Editing White Sands, New Mexico

{{About|the main residential area on the [[White Sands Missile Range]]|the national park|White Sands National Park|other uses|White Sands (disambiguation){{!}}White Sands}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = White Sands, New Mexico
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|image_map                = Dona Ana County New Mexico Incorporated and Unincorporated areas White Sands Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of White Sands, New Mexico
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|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[New Mexico]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Mexico|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana]]
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|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>
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|area_total_km2           = 10.94
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<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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|population_total         = 926
|population_density_km2   = 84.63
|population_density_sq_mi = 219.22

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|elevation_ft             = 4236
|coordinates              = {{coord|32|22|32|N|106|28|52|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 88002
|area_code                = [[Area code 575|575]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 35-84845
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2409585<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409585}}</ref>
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'''White Sands''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana County]], [[New Mexico]], United States.<ref name=gnis/> It consists of the main residential area on the [[White Sands Missile Range]]. As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] the population of the CDP was 1,651.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3584845| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): White Sands CDP, New Mexico| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 4, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213051733/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3584845| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is part of the [[Las Cruces, New Mexico|Las Cruces]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==Geography==
The White Sands CDP is located in eastern Doña Ana County at the southern end of the [[White Sands Missile Range]]. It is {{convert|4|mi|0}} south of [[U.S. Route 70 in New Mexico|U.S. Route 70]] and {{convert|27|mi}} east of [[Las Cruces, New Mexico|Las Cruces]], the [[county seat]]. The entrance to [[White Sands National Park]] is {{convert|34|mi}} to the northeast, up US 70.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|8.0|km2|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 926
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</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>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,323 people, 432 households, and 355 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|429.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 667 housing units at an average density of {{convert|216.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.43% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 11.56% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.98% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.70% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 6.27% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.97% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 17.61% of the population.

There were 432 households, out of which 56.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 37.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 39.7% from 25 to 44, 13.0% from 45 to 64, and 0.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,500, and the median income for a family was $47,750. Males had a median income of $40,402 versus $21,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $16,186. About 1.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==The desert==
{{Main|White Sands National Park}}
[[File:White Sands New Mexico USA.jpg|thumb|White Sands National Park]]
The desert is located in the [[Tularosa Basin]] of New Mexico. Its white sands are not composed of quartz, like most desert sands, but of [[gypsum]], hydrated [[calcium sulfate]]. Unlike other desert sands, it is cool to the touch, due to the high rate of [[evaporation]] of surface moisture and the fact that the sands reflect, rather than absorb, the sun's rays. At 1185 meters above sea level, there are approximately 442 square kilometers of dune fields and is known to be the world's largest surface deposit of gypsum.<ref>"Nature & Science", http://www.nps.gov/whsa/naturescience/index.htm 2009-01-27, Retrieved 2009-09-03</ref>

Gypsum is one of the most common mineral compounds found on Earth but is rarely seen on the surface, as it dissolves easily in water. The origin of this desert dates back to around 100 million years ago, during which it was covered by a shallow sea. As its waters gradually receded, saltwater lakes were left behind, which eventually evaporated in the sun. In addition to the salt, gypsum was also laid down in thick deposits on the old seabed.

The [[Sacramento Mountains (New Mexico)|Sacramento]] and [[San Andres Mountains]], with the Tularosa Basin between them, took shape approximately 250 million years ago. Giant upheavals in the Earth's crust distorted the land along with the gypsum deposits, forcing them high into the air about 70 million years ago.<ref>"Geology of White Sands", https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/geology-of-white-sands.htm 2019-03-08, Retrieved 2019-12-23</ref> Rainfall and melt water came from the mountains causing the gypsum to percolate out and the concentrated solutions were washed down the mountainsides. The gypsum solution accumulated in [[Lake Lucero]], the lowest part of the Tularosa Basin. Water in the lake does not have any means of escaping except by evaporation, which leaves behind thin layers of crystallized gypsum, or [[Selenite (mineral)|selenite]]. Weathering then reduced these crystals to fine, sandy grains. Winds then carried the grains farther up the basin, and the grains piled in steep dunes that often reach as high as 15&nbsp;m (50&nbsp;ft). The winds carved more dunes and, while at the same time, carried small amounts of the gypsum grains by distances of up to 9&nbsp;m (30&nbsp;ft) a year.

This constant movement still occurs today, and with the added alkaline and the little amount of rainfall makes it difficult for plants to grow here, leaving the desert as desolate as it appears today.

==Education==
It is located in [[Las Cruces Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35013_dona_ana/DC20SD_C35013.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Doña Ana County, NM|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-06-28}}</ref> White Sands School is on the property of the [[White Sands Missile Range]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wss.lcps.net/o/wss|title=Home|publisher=White Sands School|accessdate=2022-06-28|quote=#1  Viking St White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[X to Y]]'', 2009 short film

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Doña Ana County, New Mexico}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Doña Ana County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:Tularosa Basin]]