the headquarters for [[Virgin Galactic]], the world's first company to offer [[suborbital spaceflight]]s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.virgingalactic.com/|title=Virgin Galactic|website=www.virgingalactic.com}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:St. Genevieve Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico, dedicated on October 15, 1887.jpg|thumb|left|St. Genevieve Church in 1887]]
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.<ref name="Harris History" />{{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''".<ref name=":1">{{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&ndash;11.</ref>

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.<ref name="Harris History" />{{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.<ref name="Harris History" />{{Rp|58}} The first train reached Las Cruces in 1881.<ref name="Harris History" />{{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.<ref name="Harris History" />{{Rp|135}}<ref name="Harris History" />{{Rp|63}}
[[File:The land of sunshine; a handbook of the resources, products, industries and climate of New Mexico (1904) (14800304523).jpg|thumb|left|[[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana County]] 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.<ref name="Harris History" />{{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|thumb|left|[[Goddard Hall (New Mexico State University)|Goddard Hall]] 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.<ref name="Harris History" />{{Rp|115}} As part of this, St. [[Genevieve]]'s Catholic Church, built in 1859, was razed to make way for a downtown [[pedestrian mall]].<ref name="Harris History" />{{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.

==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>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Las Cruces - Our Lady of Health church - 5.jpg|thumb|right|[[Spanish Colonial Revival]] 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]<br /> 2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop 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}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{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}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Las Cruces, New Mexico – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Las Cruces city, New Mexico|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US3539380|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Las Cruces city, New Mexico|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3539380&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Las Cruces city, New Mexico|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3539380&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!%2000
!%2010
!{{partial|%2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|31,208
|36,577
|style='background: #ffffe6; |35,672
|42.02%
|37.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32.03%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,486
|1,915
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,392
|2.00%
|1.96%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.15%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|697
|861
|style='background: #ffffe6; |983
|0.94%
|0.88%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.88%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|816
|1,421
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,957
|1.10%
|1.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.76%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|34
|77
|style='background: #ffffe6; |76
|0.05%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|497
|136
|style='background: #ffffe6; |472
|0.67%
|0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.42%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed or multiracial]] (NH)
|1,108
|1,188
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,629
|1.49%
|1.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.36%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|38,421
|55,443
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67,204
|51.73%
|56.80%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60.33%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''74,267'''
|'''97,618'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''111,385'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

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 whites|non-Hispanic White]], 2.8% [[African Americans|African American]] or Black, 1.4% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.8% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], <!-- 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, -->and  2.9% from two or more races: 60.5% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|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%.<ref name="CensusQuickFacts" />

=== Census 2010 data ===
As of the 2010, census Las Cruces had a population of 97,618.<ref name="Census 2010">{{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}}</ref> The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was:<ref>[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</ref>
* 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 in the United States|Native Americans]]
* 1.6% [[Asian people|Asian]]
* 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
* 3.5% Two or more races

===Census 2000 data===
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 (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 21.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 51.7% of the population.

[[File:LasCrucesNM EastMesa (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Development in East Mesa]]
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.

==Economy==
[[File:Foster Hall New Mexico State University Las Cruces (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[New Mexico State University]]]]
Major employers in Las Cruces include New Mexico State University, [[Las Cruces Public Schools]], the City of Las Cruces, [[LifePoint Hospitals|Memorial Medical Center]], [[Walmart]], [[Community Health Systems|MountainView Regional Medical Center]], [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana County]], [[Doña Ana Community College]], Addus HealthCare, and [[National Aeronautics and Space Agency|NASA]].

===Film and television shoots===
Movies and TV series shot in Las Cruces include:
* The 2018 film, ''[[The Mule (2018 film)|The Mule]]'', written, produced, directed by, and starring [[Clint Eastwood]], filmed for six days in and around Las Cruces.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* The 1964 pilot, ''Calhoun: County Agent'', starring [[Jackie Cooper]] and [[Barbara Stanwyck]], was filmed in and around Las Cruces, but never aired.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q127788400|title=Calhoun: County Agent}}</ref> The process of writing and shooting the pilot is the subject of [[Merle Miller]] and Evan Rhodes's book ''Only You, Dick Daring!''<ref>
{{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 }}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
Most of Las Cruces's cultural events are held late in the calendar year.<ref>{{cite web| title=Area Events| url=http://lascrucesmagazine.com/html/resources/rec_events.php| publisher=Real View Publishing| access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Gallery===
<gallery class="center" widths="180px">
 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
</gallery>

===Festivals and events===
====Current Festivals====
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|- 
! Festival name
! Location
! Description
! Time 
|- 
| Cowboy Days || [[New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum|Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum]] || Children's activities, cowboy food and music, mounted shooting, horseback and stagecoach rides, living history, gunfight re-enactments, and more<ref name="Events and Festivals in Las Cruces - 2014">{{cite web| title=Events and Festivals in Las Cruces - 2014| url=http://www.meetlascruces.com/Las-Cruces-Events-and-Festivals.html| publisher=MeetLasCruces.com| access-date=3 March 2014}}</ref> || Early March
|-
| Las Cruces Game Convention / CrucesCon || Las Cruces Convention Center || An annual event, gamers compete in high-level tournaments and play free games. The LCGC is a nonprofit event with 100% of the proceeds going towards the community, equipment, and future events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_22971611/gamers-dress-favorite-characters-game-convention|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428053202/http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_22971611/gamers-dress-favorite-characters-game-convention|url-status=dead|title=Las Cruces Game Convention 2013 - Las Cruces Sun-News Report|archivedate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> || March
|-
| [[Cinco de Mayo]] Celebration || [[Mesilla, New Mexico|Mesilla]] || Celebration of Mexican heritage and pride with arts, crafts, food vendors, and Mexican music<ref name="Cinco de Mayo Mesilla">{{cite web| title=Cinco de Mayo Mesilla| url=http://www.mesilla.com/cinco-de-mayo| access-date=4 May 2014}}</ref> || May 3–4
|-
| Southern New Mexico Wine Festival || Fairgrounds || Exclusively features New Mexico wines, local foods, live music, and the University of Wine for food and wine pairings<ref name="Southern NM Wine Festival">{{cite web| title=Southern New Mexico Wine Festival| url=http://www.snmwinefestival.com/| publisher=Southern New Mexico Wine Festival| access-date=26 May 2014}}</ref> || Memorial Day weekend
|-
| [[4th of July]] Electric Light Parade, Celebration and Fireworks || Field of Dreams Football Stadium || Parade and fireworks display celebrating Independence Day<ref name="4th of July Celebrations">{{cite web| title=4th of July Celebrations| url=http://www.lascrucescvb.org/annual-events/| publisher=Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau| access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> || July 3 and 4
|-
| Harvest Wine Festival || Fairgrounds || Features wines from New Mexico wineries, a grape-stomping contest, several concerts throughout the weekend, food from several local vendors, and related shopping<ref>{{cite web| title=Harvest Wine Festival| url=https://nmwine.com/lascruces-harvest-wine-fest/| publisher=Helping Hands Event Planning| access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref> ||  [[Labor Day]] weekend
|-
| Southern New Mexico State Fair || Fairgrounds ||  Promoting traditional [[agriculture]], the fair boasts one of the largest junior livestock shows in the state; the fair also invites youth from six counties in New Mexico and [[West Texas]] to participate.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo| url = http://www.snmstatefairgrounds.net| website = www.snmstatefairgrounds.net| access-date = 2015-10-28}}</ref> || First week of October
|-
| [[Pumpkin]] Harvest Festival || Lyles Farms || Features live music and the Tour de Maze (an adults only [[tricycle]] race), as well as Pumpkin Pie and a Goblin Egg Gourd Hunt <ref name="Pumpkin Harvest Festival">{{cite web| title=Pumpkin Harvest Festival| url=http://www.mesillavalleycornmaze.com/| publisher=Mesilla Valley Corn Maze| access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref> || Month of October
|- 
| Day of the Walking Dead || [[Mesilla Valley Mall]] || [[Zombie]]s walk around the mall.<ref>{{cite news| last=Moore| first=S. Derrickson| title=Beyond trick-or-treat: Lurch on out for Halloween fun| url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/mylascruces/ci_19177954| access-date=February 28, 2014| newspaper=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]]| date=November 1, 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304150230/http://www.lcsun-news.com/mylascruces/ci_19177954| archive-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> || [[Halloween]]
|-
| Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) || Plaza in Mesilla, and Branigan Cultural Center || Originating in [[Mexico]], this celebration of the lives of those now dead hasa focus on Mexican heritage. It is put on by the Calavera Coalition, a nonprofit organization.<ref name="Day of the Dead">{{cite web| title=Day of the Dead| url=http://www.mesillanm.gov/tourism/events/day-of-the-dead.html| publisher=Town of Mesilla| access-date=1 November 2014}}</ref> || November 1–2
|-
| Renaissance ArtsFaire || [[Young Park (Las Cruces, New Mexico)|Young Park]] || Founded in 1971, it includes a juried art show and is put on by the Doña Ana Arts Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance-artsfaire-at-young-park-nov-3-4/ |title=Renaissance ArtsFaire at Young Park, Nov. 1 & 2, 2014 |access-date=February 18, 2014 |publisher=Doña Ana Arts Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226044702/http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance-artsfaire-at-young-park-nov-3-4/ |archive-date=February 26, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance_artsfaire.html |title=Renaissance ArtsFaire November 1st and 2nd, 2008 |access-date=February 18, 2014 |publisher=Doña Ana Arts Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104072140/http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance_artsfaire.html |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/events/renaissance-artsfaire-artists/ |title=Renaissance Artsfaire Artists |access-date=February 18, 2014 |publisher=Doña Ana Arts Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226041038/http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/events/renaissance-artsfaire-artists/ |archive-date=February 26, 2014 }}</ref> || November 
|-
| Lighting of the Mesilla Plaza || Historic plaza of Mesilla || Every Christmas Eve, the historic plaza of Mesilla is lined with thousands of [[luminaria]]s, which are brown bags containing candles and weighted with sand. The evening consistently attracts locals and tourists.<ref>{{cite news| last=Ramirez| first=Steve| title=With luminarias lighting the way, Christmas spirit is full on the Mesilla Plaza| url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_24790271/luminarias-lighting-way-christmas-spirit-is-full-mesilla| access-date=February 28, 2014| newspaper=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]]| date=December 24, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304164454/http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_24790271/luminarias-lighting-way-christmas-spirit-is-full-mesilla| archive-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> || Christmas Eve
|-
|Las Cruces Chile Drop
|Plaza de Las Cruces
|Since 2014, a vibrant 19-foot [[New Mexico chile]], adorned with 400 feet of [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] lighting, has marked the arrival of the new year, as it descends from a crane in the plaza in downtown Las Cruces. This unique celebration has become an annual tradition, accompanied by live music, a'' piñata'', and carnival games. In 2021, the event introduced an interactive element, allowing attendees to vote on the chile's color through a [[QR code]] scan.<ref name=":0" /> The event achieved national recognition in 2023, ranking third on ''[[USA Today]]'s'' list of Best New Year's Eve Drops.<ref name=":1" /> Additionally, in the same year, it garnered significant attention with a live broadcast on CNN, attracted over 5,000 participants, and received a visit from Congressman [[Gabe Vasquez]] and Mayor [[Eric Enriquez]].<ref name=":4" />
|[[New Year's Eve]]
|-
|
|}

====Past festivals====

{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|- 
! Festival name
! Location
! Description
! Time 
|-
| Border Book Festival || [[Mesilla, New Mexico|Mesilla]] || Once it featured a trade show, readings, film festival, workshops led by local artists and writers, and discussion panels, but ended its 20-year run in April 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/554847/border-book-festival-in-new-mexico-to-end-after-2-decades.html|title='Border Book Festival' in New Mexico to end after 2 decades|agency=Associated Press|website=www.abqjournal.com|date=13 March 2015}}</ref> The festival was founded in 1994 by authors [[Denise Chávez]] and Susan Tweit; Chávez was the executive director of the festival.<ref>{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Border Book Festival: Celebration sharpens focus, goals in 14th year |work=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]] |issn=1081-2172 |date=April 11, 2008 }}</ref> || April
|- 
| The Whole Enchilada Fiesta || 1501 E. Hadley Ave. || It attracted roughly 50,000 attendees each year. The centerpiece was the making of a large, flat [[enchilada]]. The fiesta started in 1980 with a {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=mid|-diameter}} enchilada, and it grew over the years. In 2000, the fiesta's {{convert|10+1/2|ft|m|adj=mid|-diameter}} enchilada was certified by [[Guinness World Records]] as the world's largest. After the enchilada was assembled, it was cut into many pieces and distributed free of charge to the fiesta attendees. The enchilada was the brainchild of local restaurant owner Roberto V. Estrada, who directed its preparation each year. The celebration also featured a parade, the Whole Enchilada Fiesta Queen competition, a [[Horseshoes (game)|huachas]]<ref>{{cite news| last=Chavez| first=Polly E.| title=Mock horseshoes -- or 'huachas' -- is rooted in Hispanic culture| url=http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-lincoln_county_news/ci_24008475/mock-horseshoes-or-huachas-is-rooted-hispanic-culture?source=rss| access-date=9 February 2014| newspaper=[[Ruidoso News]]| date=3 September 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222215749/http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-lincoln_county_news/ci_24008475/mock-horseshoes-or-huachas-is-rooted-hispanic-culture?source=rss| archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref> tournament, activities for kids, live music, an enchilada eating contest, a 5 kilometer road race, a one-mile race, and a car and motorcycle show.<ref>{{cite web| title=Whole Enchilada Fiesta| url=http://www.enchiladafiesta.com/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626012131/http://www.enchiladafiesta.com/| url-status=dead| archive-date=26 June 2007| publisher=TWEF Inc.| access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Celebration powered by dedicated volunteer force |work=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]] |issn=1081-2172 |date=September 21, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=New Mexico Blue Book |url=http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-bluebook.html |access-date=September 21, 2008 |edition=2007–2008 |publisher=New Mexico Secretary of State |page=344 |chapter=New Mexico Features: World's Largest Enchilada |chapter-url=http://www.sos.state.nm.us/BlueBook2008/NewMexicoFeatures.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081129051906/http://www.sos.state.nm.us//sos-bluebook.html |archive-date=November 29, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After 34 years, The Whole Enchilada Fiesta's final event occurred in 2014 after Estrada had retired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kvia.com/news/new-mexico/the-whole-enchilada-fiesta-is-no-more/56428002|title=The Whole Enchilada Fiesta is no more|date=8 May 2015|website=KVIA|access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref> || Last week in September
|-
|}

===Museums===
[[File:New Mexico State University Museum.jpg|thumb|left|upright|New Mexico State University Museum]]
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

The New Mexico State University Arthropod Museum and Collection contains roughly 500,000 [[arthropod]] specimens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arthropods.nmsu.edu|title=Arthropod Museum - New Mexico State University|website=Arthropods.nmsu.edu}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://univmuseum.nmsu.edu |title= University Museum |access-date= April 27, 2014 |publisher= New Mexico State University}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Las Cruces Symphony===
[[File:Dona Ana County New Mexico Courthouse (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Doña Ana County]] courthouse]]
The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra is an 80-member [[orchestra]], conducted by Dr. Ming Luke.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The orchestra consists of 47% students, 17% NMSU faculty, 20% other local musicians, and 16% professionals from outside Las Cruces.<ref name="LCSN LCSO 2008">{{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 }}</ref> The venue of the orchestra is the NMSU Music Center Recital Hall.<ref name="LCSN LCSO 2008" /> 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.<ref>
{{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  }}
</ref>
The performance was taped and broadcast nationally on [[NPR]]'s ''[[Performance Today]]'' on December 9, 2005<ref>
{{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 }}
</ref>
and on July 4, 2007, on ''Performance Today'' and on [[Sirius Satellite Radio]].<ref>
{{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 }}
</ref>

===Points of interest===
Several [[water tank]]s in Las Cruces have been painted with [[mural]]s by Tony Pennock, including one at the intersection of Triviz Drive and Griggs Avenue.<ref>
{{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 }}
</ref><ref>
{{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 }}
</ref>
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]].

==Sports==
[[File:NMSU AggiesFootballGame.JPG|thumb|left|The [[New Mexico State Aggies]] 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 Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] eight times. The team also reached the [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament#Final Four|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]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lascrucesvaqueros.com/ |title=Welcome to Las Cruces Vaqueros Professional Baseball Team |publisher=Lascrucesvaqueros.com |access-date=November 12, 2010}}</ref> were the first professional sports team in Las Cruces. In the 2011 season, the Vaqueros joined the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs<ref>{{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 }}</ref> against the White Sands Pupfish, Roswell Invaders, Ruidoso Osos, Alpine Cowboys and Carlsbad Bats.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum building (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum]]]]
Las Cruces operates 87 city parks, 18 tennis courts, and four golf courses.<ref name="2008 Reference Guide">
{{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
}}
</ref>{{Rp|41}}
A list of parks, with facilities and maps, is available.<ref name="2008 Reference Guide" />{{Rp|8}}
<ref name="Parks Locations">
{{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
}}
</ref>

Las Cruces holds a [[Ciclovía]], a citywide event featuring exercise and physical activities, on the last Sunday of each month at Meerscheidt Recreation Center.<ref>
{{cite news
 | title = City encourages Las Crucens to get active
 | work = Las Cruces Sun-News
 |issn=1081-2172
 | date = March 27, 2008
 }}
</ref>

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]].

==Government==
{{see also|List of mayors of Las Cruces, New Mexico}}
[[File:Las Cruces New Mexico City Hall 2010.jpg|thumb|right|Las Cruces City Hall]]
Las Cruces is a [[charter city]]<ref name="city charter">
{{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 }}
</ref> (also called a home rule city) and has a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government.<ref>
{{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 }}
</ref> The city council consists of six [[councilor]]s and the [[mayor]], who chairs the meetings.<ref name="city charter" />{{Rp|Article II}} The mayor is elected at-large, and each of the city councilors represents one neighborhood district within the city.<ref name="city charter" />{{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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Live and archived video of city council meetings are available anytime at [https://www.las-cruces.org/1824/CLC-TV   Las Cruces, NM].<ref>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}}</ref>
In the November 2019 municipal election, ranked-choice voting was used for the first time.

==Education==
[[File:DACC East Mesa campus.jpg|thumb|right|[[Doña Ana Community College]]]]

===Public schools===
[[Public school (government funded)|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, New Mexico|Doña Ana]], and the town of [[Mesilla, New Mexico|Mesilla]]. The system has 26 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and six high schools. Of the high schools, Rio Grande Preparatory is an [[alternative school|alternative]] high school.<ref>{{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
}}</ref>

Four [[charter school]]s 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.<ref>
{{cite news
 | first = Christopher
 | last = Schurtz
 | title = Charter schools post statewide growth
 | work = [[Las Cruces Sun-News]]
 | date = July 21, 2008
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
 | first = Jason
 | last = Gibbs
 | title = School board OKs new at-risk charter school
 | work = [[Las Cruces Sun-News]]
 | date = October 17, 2006
}}
</ref>

[[New Mexico School for the Deaf]] operates a preschool facility in Las Cruces.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

====High schools====
[[File:Las Cruces High School.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Las Cruces High School]] campus]]
* [[Arrowhead Park Early College High School]]<ref name=LCPSsite>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Centennial High School (Las Cruces, New Mexico)|Centennial High School]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Las Cruces High School]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Mayfield High School (New Mexico)|Mayfield High School]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Organ Mountain High School]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* Alma d'arte Charter High School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.almadarte.org/contact.html|title=Contact|first=James|last=Schmidt}}</ref>

===Private schools===
Five [[private school|private]] [[Christian school]]s operate in Las Cruces.<ref name="LCSN Private Schools">
{{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
}}</ref> 
College Heights Kindergarten is a private Christian [[kindergarten]], founded in 1954.<ref>
{{cite news
 | first = Argen
 | last = Duncan
 | title = Local earns award after lifetime of contributions
 | work = Las Cruces Sun-News
 | date = July 19, 2005
}}</ref> 
Desert Springs Christian Academy,<ref>{{cite web |title=Desert Springs Christian Academy
|url=https://dscalions.org/ |access-date=December 6, 2023}}
</ref>
Las Cruces Catholic Schools,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lccsonline.org/ |title=Las Cruces Catholic Schools |publisher=Las Cruces Catholic Schools |access-date=November 12, 2010}}</ref> 
Mesilla Valley Christian School, and a small independent Baptist school called Cornerstone Christian Academy<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="LCSN Private Schools" /><ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.lascrucesacademy.org
|title= Las Cruces Academy
|access-date= August 1, 2010
|publisher= Las Cruces Academy
}}
</ref><ref>
{{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 }}</ref>

===Colleges and universities===

====University====
[[File:NMSU Skeen Hall 2008.jpg|right|thumb|Las Cruces hosts the main campus of the [[New Mexico State University]].]]

New Mexico State University (NMSU) is a land-grant university that has its main campus in Las Cruces.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nmsu.edu |title=New Mexico State University |publisher=Nmsu.edu |access-date=November 12, 2010}}</ref> 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|thumb|left|[[Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine]]]]
[[Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine|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.<ref name=NMSULIB>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="DACC">{{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}}</ref>

DACC operates centers in Anthony, Sunland Park, Chaparral, and White Sands Missile Range.<ref name="DACC Org Chart">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=DACCFacilites>{{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}}</ref>

===Libraries===
[[File:Branson Library New Mexico State University Las Cruces.jpg|thumb|right|Branson Library]]
[[Thomas Branigan Memorial Library]] is the city's public library. It was constructed in 1979<ref name="Harris One Book">
{{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
}}
</ref>{{Rp|93}}
and has a collection of about 185,000 items.<ref>
{{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 }}</ref>
The previous library building, also called Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, opened in 1935.<ref name="Harris One Book" />{{Rp|68–69}} That building is now the Branigan Cultural Center.<ref name="Harris One Book" />{{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.<ref name="NMSU library FAQ">{{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 }}
</ref>

==Media==
Las Cruces is part of the [[Template:El Paso TV|El Paso – Las Cruces Designated Market Area]] [[media market|(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 [[Distance learning|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]] <!-- (NATOA) --> and five national Telly Awards, four platinum and one gold.
[[File:Branigan Library Las Cruces (cropped).jpg|thumbnail|left|[[Thomas Branigan Memorial Library]]]]
''[[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 (newspaper format)|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 [[Radio format|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]].

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

====Airports====
[[File:SC20130719-235817.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Las Cruces International Airport]]]]
* [[Las Cruces International Airport]] has had no regularly scheduled commercial passenger flights since July 25, 2005, when [[Westward Airways (Nebraska)|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.

====Major highways====
* [[Interstate 10 in New Mexico|Interstate 10]], east–west travel: south-southeast to El Paso, Texas; west to [[Tucson, Arizona]]
* [[Interstate 25 in New Mexico|Interstate 25]], north–south travel: north to [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]], Las Cruces is the southern terminus for Interstate 25, where it intersects Interstate 10.
* [[U.S. Route 70 in New Mexico|U.S. Route 70]], east–west travel: northeast to [[Alamogordo, New Mexico|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#New Mexico/West Texas (El Paso area)|U.S. Route 180]]
{|
|- valign=top
|
* [[New Mexico State Road 28|NM 28]]
* [[New Mexico State Road 101|NM 101]]
| width=20 |
|
* [[New Mexico State Road 185|NM 185]]
* [[New Mexico State Road 188|NM 188]]
| width=20 |
|
* [[New Mexico State Road 292|NM 292]]
* [[New Mexico State Road 320|NM 320]]
| width=20 |
|
* [[New Mexico State Road 373|NM 373]]
* [[New Mexico State Road 478|NM 478]]
|}

====Rail====
[[File:Las Cruces New Mexico Railroad Museum (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Las Cruces Railroad Museum]]
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.

====Bus transit====
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

[[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, New Mexico|Anthony]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://scrtd.org/routesschedules/ | title=Routes/Schedules }}</ref>

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

Greyhound buses departing Las Cruces serve El Paso, Amarillo, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles, and San Diego.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Utilities===
[[File:FortSeldenStateMonumentEntrance.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fort Selden|Fort Selden State Monument]]]]
The City of Las Cruces provides water, sewer, natural gas, and solid-waste services, including recycling centers.<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[El Paso Electric]] is the electricity provider, [[CenturyLink]] is the telephone land line provider, and [[Comcast]] is the cable TV provider.

===Healthcare===

====Hospitals====
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.<ref>
{{cite news
 | first = Christopher
 | last = Schurtz
 | title = MMC holding annual open meeting
 | work = Las Cruces Sun-News
 | date = June 12, 2005
 | page = 1C
 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
 | first = Steve
 | last = Ramirez
 | title = Province merger a done deal
 | work = Las Cruces Sun-News
 | date = April 16, 2006
 | page = 1A
 }}
</ref>
Prior to 2004, it was leased to and operated by the nonprofit Memorial Medical Center Inc.<ref>
{{cite news
 | first = Christopher
 | last = Schurtz
 | title = Hospital deal with MMCI to end
 | work = Las Cruces Sun-News
 | date = May 13, 2004
 | page = 1A
 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
 | first = Christopher
 | last = Schurtz
 | title = County, city end MMCI lease
 | work = Las Cruces Sun-News
 | date = May 14, 2004
 | page = 1A
 }}
</ref>
The hospital is a licensed, 286-bed, [[acute care]] facility and is accredited by [[JCAHO]]. It offers a wide range of patient services.<ref>
{{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
 }}
</ref>
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.<ref>
{{cite news
 | title = Cancer center opens in Las Cruces
 | work = Las Cruces Sun-News
 | date = December 4, 2006
 }}
</ref> 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.<ref>
{{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
}}
</ref>

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.<ref>
{{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
 }}
</ref>

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.<ref>
{{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
}}
</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rhsnm.ernesthealth.com/gallery-item/rehabilitation-hospital-of-southern-new-mexico/|title=Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico &#124; RHSNM}}</ref><ref>
{{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
 }}
</ref>

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.<ref>
{{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
 }}
</ref>

==Notable people==

[[File:Frank Borman.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Frank Borman]]]]
[[File:Buck Pierce.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Buck Pierce]]]]
[[File:Delano lewis.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Delano Lewis]]]]
* [[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<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luis Barraza |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/luis-barraza/ |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref>
* [[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 7|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 (basketball)|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 national football team|Mexico]] and [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] national teams<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edgar Castillo |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/edgar-castillo/ |access-date=March 24, 2025 |website=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref>
* [[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 lady|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 (New Mexico politician)|Albert Johnson]], first black mayor in New Mexico<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
* [[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 [[U.S. presidential election, 1980|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 (play)|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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[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 (author)|Patricia Ryan]], writer of romance, mystery and erotic novels, was born in Las Cruces.
* [[Mai Shanley]], Miss USA 1984
* [[Tom Smith (playwright)|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.

==See also==
* [[Las Cruces Police Department]]

==Sister cities==
{{SisterCities|Las Cruces|two}}
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[Ciudad Lerdo]], [[Durango]], Mexico
* {{flagdeco|Germany}} [[Nienburg, Lower Saxony|Nienburg]], [[Lower Saxony]], Germany

Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lascrucessistercitiesfoundation.wildapricot.org/ |title=Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation |date=September 14, 2019 |access-date=September 14, 2019 }}</ref> 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 (New Mexico)|Mayfield High School]] and {{ill|Albert Schweitzer School (Nienburg)|de|Albert-Schweitzer-Schule (Nienburg)|lt=Albert Schweitzer School}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{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, New Mexico|Doña Ana]]
|Northeast = [[Alamogordo, New Mexico|Alamogordo]]
|East      = [[Organ, New Mexico|Organ]]
|Southeast = [[El Paso, Texas]]
|South     = [[University Park, New Mexico|University Park]]
|Southwest = [[Mesilla, New Mexico|Mesilla]]
|West      = [[Deming, New Mexico|Deming]]
|Northwest = [[Hatch, New Mexico|Hatch]]
}}

{{Doña Ana County, New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Las Cruces, New Mexico| ]]
[[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]]