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Las Cruces is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,267. The population was 89,722 as of the 2007 census estimate, making it the second largest city in the state. Las Cruces is the center of an agricultural region irrigated by the Rio Grande, which flows just west of the city. The city of Las Cruces bisects the fertile Mesilla Valley, the flood plain of the Rio Grande which extends from Hatch, New Mexico to the west side of El Paso, Texas. Las Cruces is also the home of New Mexico State University. NMSU is New Mexico's only land grant university, citing more than 16,000 graduate and undergraduate students on the main campus. As well as the Organ Mountains that are to the east of the city, the Las Cruces area is also in close proximity to the Dona Ana mountains, the Robledo mountains, and Picacho peak. Las Cruces has a council-manager form of government. It is the county seat of Doña Ana County.

Demographics

Census 2000 data

As of the census of 2000, there were 74,267 people, 29,184 households, and 18,123 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,425.7 people per square mile (550.5/km²). There were 31,682 housing units at an average density of 608.2/sq mi (234.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.01% White, 2.34% African American, 1.74% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 21.59% from other races, and 4.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.73% of the population.

There were 29,184 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 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 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,375, and the median income 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.

2007 estimates

Las Cruces's July 1, 2007 population was estimated at 89,722 by the United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program.

Transportation

Airports

• Las Cruces International Airport - No current regularly-scheduled commercial passenger flights since July 25, 2005, when Westward Airways ceased operations. General aviation, private charters and CAP use the airport, amongst others.
• El Paso International Airport - Nearest airport with regularly-scheduled commercial flights.

Major highways

• Interstate 10, east-west travel: south-southeast to El Paso, Texas; west to Tucson, Arizona.
• Interstate 25, north-south travel: north to Albuquerque. Las Cruces is the southern terminus for Interstate 25 where it intersects Interstate 10.
• U.S. Route 70, east-west travel: northeast to Alamogordo; to the west it is merged with Interstate 10.
• U.S. Route 180

NM 28 NM 101

NM 185 NM 188

NM 292 NM 320

NM 373 NM 478

Rail

Las Cruces is served by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, via a branch line that 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.

Transit

The city operates a small transit authority known as RoadRUNNER Transit. RoadRUNNER Transit operates a total of nine routes running Mondays through Saturdays. There is no Sunday service. An adult fare is $0.50. The active fleet consists of three Nova Bus RTS (2000 model year) and eight Gillig Advantage (2004 model year) transit buses, all of which are 35 feet (11 m) in length and wheelchair-accessible. RoadRUNNER Transit also operates a backup fleet of non-accessible buses consisting of three Orion I (1986 model year, 30 feet) and two TMC RTS (1989 model year, 35 feet) buses.

Utilities

City of Las Cruces provides water, sewer, natural gas, and solid waste services, including recycling centers. El Paso Electric Company is the electricity provider, Qwest 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, who signed a 40-year, $150 million lease in 2004 with Province HealthCare, since absorbed into LifePoint. Prior to 2004 it was leased to and operated by the nonprofit Memorial Medical Center Inc. The hospital is a licensed 286-bed acute care facility and is accredited by JCAHO. It offers a wide range of patient services. The University of New Mexico Cancer Center-South opened in 2006 on the MMC campus. It is 5,300 square feet (490 m) and has 9 exam rooms.

The original facility was called Memorial General Hospital and was opened in April 1950 at South Alameda Boulevard and Main Street 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.

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.

Mesilla Valley Hospital is a 125-bed private psychiatric hospital operated by Psychiatric Solutions. It is a residential facility offering a variety of treatments for behavioral health issues.

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.

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.

Notable natives and residents

• Joseph Benavidez, a Mixed-Martial-Arts fighter who is undefeated in amateur and professional fights.
• Billy the Kid resided in Las Cruces during some of his short life.
• Frank Borman, the famous astronaut, lived in Las Cruces after retirement. He bought a car dealership that still bears his name.
• Author Denise Chávez was born in Las Cruces.
• Albert Fall, a famous New Mexico Senator during the early 20th Century, lived in Las Cruces.
• Col. Albert Jennings Fountain, prominent politician whose disappearance was a celebrated case investigated by Pat Garrett.
• Pat Garrett, who is most famous for killing Billy the Kid, lived in Las Cruces.
• Charley Johnson played quarterback at New Mexico State. He later played a 15 year career for several NFL teams. He is currently leading the Chemical Engineering department at New Mexico State.
• Margaret Larkin (1889–1967), writer and union activist, born in Las Cruces.
• Tony Award winning writer Mark Medoff resides in Las Cruces. Medoff is most famous for writing the play Children of a Lesser God, which became a hit movie.
• Playwright and director Tom Smith resides in Las Cruces, teaching at New Mexico State University.
• Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto, lived in Las Cruces until his death in 1997.
• Fredd Young, who was a four time pro-bowl football player for Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts, played for New Mexico State and currently lives in Las Cruces.