About Las Cruces, NM

Located in the beautiful Mesilla Valley in Southern New Mexico with the Organ Mountains and the Rio Grande River accenting the environment, Las Cruces, New Mexico has quickly become a popular southwestern destination for many people throughout the country who want to call it home.

Las Cruces lies at the intersection of Interstate 10 and 25, which brings visitors into contact with 72 holes of spectacular year-round golf, unique special events, and historic attractions such as Old Mesilla.   Las Cruces is also popular for its green chile and Mexican food!   The city is home to New Mexico State University's main campus (NMSU, enrollment 16,200), which supports a fertile arts and music scene. COAS Books, which stocks half a million titles, holds frequent readings and book signings. The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, comprised mostly of NMSU students and faculty, performs at Music Center Recital Hall. In Mesilla, restaurants, shops and galleries line the Plaza, which is a National Historic Landmark, and the Fountain Theatre, the oldest theater in New Mexico, screens foreign and alternative films.  Locals also flock to the Wednesday and Saturday farmers' and crafts market, which dates back to 1857.

Outside of town huge swaths of public land await: Las Cruces is at the junction of the Chihuahua and Sonora deserts, and the Rockies and Sierra Madre Mountains.  This promotes many outdoor activities of hiking, rock climbing, etc.

Its bright year-round weather with 350 days of sunshine per year makes it an ideal place to live.  With little humidity to speak of, the heat is not uncomfortable and the nights are warm and pleasant. In the winter when the northern states are digging out from the snow, Las Crucens enjoy days in the upper 50s or lower 60s. 

For all of these reasons, Las Cruces has won many awards:

• Number One Dream Town to Retire - AARP Magazine, Jul/Aug 2006, 2010
• One of the “10 Great Sunny Places to Retire”, 2011---AARP
• One of the “20 Best Towns of the Future”, 2010
• Safest City in the Country, Medium-Sized City - Farmers Insurance Group, 2006, 2007
• One of the 2007’s Top Boomtowns, Inc. Magazine
• One of the Best College Towns to Retire - CNN/Money Magazine, 2005
• Best Small Metro Area for Business & Careers - Forbes/Milken Institute, 2002-2004
• Best Place to Live - Family Digest, Fall 2002
• New Mexico Sports Town of the Year - Sports Illustrated, May 2004
• One of the “Top 10 Cities for Hispanics to Live”, 2002, 2003