Alamogordo, New Mexico
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Alamogordo (Template:IPAc-en) is a city in and the county seat of Otero County, New Mexico, United States. A city in the Tularosa Basin of the Chihuahuan Desert, it is bordered on the east by the Sacramento Mountains and to the west by Holloman Air Force Base. The population was 31,384 as of the 2020 census. Alamogordo is widely known for its connection with the 1945 Trinity test, which was the first ever explosion of an atomic bomb.
Humans have lived in the Alamogordo area for at least 11,000 years. The present settlement, established in 1898 to support the construction of the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, is an early example of a planned community. The city was incorporated in 1912. Tourism became an important economic factor with the creation of White Sands National Monument in 1933, which is still one of the biggest attractions of the city today. During the 1950s and 1960s, Alamogordo was an unofficial center for research on pilot safety and the development of the United States' space program.
Alamogordo is a charter city with a council-manager form of government. City government provides a large number of recreational and leisure facilities for its citizens, including a large park in the center of the city, many smaller parks scattered through the city, a golf course, Alameda Park Zoo, a network of walking paths, Alamogordo Public Library, and a senior citizens' center. Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center is a nonprofit shared military/civilian facility that is also the hospital for Holloman Air Force Base.
History
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Template:For Tularosa Basin has been inhabited for at least 11,000 years. There are signs of previous inhabitants in the area such as the Clovis culture, the Folsom culture, the peoples of the Archaic period, and the Formative stage.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Mescalero Apache were already living in the Tularosa Basin when the Spanish came in 1534, and Mescalero oral history says they have always lived there.<ref name="State Historian Mescalero">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1719, the Spanish built a chapel at La Luz (about Template:Convert from the future site of Alamogordo), although La Luz was not settled until about 1860.<ref name=Julyan> Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Gilbert Territorial Years">Template:Cite book </ref>Template:Rp
The city of Alamogordo was founded in June 1898, when the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, headed by Charles Bishop Eddy, extended the railway to the town.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp Eddy influenced the design of the community, which included large, wide thoroughfares and tree-lined irrigation canals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Charles Eddy's brother, John Arthur Eddy, named the new city. He created a neologism adapted from the Spanish words for "large/fat cottonwood"<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> after a grove of stout cottonwoods he remembered from the Pecos River area.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp However, the word "Almagordo" was not used in the Spanish language.<ref>McPhee, William N. and Harry R. Parsons. "Origins of the Name "Alamogordo"." New Mexico Historical Review 70, 4 (1995). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nmhr/vol70/iss4/5</ref> When Alamogordo was laid out in 1898, the east–west streets were given numerical designations, while north–south streets were named after states. The present-day White Sands Boulevard was then called Pennsylvania Avenue.<ref name="Gilbert Territorial Years" />Template:Rp
With the creation of White Sands National Monument in 1934, tourism began.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp
The Works Progress Administration, a government program created in 1935 in response to the Great Depression, was responsible for the construction of several government buildings in Alamogordo. These include the Otero County Administration Building at 1101 New York Avenue, a Pueblo style building originally constructed as the main U.S. Post Office in 1938. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The main entrance portico features frescoes by Peter Hurd, which were completed in 1942.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 1941, the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range was established.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Post Office moved out in 1961, and the building was used by a succession of Federal agencies and was known as the Federal Building.Template:Citation needed The last Federal agency to occupy it was the United States Forest Service who used it as the headquarters of the Lincoln National Forest until October 2008, when that agency moved to a newly constructed building.<ref name="Garcia Forest Service">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2009, ownership of the building was transferred to Otero County government and many government offices were moved from the Courthouse to its new Administration Building .<ref name="London Forest Service">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1983, Atari, Inc. buried more than 700,000 unsold Atari 2600 video game cartridges in Alamogordo's landfill.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Most notably, Atari discarded many copies of the unpopular E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. This event was often believed to be an urban legend, until it was confirmed by Atari and excavations at the landfill.<ref name="smithsonian">Template:Cite web</ref>
Alamogordo briefly made international news in late 2001 when Christ Community Church held a public book burning of books in the Harry Potter series, and several other series, on December 30.<ref name="Matise2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="BBC">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NYT2002">Template:Cite news</ref>
Geography
As of 2010, Alamogordo had a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The city is located on the western flank of the Sacramento Mountains and on the eastern edge of the Tularosa Basin. It lies within the Rio Grande rift<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in the northernmost part of the Chihuahuan Desert.<ref name=Jaeger>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Tectonic activity is low in the Tularosa Basin.<ref name="Geologic Hydrologic">Template:Cite book</ref> Plants native to the area are typical of the southern New Mexico foothills and include creosote bush, mesquite, saltbush, cottonwood, desert willow, and many species of cactus and yucca.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The Tularosa Basin is an endorheic, or closed, basin; that is, no water flows out of it.<ref name="Geologic Hydrologic" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Because of this and because of the geology of the region, water in the basin is hard: it has very high total dissolved solids concentrations, in excess of 3,000 mg/L.<ref name="Geologic Hydrologic" /><ref>Template:Cite journal </ref> The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility, a Bureau of Reclamation laboratory doing research and development on desalination of brackish water, is located in Alamogordo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The gypsum crystals of White Sands National Park are formed in Lake Lucero. Water drains from the mountains carrying dissolved gypsum and collects in Lake Lucero. After the water dries, the winds pick up the gypsum crystals and distribute them over the basin.<ref name=Jaeger />Template:Rp
Climate
Alamogordo has a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), bordering a desert climate (BWk), with hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall is low and usually confined to the monsoon from July to September, when half a typical year's rainfall of Template:Convert will occur – although December 1991 did see Template:Convert. The wettest calendar year has been 1941 with Template:Convert and the driest 1952 with Template:Convert, while the wettest month on record has been September 1941 when Template:Convert fell. September 1941 also saw the largest daily rainfall at Alamogordo with Template:Convert falling on the 22nd of that month.
Temperatures outside of monsoonal storms are very hot during the summer: 89.1 days exceed Template:Convert and temperatures as high as Template:Convert occurred on June 22, 1981, and July 8, 1951. During the winter, days are very mild and sunny, but nights are cold, with Template:Convert reached on 55.1 mornings during an average winter, although only ten mornings have ever fallen to or below Template:Convert,<ref>National Weather Service El Paso; NOW Data</ref> with the coldest temperature recorded at Alamogordo being Template:Convert during a major cold wave on February 3, 2011. Snow is very rare, with a mean of no more than Template:Convert and a median very close to zero. The most snowfall in one month was Template:Convert in December 1960. Template:Weather box
Demographics
Template:US Census population As of the census of 2020, there were 31,384 people. During the 2000 census, there were 13,704 households, and 9,728 families residing in the city. There were 15,920 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 70.4% White; 5.6% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 12.1% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.0% of the population.<ref name="2000 New Mexico DP-1">Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Rp
There were 13,704 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.<ref name="2000 New Mexico DP-1" />Template:Rp
In the city the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.<ref name="2000 New Mexico DP-1" />Template:Rp
In 1999, the median income for a household in the city was $30,928, and the median income for a family was $35,673. Males had a median income of $28,163 versus $18,860 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,662. About 13.2% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="2000 Alamogordo DP-3">Template:Cite web</ref>
Alamogordo's and Otero County's July 1, 2008, population were estimated at 35,757 and 62,776 respectively by the United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program.<ref name="Census PopEst Cities 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>
German community, 1992–2019
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Previously Alamogordo had a German community due to the presence of the German Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base; in 1992 that air force made Holloman its main pilot training center in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Holloman was chosen due to its weather conditions.<ref name=WarStrains>Template:Cite web</ref> There was a subdivision called "Little Germany" with houses that had German-style electrical outlets. The Deutsche Schule Alamogordo educated German children, as did the local schools. Additionally area supermarkets had German cuisine.<ref>Template:Cite news - Clipping from Newspapers.com.</ref>
By 1999, there were about 1,110 German dependents and 900 German military personnel in Alamogordo.<ref>Template:Cite news - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com.</ref> By 2003 there were about 2,000 Germans in Alamogordo. That year there were tensions between Americans and Germans since Germany chose not to join the U.S. in the Iraq War.<ref name=WarStrains/>
In 2019, the German military withdrew from the base.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Until the German Air Force left, Oktoberfest was celebrated annually in late September, hosted by the German Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base. The public was invited, and shuttle buses ran between Alamogordo and the base.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref>
Economy
Alamogordo is the economic center of Otero County,<ref name="Chamber Community Profile"> Template:Cite web </ref> with nearly half the Otero County population living within the city limits. Alamogordo today has very little manufacturing and has a primarily service and retail economy, driven by tourism, a large nearby military installation and a concentration of military retirees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006 the per capita income in Otero County was $22,377 versus per capita income in New Mexico of $29,346.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Economic history
Alamogordo was founded as a company town to support the building of the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad,<ref name="Centennial">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp a portion of the transcontinental railway that was being constructed in the late 19th century. Initially its main industry was timbering for railroad ties.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp The railroad founders were also eager to found a major town that would persist after the railroad was completed; they formed the Alamogordo Improvement Company to develop the area,<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp making Alamogordo an early example of a planned community. The Alamogordo Improvement Company owned all the land, platted the streets, built the first houses and commercial buildings, donated land for a college, and placed a restrictive covenant on each deed prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, or sale of intoxicating liquor.<ref name=Centennial />Template:Rp
Tourism became an important part of the local economy from the creation of White Sands National Monument in 1934.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp Construction began on the Alamogordo Army Air Field (the present-day Holloman Air Force Base) in 1942, and the Federal government has been a strong presence in Alamogordo ever since.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp Education has also been an important part of the local economy. In addition to the local school system, Alamogordo is home to the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, founded in 1903, and a branch of New Mexico State University founded in 1958.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp The largest non-government employer in the city is the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center with 650 employees in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Military impact
Holloman Air Force Base, located approximately Template:Convert west of the city limits, is the largest employer of Alamogordo residents, and has a major effect on the local economy. According to some estimates, Holloman accounts for half of the Alamogordo economy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> According to the 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office, as of January 2008 Holloman directly employs 6,111 personnel with a gross payroll of $266 million. It indirectly creates another 2,047 jobs with a payroll of $77 million. The estimated amount spent in the community, including payroll, construction projects, supplies, services, health care, and education, is $482 million.<ref name="Holloman Economic Impact Statement">Template:Cite journal</ref>
An estimated 6,700 military retirees live in the area. Counting both USAF and German Air Force personnel there are 1,383 active military and 1,641 military dependents living on base and 2,765 active military and 2,942 military dependents living off base.<ref name="Holloman Economic Impact Statement" /> After 27 years of training at Holloman, the German Air Force left in 2019. They relocated their pilot training to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Future Combat Systems is a wide-ranging modernization project of the US Army. Much of the work will be done at Fort Bliss, with some at White Sands Missile Range and some at Holloman Air Force Base. Alamogordo is expected to get some economic benefit due to its proximity to these three bases.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Economic development
Otero County Economic Development Council is a nonprofit organization founded in 1984. Its focus has generally been on job creation and recruiting and expanding businesses in Otero County, including helping them satisfy business regulations in New Mexico and lining up funding.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Its role expanded in 2000, when Alamogordo passed an Economic Development Gross Receipts Tax. OCEDC continues to work to attract businesses, but now it also helps develop the incentive packages that will be paid by the new tax, and a portion of the tax receipts go to fund OCEDC's operating expenses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Formal economic development plans have been adopted by Alamogordo<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and by Otero County.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
OCEDC has recruited several new employers by using financial incentives. A 1-800-Flowers call center opened in November 2001 and received $1.25 million in city rent abatements, a 50% reduction in property taxes from Otero County, and $940,000 in plant training funds from the State of New Mexico.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref> A Sunbaked Biscuits cookie factory opened in 2006 and received $800,000 in job-training incentives from the state.<ref name="ADN Homans visit"> Template:Cite news </ref> When the company went out of business in 2007, Marietta Baking took over the cookie factory and received interest-free loans, job-training incentives, and partial forgiveness of indebtedness for job creation.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref> A branch office of PreCheck Inc., a company performing background checks of health-care workers, opened in 2006. PreCheck received $2.4 million in high-wage job creation tax credits, $1.5 million in job-training subsidies, $1.5 million in capital outlay money for roads and infrastructure, a $625,000 allocation from City of Alamogordo for upgrading sewer lines in the area, and 20.8 acres of land from Heritage Group, a developer.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
The Otero County Film Office,<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> an office of Otero County Economic Development Council, promotes film-making in Otero County by publicizing potential locations in the county and New Mexico's film financial incentive programs<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> and by recruiting extras for film productions. It sponsors the Desert Light Film Competition for middle and high school students to encourage learning about the film industry.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref> The 2007 film Transformers spent $5.5 million in New Mexico and $1 million in Alamogordo.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
Arts and culture
There are two amateur theatrical groups in Alamogordo. Alamogordo Music Theatre<ref name="AMT"> Template:Cite web </ref> produces two musical productions annually at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts. The NMSU-A Theatre on the Hill produces an annual spring performance for young audiences at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center on the New Mexico State University at Alamogordo campus,<ref> Template:Cite journal </ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref> and an annual Fall performance for general audiences.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
Annual cultural events
The Earth Day Fair is held annually at Alameda Park Zoo. It features a butterfly release, a science fair, activities for children, and information booths from local health agencies and nonprofits.<ref name="ADN Earth Day Fair"> Template:Cite journal </ref>
Otero County Fair is held annually at the County Fairgrounds. It features a rodeo, animal judging, food and game booths, and carnival rides. Nonprofit and government agencies set up information booths in the exhibit hall.<ref name="ADN County Fair"> Template:Cite journal </ref>
The Cottonwood Arts and Crafts Festival is put on each Labor Day Weekend in Alameda Park by the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce. It is primarily a showplace for vendors of handmade items, and also features music, entertainment, and food.<ref name="Cottonwood Festival"> Template:Cite web </ref><ref name="ADN Cottonwood Festival"> Template:Cite journal </ref>
White Sands Balloon Invitational is held annually. Hot air balloons launch from the Riner-Steinhoff Soccerplex and from White Sands National Park and float over the Tularosa Basin.<ref name="ADN Balloon Invitational"> Template:Cite journal </ref>
Visitor attractions
New Mexico Museum of Space History is a state museum with the International Space Hall of Fame.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> Flickinger Center for Performing Arts is a 590-seat theater created in 1988 from a re-purposed movie theater. It hosts concerts and live theatrical performances by touring groups, and is the venue for the local amateur group Alamogordo Music Theater.<ref name="ADN Flickinger"> Template:Cite journal </ref><ref name="Flickinger web"> Template:Cite web </ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
Alamogordo Museum of History collects artifacts related to the history of Alamogordo and the Tularosa Basin. It is a private museum, operated by the Tularosa Basin Historical Society.<ref name="TBHS web"> Template:Cite web </ref> Among notable items in the collection is a 47-star US Flag; New Mexico was the 47th state admitted to the Union, and US flags were made with 47 stars only for one month, until Arizona was admitted.<ref name="TBHS flag web"> Template:Cite web </ref> The Museum shop has a large collection of local history books. The Historical Society also publishes its own series of monographs on local history, Pioneer.<ref name="Pioneer OCLC"> Template:Cite journal </ref>
American Armed Forces Museum is a museum on U.S. Route 82 near Florida Avenue that opened in 2011. It collects and displays all kinds of military memorabilia from all wars and military engagements.<ref name="Armed Forces Museum web"> Template:Cite web </ref>
The Shroud Exhibit And Museum, located in White Sands Mall, showcases a full-sized back-lit photographic transparency of the Shroud of Turin, a religious relic believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. They also feature a working VP8 Image Analyzer, the only one in the world where one can walk in and interact with this old analog computer. This town was founded the same year (1898) that Secundo Pia took the first photograph of the Shroud which started the modern investigation into the Shroud. This is highlighted in the museum. In 1977 in Albuquerque, they held the conference that resulted in the 1978 study of the Shroud with more scientists from New Mexico than any other state. The displayed photograph was created from the 1978 photographs made by Barrie M. Schwortz as part of the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP). The displays include historical background materials, scientific information, kiosks with a variety of information, videos available for viewing and an exhibit of electronic image analysis of the shroud, among other interesting artifacts.<ref name="Shroud Exhibit And Museum web"> Template:Cite web </ref><ref> Template:Cite web </ref><ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
The Alameda Park Zoo, the oldest zoo in the southwestern U.S., is located in the city. Several Union-Apache battles were fought near Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Toy Train Depot, New Mexico's first railroad museum and home of America's Park Ride Train Museum.
A sculpture called "The World's Largest Pistachio" is at McGinn's PistachioLand along U.S. 54.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sports
The Lady of the Mountain Run is held in December at the Griggs Sportsplex.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The race consists of a half marathon, 10K, 5K, or corporate cup relay, and raises money for the needs-based Lady of the Mountain Scholarship Fund at NMSU-Alamogordo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fun run/walks are popular in Alamogordo, although most are one-shot affairs put on as part of some larger event. One recurring event is Walk Out West, a Template:Convert walk held each October in Alameda Park Zoo. It incorporates a health fair, live music, and events for children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An offshoot of this is Dance Otero, an informal approach to ballroom dancing as a form of physical exercise that meets throughout the year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Both programs are run through Otero PATH, a local nonprofit that encourages preventive measures for good health.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
There are a number of annual sports events. The Tommy Padilla Memorial Basketball Tournament<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an annual event held in March. It is an adult tournament that raises money for scholarships for Alamogordo High School students.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is a national program that holds a tournament in Alamogordo each year in May. Prior to 2008 it was hosted by the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, and since then by the City of Alamogordo.<ref name="ADN Armed Forced Day">Template:Cite news</ref> The city receives 72% of the entry fees and 5% of the gross proceeds taken in by vendors.<ref name="ADN Armed Forced Day" /> The event is held annually at Washington Park in conjunction with Saturday in the Park and Armed Forces Day.<ref name="USAF Armed Forces Day">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009 more than 233 teams participated in the tournament.<ref name="USAF Armed Forces Day" /> Several golf tournaments are held each year at Desert Lakes Golf Course, including the Robert W. Hamilton Charity Golf Classic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Alamogordo's sole professional sports team is the White Sands Pupfish, a baseball team that played at Jim Griggs Field from 2011 to 2019, in the independent Pecos League, but did not play in a 4 team, abridged 2020 season hosted in Houston due to pandemic concerns.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref>
Parks and recreation
Alamogordo has numerous small parks scattered through the city, and a few larger ones. Some notable parks include:<ref name="Parks Map"> Template:Cite journal </ref>
- Alameda Park is a city park lying on the west side of White Sands Boulevard between Tenth Street and Indian Wells Road. Most of the park is shaded by cottonwood trees. At the south end of the park is Alameda Park Zoo and at the north end is The Toy Train Depot, a railroad and toy train museum.<ref name="Chamber Tourism">
Template:Cite web </ref>
- Washington Park is a city park in the center of town, bounded by Washington and Oregon Avenues and running from First Street to Indian Wells Road. City Hall and several other city buildings are located in the park.<ref name="Parks Map" /> At the north end of the park is Kids Kingdom,<ref name="ADN Kids Kingdom">
Template:Cite journal </ref> a children's play area with a giant jungle gym.
- There are public athletic fields at the Jim R. Griggs Sports Complex, located at the corner of Florida Avenue and Fairgrounds Road, and the Travis C. Hooser Ballfield Complex (also called Walker Field) located at the corner of U.S. Route 70 and Walker Road.<ref name="Parks Map" />
- The Alamogordo Family Recreation Center, at 1100 Oregon Avenue, is a city-owned facility offering a weight room, swimming pool (open seasonally), and basketball gym. There are outdoor tennis courts north of the building.<ref name="Family Rec Center">Template:Cite web</ref>
- The Alamogordo Senior Center is a city facility for senior citizens that provides a social center and an exercise room and serves congregate meals and Meals on Wheels.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Desert Lakes Golf Course is a city-owned golf course located at the south end of town on Hamilton Road at Desert Lakes Road. It is an 18-hole course. The clubhouse houses a restaurant and a pro shop. There is a PGA golf pro on duty at the course.<ref name="golf course web">
Template:Cite web </ref>
Not inside the city but nearby are several national and state parks. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is about 10 miles south on U.S. Route 54, offers camping, hiking, and picnicking.<ref name="Chamber Tourism" /> White Sands National Park is located about Template:Convert southwest of Alamogordo along U.S. Route 70. The area is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin valley area and comprises the southern part of a Template:Convert field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals.<ref name="Chamber Tourism" /> The Lincoln National Forest, whose headquarters are in Alamogordo, is a mountainous area that starts about Template:Convert northeast of Alamogordo and offers hiking, fishing, and camping.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> The Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range, located about Template:Convert north of town at 19 Rock Cliff Road in La Luz, is a supervised range with rifle, pistol, and archery ranges. Several competitions are held at the range each month.<ref name="Shooting Range">Template:Cite web</ref>
Government
Alamogordo was incorporated in 1912.<ref name="Centennial" />Template:Rp It is a charter city (also called a home rule city<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> ), and the charter is included as Part I of the Code of Ordinances.<ref name="Municipal Code"> Template:Cite web </ref> It has a Council-manager government form of government (called Commission/Manager in New Mexico).<ref name="Municipal Code" />Template:Rp There are seven city commissioners, each elected from a district within the city, on staggered 4-year terms.<ref name="Municipal Code" />Template:Rp The city manager is considered the chief executive officer of the city and is tasked to enforce and implement the City Council's directives and policy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The mayor is a member of the City Council. As of 2018, Richard Boss holds the position of mayor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Alamogordo's fiscal year ends on June 30 each year; thus Fiscal Year 2008 runs from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008. The FY 2008 budget projects income of $61,454,402<ref name="FY 2008 budget"> Template:Cite book </ref>Template:Rp and expenditures of $73,655,777.<ref name="FY 2008 budget" />Template:Rp Sources of City government income and their percentages of the whole were:<ref name="FY 2008 budget" />Template:Rp gross receipts tax (31%), miscellaneous (23%), grants (22%), user fees (19%), and property tax (5%).
Education
New Mexico State University Alamogordo is a two-year community college established in 1958. As of 2016, it has approximately 1,800 students.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There are two high schools (including the comprehensive Alamogordo High School), three middle schools, and 11 elementary schools in the Alamogordo Public School District.<ref name="CofC Schools" /> Prior to 2008 there were two private schools in Alamogordo: Legacy Christian Academy and Father James B. Hay Catholic School (the latter of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces).<ref name="CofC Schools" /> A third private school, Imago Dei Academy, opened in August 2008 and provides a classical Christian education.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
The New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a state school located in Alamogordo.<ref name="CofC Schools"> Template:Cite web </ref> The German government formerly operated the Deutsche Schule Alamogordo (German School) for children of German Air Force personnel stationed at the German tactical training center at Holloman Air Force Base until the 2019 withdrawal of German forces.<ref name=ThompsonGermanWindow>Template:Cite web</ref> Following this, the aforementioned Imago Dei Academy purchased the building.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Alamogordo Public Library serves Alamogordo and Otero County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The library at New Mexico State University Alamogordo is also open to the public.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
Media
The main newspaper in Alamogordo is Alamogordo Daily News (ADN), owned by MediaNews Group. ADN is published six days a week; on Monday, when it does not appear, subscribers receive the El Paso Times.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> ADN also publishes Hollogram, a free weekly newspaper distributed at the nearby Holloman Air Force Base and covering happenings on base.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref> There was no alternative newspapers published in Alamogordo but The Ink, a free Las Cruces monthly newspaper devoted to the arts, is distributed in the city. There is now however a free online paper operated as citizen journalism produced by 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref> The city government publishes City Profile, a monthly print newsletter that is mailed to all households in the city and is published electronically on the city web site,<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> and Communiqué, a blog with city news.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
One television station, KVBA-LD, broadcasts from Alamogordo. It has a religious format, and a weekly local news magazine broadcast Thursday through Saturday.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref><ref> Template:Cite web </ref> Cable television service is provided by Baja Broadband.<ref name="Chamber Relocation"> Template:Cite web </ref>
There are two commercial radio broadcast companies, WP Broadcasting and Burt Broadcasting; each operates several stations in several formats.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref><ref> Template:Cite web </ref> There are two "listener-supported" radio stations that do not carry advertising but depend on sponsorships and donations. KLAG has a gospel music radio format and some live coverage of local events, including many remote broadcasts from civic events.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref> KALH-LP is a low-power FM station that carries a variety radio format, network news on the hour, and local news on some hours.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> Neither station is an NPR affiliate. The local NPR outlet is KRWG-FM in Las Cruces, which reaches Alamogordo through a local relay transmitter.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
Several major motion pictures were filmed in or near Alamogordo. The 2007 film Transformers was shot primarily at White Sands Missile Range, with additional filming at Holloman Air Force Base, both in the Alamogordo area.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref> Its 2009 sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen also prominently featured these two military bases.<ref> Template:Cite news</ref> The 2009 film Year One was shot partly at White Sands National Monument, near Alamogordo.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref> Alamogordo was one of the fourteen cities profiled in the 2005 documentary 14 Days in America.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref> The Otero County Film Office maintains a list<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> of films shot partly or wholly in Alamogordo and Otero County.
In May 2013, Alamogordo's City Commission approved a deal for Canada-based film production company Fuel Industries to excavate the Atari landfill site.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> Fuel Entertainment partnered with Xbox Entertainment Studios and Lightbox to make a documentary about the massive 1983 Atari video game burial, said to be one of the gaming culture's greatest urban legends. On April 26, 2014, video game archaeologists began sifting through years of trash from the old Alamogordo landfill.<ref name="Alamogordo Daily News">Template:Cite web</ref> The first batch of E.T. games was discovered after about three hours of digging,<ref> Template:Cite news</ref> and hundreds more were found in the mounds of trash and dirt scooped by a backhoe.<ref> Template:Cite web</ref> In the deal between the City of Alamogordo and Fuel Entertainment regarding the excavation, Fuel Entertainment was to be given 250 games or 10 percent of what was found.<ref name="Alamogordo Daily News"/>
Cathryn Alpert's 1995 novel Rocket City takes place in and around Alamogordo.
Infrastructure
Major highways
The major intercity surface routes from Alamogordo are U.S. Highways 54, 70, and 82, all of which are four-lane roads. The major north–south street within the city is White Sands Boulevard. The Charlie T. Lee Memorial Relief Route, which is designated as U.S. Route 54 and 70, is a bypass road constructed to the west of the city in 2001 to relieve congestion on White Sands Boulevard.<ref name="Relief Route PR"> Template:Cite press release </ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
U.S. Route 70 and U.S. Route 54 traverses through the north and south ends of the city.<ref name="Relief Route PR" /> At the south end of the city, White Sands Boulevard is a major named street that merges into U.S. Route 54/Charles T. Lee Memorial Relief Route, running south to El Paso, Texas. In the south part of the city, U.S. Route 70 splits from U.S. Route 54 in a southwestern direction towards Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands National Park, White Sands Missile Range, and Las Cruces. At the north end of the city, White Sands Boulevard and the Charles T. Lee Memorial Relief Route become a merged U.S. Route 54 and U.S. Route 70 running north to Tularosa. U.S. Route 82 starts at the same point and runs east to Cloudcroft and the mountain communities of Otero County, and then to Artesia. Meanwhile, in Tularosa, U.S. 70 and U.S. 54 both split in which U.S. 70 heads east through the mountains, and towards Ruidoso and Roswell, while U.S. 54 heads north towards Carrizozo and keeps going north until it heads east again starting in Vaughn.
Other transportation
Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport is the municipal airport located in the Alamogordo area. It is primarily used for general aviation.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> There is no longer scheduled commercial service from New Mexico Airlines, previously operated under a subsidy from the Essential Air Service program.<ref>Ended in April 2012 Template:Cite news </ref>
In 2008, Greyhound Lines offered intercity bus service to Alamogordo.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> As of 2017, there was a daily shuttle van service between Alamogordo and El Paso International Airport.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
Z-Trans is the mass transit system, providing paratransit and scheduled service within the city center and to White Sands Mall, Holloman Air Force Base and Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino in Mescalero. Z-Trans is unusual in that it is privately owned (by Zia Therapy Center, a non-profit), although it does get some local and state subsidies.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
Union Pacific provides railroad freight services. CurrentlyTemplate:When there is no intercity passenger train service.
As of 2003, the Alamogordo city government was building a network of bike routes and walking routes. More information and maps are in the Alamogordo Comprehensive Plan.<ref name="Comprehensive Plan"> Template:Cite journal </ref>Template:Rp In 2005, the New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association operated a Rails to Trails project to convert old railroad beds to walking trails. Its trail system in Otero County, the Cloud Climbing Rail Trail, is planned to eventually surround Alamogordo.<ref name="Comprehensive Plan" />Template:Rp<ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
Utilities
Electric power is supplied within the city by PNM Resources.<ref name="Chamber Relocation" /> PNM also provides electrical power in the Tularosa Basin, while Otero County Electric Cooperative, a member cooperative of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and of Touchstone Energy, serves other areas of the county.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> Natural gas is supplied within the city by New Mexico Gas Company.<ref name="Chamber Relocation" /> Severn Trent operates both the water and sewage treatment facilities for the City of Alamogordo. Severn Trent maintains all water storage facilities, booster pump stations, city wells and treats the waste water to be re-used by the city to water the parks, Desert Lakes Golf Course and is sold to construction companies for dust control. Rural houses have individual wells.<ref> Template:Cite journal </ref>
Alamogordo has a dark sky ordinance to reduce the amount of light pollution in the night skies.<ref name="Municipal Code" />Template:Rp The ordinance was passed in 1990 to promote the growth and scientific productivity of Apache Point Observatory.<ref> Template:Cite report </ref> City streetlights are high-pressure sodium vapor lamps.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
Healthcare
Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center is a private not-for-profit 99-bed general hospital that serves the Alamogordo area. The hospital is a shared military/civilian facility that is also the hospital for nearby Holloman Air Force Base.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
The Otero County Community Health Council prepares a detailed health profile<ref name="OCCHC Health Profile">Template:Cite journal </ref> each year with many facts and figures about health in Otero County. Otero County is ranked in the middle of most health rankings within the state. New Mexico is near the bottom of most national rankings; for example, it was 38th in the United Health Foundation 2007 report, but has been slowly improving (it was 40th in 2005).<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
Notable people
Among scientists, Edward Condon, a physicist and a past director of National Institute of Standards and Technology, was born in Alamogordo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Alan Hale, an astronomer and co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, grew up in Alamogordo and lives in nearby Cloudcroft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Among politicians, Edwin L. Mechem, a past governor and United States Senator from New Mexico, was born in Alamogordo,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as was Cindy Chavez, a past member of the city council of San Jose, California.<ref>Template:Cite news </ref>
Edward Lee Howard, a former CIA case agent who allegedly gave classified material to the Russians and later defected to the Soviet Union, was an Alamogordo native.Template:Citation needed
In sports, professional soccer player Adam Frye, jockey Donna Barton Brothers, and former professional American football cornerback Conrad Hamilton were all born in Alamogordo.Template:Citation needed Professional golf brothers Brad and Bart Bryant are from Alamogordo.Template:Citation needed
Alexis Duprey, crowned Miss New Mexico in 2013 and again in 2015, is from Alamogordo.Template:Citation needed Mai Shanley, who became Miss USA 1984, represented the city as Miss New Mexico USA.Template:Citation needed
The lead singer of the 2020 Grammy-nominated Black Pumas, Eric Burton, grew up in Alamogordo and graduated from Alamogordo High School.Template:Citation needed
References
External links
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