Alamogordo, New Mexico
125944
225947950
2008-07-16T04:03:19Z
WHATaintNOcountryIeverHEARDofDOtheySPEAKenglishINwhat
1154168
/* Atomic research */km
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = The City of Alamogordo
|settlement_type = [[City]]
|nickname = A-town, The Space City, Alamo
|motto = The Gem of the White Sands
|image_skyline = Alamogordo, NM.jpg
|imagesize = 250px
|image_caption = White Sands Boulevard in Alamogordo
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = Otero_County_New_Mexico_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alamogordo_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location in the State of [[New Mexico]]
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in New Mexico|County]]
|subdivision_name = {{USA}}
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|New Mexico}}
|subdivision_name2 = [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]]{{GR|3}} - [[County seat|seat]]{{GR|6}}
|government_type = [[Council-manager government|Commission/Manager]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Steve Brockett
|leader_title1 = Mayor Pro Tem
|leader_name1 = Chris Lujan
|leader_title2 = [[City Manager]]
|leader_name2 = (vacant since 2008-07-14)
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = [[1898]]
|established_title1 = Incorporated
|established_date1 = [[1912]]
|area_magnitude = 1 E7
|area_total_sq_mi = 19.4
|area_total_km2 = 50.1
|area_land_sq_mi = 19.4
|area_land_km2 = 50.1
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
|area_water_km2 = 0.0
|population_as_of = 2007
|population_footnotes =
<ref name="Census PopEst Cities 2007">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-35.csv
|title= Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in New Mexico, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (SUB-EST2007-04-35)
|accessdate= 2008-07-15
|date= 2008-07-10
|publisher= US Census Bureau, Population Division
}}
</ref>
|population_total = 35607
|timezone = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset = -7
|timezone_DST = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -6
|latd = 32 |latm = 53 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
|longd = 105 |longm = 57 |longs = 8 |longEW = W
|elevation_m = 1321
|elevation_ft = 4334
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]s<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp | title = ZIP Code Lookup| format = [[JavaScript]]/[[HTML]] | publisher = [[United States Postal Service]] | accessdate = January 1 | accessyear = 2008}}</ref>
|postal_code = 88310, 88311 ([[PO Box]])
|area_code = [[Area code 575|575]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 35-01780
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:0903054 0903054]
|footnotes =
|website = http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us
}}
'''Alamogordo''' is a city in [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]], [[New Mexico]], [[United States of America]]. The population was 35,582 at the 2000 census. The city name is a [[Spanish language|Spanish]] word meaning "fat [[cottonwood]]". It is the [[county seat]] of [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]].{{GR|6}} [[Holloman Air Force Base]] and [[White Sands Missile Range]] are two major military bases located near Alamogordo. The town has had its share of notability as the first test site for the atomic bomb and home to The White Sands International Film Festival.
== History ==
Alamogordo was founded in June, 1898, when the El Paso and Northwestern Railroad, owned by Charles B. Eddy, extended the [[railway]] to the town. Eddy influenced the design of the community, which included large wide thoroughfares and tree-lines irrigation canals. <ref>{{Cite web
| title = Alamogordo-city of the "fat cottonwood"
| accessdate = 2008-05-19
| url = http://www.southernnewmexico.com/articles/87/1/Alamogordo-city-of-the-quotfat-cottonwoodquot/Page1.html
}}</ref> The name of the city was derived from the cottonwood tree. "Alamo Gordo" in Spanish translates to "fat cottonwood".
Alamogordo's original city plan calls for east-west streets to be given numerical designations, while north-south streets have names that fall into related themes (states, presidents and universities). US 54 becomes "White Sands Blvd." in Alamogordo, however, it was originally named "Pennsylvania Ave".
Several buildings in Alamogordo were constructed by the [[Works Progress Administration]]. These include the '''Federal Building''' at 1101 New York Avenue, a [[Pueblo Revival Style architecture|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]] completed in 1942. The Post Office moved out in 1961, and the building was used by a succession of Federal agencies. It is currently occupied by the [[United States Forest Service]] as the headquarters of the [[Lincoln National Forest]].
<ref name="Garcia Forest Service">
{{Citation
| last = Garcia
| first = Joe
| publication-date = 2007-09-04
| title = The New Deal and the Forest Service headquarters
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 9A
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
The Forest Service plans to move to a larger building, and ownership of the Federal Building will be transferred to [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]] government and the building will be used for county government offices.
<ref name="London Forest Service">
{{Citation
| last = London
| first = Laura
| publication-date = 2008-01-15
| title = County gets Forest Service building
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 1A,7A
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
=== Atomic research ===
The first [[atomic bomb]] in history was detonated at the Alamogordo Test Range on [[July 16]], [[1945]]. <ref>{{Cite web
| title = The Development and Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
| accessdate = 2008-05-20
| url = http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/peace/nuclear_weapons/readmore.html
}}</ref> The site of the explosion, called [[Trinity Site]], is located on property owned by the present-day [[White Sands Missile Range]]. This was the only [[nuclear testing|nuclear test]] that took place at this location. Trinity Site is located approximately {{convert|60|mi}} from Alamogordo. The site is open to visitors on the first Saturday in April and first Saturday in October.
=== Aeronautics and space exploration ===
On December 10, 1954 [[Colonel John Paul Stapp]] rode a rocket sled at [[Holloman AFB]] just outside Alamogordo that decelerated from 632 to 0 miles per hour in one and one-quarter seconds. His body experienced 46.2 times the force of gravity, in essence making him weigh 6,800 pounds for that brief time. At the time he was leading an Air Force team investigating the effects on the body of high altitude ejection seats.
[[Ham the Chimp|Ham]] was the world's first astrochimp, trumpeted by the United States as "the first free creature in outer space". He blasted off from [[Cape Canaveral, Florida]], on [[January 31]], [[1961]], and traveled 155 miles in 16.5 minutes before splashing down safely in the Atlantic. After Ham died in [[1983]] at age 27, his body was shipped west and was buried in the front lawn of the [[New Mexico Museum of Space History]] in Alamogordo, under the first slab of natural-tone concrete poured in [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]].
In March 1982, [[Space Shuttle Columbia]] ended the third Shuttle mission, [[STS-3]], by making the only landing to ever occur outside of California or Florida. The orbiter touched down at [[White Sands Space Harbor]] near Alamogordo.
=== Book Burnings ===
Alamogordo briefly made international news in late [[2001]] when Christ Community Church held a public [[book burning]]
on December 30.
<ref name ="Matise2">
{{Citation
| last = Matise
| first = James
| publication-date = December 31, 2001
| title = Holy bonfire consumes amid protest
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| publication-place = Alamogordo, NM
| pages = 1
}}
</ref>
<ref name ="BBC">
{{cite web
|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1735623.stm
|title= 'Satanic' Harry Potter books burnt
|accessdate= 2008-05-01
|date= 2001-12-31
|publisher= British Broadcasting Corporation
}}
</ref>
<ref name ="CNN">
{{cite web
|url= http://archives.cnn.com/2001/fyi/teachers.ednews/12/31/potter.book.burning.ap/
|title= Church group burns Potter books
|accessdate= 2008-05-01
|author= Associated Press
|date= 2001-12-31
|publisher= Cable News Network
}}
</ref>
<ref name = "Guardian">
{{Citation
| last = Hall
| first = Sarah
| publication-date = 2002-01-01
| title = Harry Potter and the sermon of fire
| periodical = The Guardian
| publication-place = London, England
| pages = 12
| url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/jan/01/books.harrypotter
| issn = 02613077
| accessdate = 2008-05-07
}}
</ref>
<ref name = "ALA">
{{Citation
| last = Goldberg
| first = Beverly
| author-link =
| publication-date = February 2002
| title = Pastor's Potter book fire inflames N. Mex. Town. (News Fronts)
| periodical = American Libraries
| volume = 33
| issue = 2
| pages = 19
| issn = 00029769
}}
</ref>
<ref name = "NYT2002">
{{Citation
| publication-date = 2002-01-01
| title = Burning Books in New Mexico (photo, caption, cutline)
| periodical = New York Times
| volume = 151
| issue =
| pages = A19
| issn = 03624331
}}
</ref>
Items burned included books in the [[Harry Potter]] series,
<ref name ="Matise2"/>
<ref name ="BBC"/>
<ref name ="CNN"/>
<ref name ="Guardian"/>
<ref name ="ALA"/>
<ref name = "NYT2002" />
novels by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]
<ref name ="Matise2"/>
<ref name = "ALA"/>
and [[Stephen King]],
<ref name ="BBC"/>
[[Star Wars]] material,
<ref name ="Matise2"/>
[[Complete Works of Shakespeare|Complete Works of William Shakespeare]],
<ref name ="Matise2"/>
<ref name ="ALA"/>
<ref name = "NYT2002" />
magazines,
<ref name = "CNN"/>
<ref name = "ALA"/>
<ref name = "Brock"/>
and a Ouija board.
<ref name ="Matise2"/>
<ref name ="BBC"/>
<ref name ="ALA"/>
<ref name = "Brock"/>
Pastor Jack Brock called the Potter books "a masterpiece of [[Satanic]] deception"
<ref name ="CNN"/>
<ref name = "Guardian"/>
<ref name ="ALA"/>
<ref name = "NYT2002" />
and said the character taught children to take up wizardry.
<ref name ="BBC"/>
"The greatest danger is these children are enamored with Potter and they go on the Internet to learn more about the book, and they're directed to other places where they can see information about [[Wicca]]," Brock said.
<ref name ="Matise1">
{{Citation
| last = Matise
| first = James
| publication-date = December 23, 2001
| title = Pastor decries Harry Potter message
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| publication-place = Alamogordo, NM
| pages = 1
}}
</ref>
After the event Brock wrote, "At our holy bonfire, some burned books they felt to be a personal hindrance to them spiritually, not only 'Potter' materials but also pornographic magazines, an Ouija board, and some burned other books."
<ref name = "Brock">
{{Citation
| last = Brock
| first = Jack D.
| publication-date = January 8, 2002
| title = 'Holy bonfire' not planned for media attention
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| publication-place = Alamogordo, NM
| pages = 4
}}
</ref>
Several hundred people protested the event.
<ref name ="Matise2"/>
<ref name ="BBC"/>
<ref name ="CNN"/>
<ref name ="Guardian"/>
<ref name ="ALA"/>
"Burning books leads to ignorance and that's why I'm standing out here," said Vicky O'Reilly.
<ref name = "BBC"/>
<ref name = "Guardian"/>
"It may be useless but we want (the church) to know the community is not behind them," said Joann Booth.
<ref name = "CNN"/>
<ref name = "Guardian"/>
Alamogordo Public Library continued a display of Harry Potter books that was originally mounted in conjunction with the movie premiere of [[Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (film)]].
<ref name = "ALA"/>
Cash donations were made to the library, and library director Jim Preston said "With this money we are purchasing additional copies of Harry Potter, Tolkien, and Shakespeare."
<ref name = "ALA"/>
== Geography ==
Alamogordo is located at {{coor dms|32|53|45|N|105|57|8|W|city}} (32.895940, -105.952134){{GR|1}}, which places it on the western flank of the [[Sacramento Mountains]] and on the eastern edge of the [[Tularosa Basin]]. Elevation is 4334 feet.
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 19.4 [[square mile]]s (50.1 [[km²]]), all of it land.
== Demographics ==
=== Census 2000 data===
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 35,582 people, 13,704 households, and 9,729 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,839.0 people per square mile (710.0/km²). There were 15,920 housing units at an average density of 822.8/sq mi (317.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.35% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]]; [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 31.99% of the population. 25.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.53% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.17% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 12.07% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.25% from two or more races.
There were 13,704 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were [[Marriage|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.
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.
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.
===2007 estimates===
Alamogordo's July 1, 2007 population was estimated at 35,607 by the [[United States Census Bureau]]'s Population Estimates Program. <ref name="Census PopEst Cities 2007" />
== Economy ==
{| class="toccolours" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em 0 1em 1em; font-size: 95%;"
|-
! colspan=2 bgcolor="#ccccff" align="center"| Otero County non-agricultural civilian employment 2006
|-
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting|| align="right" |100
|-
| Mining||align="right" |28
|-
| Utilities||align="right" |68
|-
| Construction||align="right" |1,348
|-
| Manufacturing||align="right" |227
|-
| Wholesale trade||align="right" |211
|-
| Retail trade||align="right" |2,052
|-
| Transportation & warehousing||align="right" |537
|-
| Information||align="right" |234
|-
| Finance & insurance||align="right" |436
|-
| Real estate & rental & leasing||align="right" |162
|-
| Professional & technical services||align="right" |729
|-
| Management of companies & enterprises||align="right" |43
|-
| Administrative & waste services||align="right" |883
|-
| Educational services||align="right" |48
|-
| Health care & social assistance||align="right" |1,994
|-
| Arts, entertainment & recreation||align="right" |63
|-
| Accommodation & food services||align="right" |1,590
|-
| Other services, except public admin||align="right" |423
|-
| Non-classifiable||align="right" |3
|-
| '''Total private sector'''||align="right" |'''11,179'''
|-
| Federal||align="right" |2,004
|-
| State||align="right" |801
|-
| Local||align="right" |3,838
|-
| '''Public administration'''||align="right" |'''6,643'''
|-
| '''Grand total'''||align="right" |'''17,822'''
|-
|colspan="2" | <sub> '''Source:''' New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions,
Employment Statistics, Table D </sub>
<ref>
{{cite paper
| title = Employment Statistics
| publisher = New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
| date =
| url = http://www.dws.state.nm.us/LMI/dws-data.html
| accessdate = 2008-06-02
}}
</ref>
|}
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. In 2006 the per capita income in Otero County was $22,798
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.unm.edu/~bber/econ/co-pci.htm
|title= Per Capita Personal Income, New Mexico Counties 1990-2006
|accessdate= 2008-06-04
|publisher= University of New Mexico, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
}}
</ref>
versus per capita income in New Mexico of $29,929.
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.unm.edu/~bber/econ/us-pci.htm
|title= Per Capita Personal Income by State, 1990 to 2007
|accessdate= 2008-06-04
|publisher= University of New Mexico, Bureau of Business and Economic Research
}}
</ref>
=== Economic history ===
Alamogordo was founded as a company town to support the building of the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad,
<ref name="Centennial">
{{cite book
|last= Townsend
|first= David
|coauthors= Clif McDonald
|title= Centennial: Where the Old West Meets the New Frontier
|origyear= 1999
|origmonth= July
|publisher= Alamogordo/Otero County Centennial Celebration
|location= Alamogordo, NM
|isbn= 9781887045056
|oclc= 41400788
}}
</ref>{{Rp|2}}
a portion of the transcontinental railway that was being constructed in the late 1800s. Initially its main industry was timbering for railroad ties. <ref name="Centennial" />{{Rp|1}} The railroad founders were also ambitious to found a major town here, that would persist after the railroad was completed, and formed the Alamogordo Improvement Company to develop the area. <ref name="Centennial" />{{Rp|5}} Tourism became an important part of the local economy from the creation of [[White Sands National Monument]] in 1934. <ref name="Centennial" />{{Rp|53}} 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" />{{Rp|39,53}} 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" />{{Rp|44,58}}
=== Military impact ===
Nearby [[Holloman Air Force Base]] is the largest employer in Alamogordo, and has a major effect on the local economy. According to the 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office, as of January 2008 Holloman directly employs 6,111 person 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">
{{cite paper
| title = Economic Impact Statement 2007
| publisher = Holloman Air Force Base, 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
| date = 2008
}}
</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" />
[[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>
{{Citation
| publication-date = 2007-08-07
| title = State campaign to lure defense jobs
| pages = 1A
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
===Economic development===
Otero County Economic Development Council is a nonprofit organization founded in 1984. Its focus has generaly been on job creation and recruiting and expanding businesses in [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]], including helping them satisfy business regulations in New Mexico and lining up funding.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Churchman
| first = Tamara
| publication-date = 1992-07-20
| title = OCEDC creates structure for economic development
| pages =
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Border
| first = Heather
| publication-date = 1993-09-19
| title = Otero County's future: What shape will it take?
| pages = 1B
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
Its role expanded in 2000 when Alamogordo passed an Economic Development [[Gross receipts tax|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>
{{Citation
| last = Parker
| first = Gaylon
| publication-date = 2001-03-28
| title = City Commission approves OCEDC fund
| pages =
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
Formal economic development plans have been adopted by Alamogordo
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Rogers
| first = Dave
| publication-date = 1996-07-11
| title = City may be able to offer incentives
| pages = 8A
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
and by Otero County
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Parker
| first = Gaylon
| publication-date = 2000-08-31
| title = County Commission approved economic development plan
| pages = 5B
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
and are available for review.
<ref>
{{cite paper
| author = Covell Consultants
| title = Alamogordo Economic Development Strategic Plan
| publisher = City of Alamogordo
| date = 1996-08-24
| url = http://www.ocedc.com/download/images/AEDSP.PDF
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-06-04
}}
</ref>
<ref>{{cite paper
| title = Strategic Planning for Economic Development for Otero County, New Mexico
| publisher = Otero County Economic Development Council
| date = 2000
| url = http://www.ocedc.com/download/images/Plan.PDF
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-06-04
}}
</ref>
Employers recruited by OCEDC using financial incentives include:
* a [[1-800-Flowers]] [[call center]] that opened in November 2001 and received $1.25 million in city rent abatements from City of Alamogordo, a 50% reduction in property taxes from Otero County, and $940,000 in-plant training funds from the state <ref>
{{Citation
| last = Parker
| first = Gaylon
| publication-date = 2001-09-20
| title = Flowers.com clears hurdles to opening
| pages = 1
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref><ref>
{{Citation
| last = Shinabery
| first = Michael
| publication-date = 2001-006-20
| title = Commission OKs Flowers tax abatement
| pages = 2
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
* a Sunbaked Biscuits cookie factory that opened in 2006 and received $800,000 in job-training incentives from the state <ref name="ADN Homans visit">
{{Citation
| last = Bear
| first = John
| publication-date = 2006-09-28
| title = Homans makes follow-up visit
| pages = 1A, 2A
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
* a Marietta Baking cookie factory, that took over the Sunbaked Biscuits factory when the latter went out of business in 2007, and received some interest-free loans, some job-training incentives, and some forgiveness of indebtedness for job creation <ref>
{{Citation
| last = Becker
| first = Michael
| publication-date = 2007-08-18
| title = Marietta working to take over Sunbaked
| pages = 1A, 2A
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref><ref>
{{Citation
| last = Anderson
| first = Karl
| publication-date = 2007-11-30
| title = Marietta begins production
| pages = 1A, 6A
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
* a branch office of PreCheck Inc., a company performing background checks of health-care workers, opened in 2006. They 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 aces of land from Heritage Group, a developer. <ref>
{{Citation
| last = Hunt
| first = Laura
| publication-date = 2006-02-14
| title = New business checks in
| pages = 1A, 6A
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
The Otero County Film Office,
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.filmotero.com
|title= Film Otero
|accessdate= 2008-05-25
|publisher= Otero County Film Office
}}
</ref>
an office of Otero County Economic Development Council, promotes filmmaking in Otero County by publicizing film locations in the county and [[New Mexico]]'s film financial incentive programs and by recruiting [[extra (actor)|extra]]s for film productions. It sponsors the Desert Light Film Competition for middle and high school students to encourage learning about the film industry.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Brown
| first = Monica M.
| publication-date = 2005-10-20
| title = Young filmmakers bring light to film festival
| pages =
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| publication-place = Alamogordo, NM
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
The 2007 film [[Transformers (film)|Transformers]] spent $5.5 million in New Mexico and $1 million in Alamogordo.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Stevens
| first = Jeff
| publication-date = 2006-11-24
| title = Transformers movie spent $1 mil. in Alamogordo
| pages =
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| publication-place = Alamogordo, NM
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
A spaceport tax district is being formed in 2008 to fund construction of [[Spaceport America]] near [[Upham, New Mexico]]. [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico|Doña Ana County]] and [[Sierra County, New Mexico|Sierra County]] are members of the spaceport tax district and [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]] is considering joining the district.
<ref>
{{cite news
| first = Jose L.
| last = Medina
| title = Otero County next in line for spaceport tax election
| url = http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_9033519
| publisher = Las Cruces Sun-News
| id = {{ISSN|1081-2172}}
| date = 2008-04-23
| accessdate = 2008-06-14
}}
</ref>
== Arts and culture ==
There are two amateur theatrical groups in Alamgordo. Alamogordo Music Theatre
<ref name="AMT">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.zianet.com/amt/
|title= Alamogordo Music Theatre
|accessdate= 2008-05-21
}}
</ref>
puts on two musical productions each year at the [[Flickinger Center for Performing Arts]]. The NMSU-A Theatre on the Hill usually puts on one performance a year at the Rohovec Fine Arts Center on the [[New Mexico State University]] at Alamogordo campus.
=== Annual cultural events ===
Alamogordo is home to [[The White Sands International Film Festival]]. The festival is a week long interactive event in March that showcases narrative and documentary films from around the world. The festival features and actively supports the work of Hispanic and New Mexican Filmmakers. The White Sands International Film Festival was established by filmmaker David William Gibbons, casting director Donn Finn, and writer Sam Smiley.
Earth Day Fair is held annually on the last Saturday in April 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">
{{cite journal
| last = Österreich
| first = Elva
| date = 2008-04-23
| title = Organizers tout biggest Earth Day Fair yet
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
Otero County Fair is held annually in early August at the County Fairgrounds at the corner of White Sands Boulevard and Fairgrounds Road in Alamogordo. 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">
{{cite journal
| last = London
| first = Laura
| date = 2007-08-16
| title = County fair gets under way
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</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, but also features music, entertainment, and food.
<ref name="Cottonwood Festival">
{{cite web
|url= http://alamogordo.com/activites/cottonwood.html
|title= Cottonwood Arts and Crafts Festival
|accessdate= 2008-05-21
}}
</ref>
<ref name="ADN Cottonwood Festival">
{{cite journal
| last = Anderson
| first = Karl
| date = 2007-09-02
| title = Cottonwood Festival breaks attendance record
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
White Sands Balloon Invitational is held annually in late September. Hot air balloons launch from the Riner-Steinhoff Soccerplex on First Street or from [[White Sands National Monument]] and float over the [[Tularosa Basin]].
<ref name="ADN Balloon Invitational">
{{cite journal
| last = Anderson
| first = Karl
| date = 2007-09-16
| title = Pilots' event draws 400
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
[[Oktoberfest]] is celebrated annually in late September, hosted by the [[German Air Force]] at [[Holloman Air Force Base]]. Everyone in the community is invited, and shuttle buses run between Alamogordo and the base.
=== Museums and other points of interest ===
[[New Mexico Museum of Space History]] is a state museum housing artifacts related to space flight. It incorporates the International Space Hall of Fame. [[Ham the Astrochimp]] is buried here.
[[Flickinger Center for Performing Arts]], located at 1110 New York Avenue, is a 590-seat theater hosting concerts and live theatrical performances.
<ref name="ADN Flickinger">
{{cite journal
| last = Wells
| first = Kandra
| date = 2008-04-01
| title = Flick continues rebuilding process
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
<ref name="Flickinger web">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.flickingercenter.com/
|title= Flickinger Center for Performing Arts
|accessdate= 2008-05-22
}}
</ref>
[[Alamogordo Museum of History]] (formerly Tularosa Basin Historical Society Museum) 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">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.alamogordomuseum.org/
|title= Tularosa Basin Historical Society
|accessdate= 2008-05-22
}}
</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 for one month until [[Arizona]] was admitted.
<ref name="TBHS flag web">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.alamogordomuseum.org/47star.html
|title= Tularosa Basin Historical Society - Our 47 Star Flag
|accessdate= 2008-05-22
}}
</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">
{{Citation
| title = Pioneer
| publication-place = Alamogordo, NM
| publisher = Tularosa Basin Historical Society
| oclc = 45084643
}}
</ref>
The Museum is currently located at 1301 N. White Sands Boulevard, but plans to move by the end of 2008 to a historic adobe building at the corner of White Sands Boulevard and Tenth Street.
<ref name="ADN TBHS">
{{cite journal
| last = London
| first = Laura
| date = 2007-10-25
| title = City hears museum plans
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
American Armed Forces Museum is a museum under construction on [[U. S. Route 82]] near Florida Avenue. It will collect and display all kinds of military memorabilia from all wars and military engagements. It is expected to open January 2009.
<ref name="ADN Armed Forces Museum">
{{cite journal
| last = Becker
| first = Michael
| date = 2008-05-08
| title = Commission weighs bids
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
<ref name="Armed Forces Museum web">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.americanarmedforcesmuseum.org/
|title= American Armed Forces Museum
|accessdate= 2008-05-21
}}
</ref>
===References in popular culture===
* Cathryn Alpert's 1995 novel ''Rocket City'' <ref>
{{cite book
|last= Alpert
|first= Cathryn
|title= Rocket City
|origyear=1995
|publisher= MacMurray & Beck
|location= Aspen, CO
|isbn=1878448625
|oclc=31606483
}}
</ref> is set in Alamogordo (the Rocket City of the title) and in [[Artesia, New Mexico]].
* [[Eugene Manlove Rhodes]]'s 1914 novel ''Bransford in Arcadia'' <ref>
{{cite book
|last= Rhodes
|first= Eugene Manlove
|authorlink= Eugene Manlove Rhodes
|title= Bransford in Arcadia : or, The little eohippus
|origyear= 1914
|year= 1975
|publisher= University of Oklahoma Press
|location= Norman, OK
|isbn= 9780806112619
|oclc= 1091666
}}
</ref> is set in Arcadia, a fictionalized Alamogordo.
*The 1954 science-fiction film [[Them!]] is set near Alamogordo and in [[Los Angeles, California]].
* [[USS Alamogordo (ARDM-2)]] was a floating dry dock in the [[US Navy]]. It was struck from the Naval Register in 1993 and transferred to [[Ecuador]] in 2000.
<ref name="ADN USS Alamogordo">
{{Citation
| last = Anderson
| first = Karl
| publication-date = 2007-11-27
| title = USS Alamogordo, floating drydock
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
== Sports ==
Alamogordo has no professional athletic teams. The Alamogordo Desert Dawgs
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.alamodawgs.com/
|title= Alamogordo Desert Dawgs Football
|accessdate= 2008-05-24
}}
</ref>
<ref name="ADN Desert Dawgs">
{{Citation
| last = Kaiser
| first = Gidal
| publication-date = 2008-02-21
| title = The Dawgs are coming
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
are an amateur football team formed in 2008. They are part of the New Mexico Amateur Football League.
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/?u=NMAFL&t=c&s=football&p=home
|title= New Mexico Amateur Football League
|accessdate= 2008-05-24
}}
</ref>
Home games are played at Griggs Field in Alamogordo.
There are a number of annual sports events. The Tommy Padilla Memorial Basketball Tournament
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.tommypadillatourney.com/
|title= Tommy Padilla Memorial Basketball Tournament
|accessdate= 2008-05-24
}}
</ref>
is an annual event held in March. It is an adult tournament that raises money for scholarships for Alamogordo High School students.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Kaiser
| first = Gidal
| publication-date = 2008-03-28
| title = Padilla tournament starts today
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
[[Gus Macker]] 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is a national program that holds a tournament in Alamogordo each year in May.
Several tournaments are held each year at Desert Lakes Golf Course, including the Robert W. Hamilton Charity Golf Classic.
<ref>
{{Citation
| publication-date = 2007-06-26
| title = Tournament raises $10,800
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
Many local charitable groups put on benefit tournaments at the course.
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 1-1/2 mile walk held each October in [[Alameda Park Zoo]]. It incorporates a [[health fair]], live music, and fun events for kids.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Tilman
| first = Lori
| last2 = Loney
| first2 = Lee Ann
| publication-date = 2007-10-07
| title = It's Walk Out West time again
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</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>
{{Citation
| last = Tilman
| first = Lori
| publication-date = 2007-06-30
| title = Walk/Dance Otero programs for the community
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
Both programs are run through Otero PATH, a local nonprofit that encourages preventive measures for good health.
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.oteropath.com/
|title= Otero PATH - Preventive Action Towards Health
|accessdate= 2008-05-24
}}
</ref>
== Parks and recreation ==
Alamogordo has numerous small parks scattered through the city, and a few larger ones. We mention here some of the more notable parks. A map of all the parks is available.
<ref name="Parks Map">
{{cite paper
| title = City of Alamogordo Parks
| publisher = City of Alamogordo
| date = 2007-07-05
| url = http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Image/COA/Parks+Map.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-05-22
}}
</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]], the oldest zoo in the Southwest, and at the north end is [[The Toy Train Depot]], a railroad and toy train museum.
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. Several city buildings are located in the park. At the north end of the park is Kids Kingdom,
<ref name="ADN Kids Kingdom">
{{cite journal
| last = Hunt
| first = Laura
| date = 2005-10-4
| title = Kids Kingdom turns 10
| journal = Alamogordo Daily News
| oclc = 10674593
| pages = 1A
}}
</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.
The Alamogordo Family Recreation Center, at 1100 Oregon Avenue, is a city-owned facility offering a weight room, a swimming pool (open year round), and a basketball gym. There are outdoor tennis courts north of the building.
<ref name="Family Rec Center">
{{cite web
|url= http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/communityservices/familyrec.htm
|title= Family Recreation Center
|accessdate= 2008-05-21
|publisher= City of Alamogordo
}}
</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">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.desertlakesgolf.com/
|title= Desert Lakes Golf Course
| publisher = City of Alamogordo
|accessdate= 2008-05-22
}}
</ref>
Not inside the city but nearby are:
* [[Oliver Lee Memorial State Park]], about 10 miles south on [[U.S. Route 54]], offers camping, hiking, and picnicking.
* [[White Sands National Monument]], a [[U.S. National Monument]], is located about 15 miles (25km) 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 275-square mile (710 square kilometer) field of white [[sand dune]]s composed of [[gypsum]] crystals.
* Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range, located about 3 miles 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"> {{cite web|url= http://co.otero.nm.us/MiscDept/shootrg.htm|title= Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range|publisher = County of Otero|accessdate= 2008-05-22}}</ref>
== Government ==
Alamogordo was incorporated in 1912. It is a [[charter city]] (also called a home rule city
<ref>
{{cite paper
| last = Lang
| first = Diane
| title = Dillon's Rule...and the Birth of Home Rule
| publisher = New Mexico Municipal League
| date = December, 1991
| url = http://nmml.org/files/2008/01/dillon.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-05-24
}}
</ref>
), and the charter is included as Part I of the Code of Ordinances.
<ref name="Municipal Code">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10991&sid=31
|title= Code of Ordinances
|accessdate= 2008-05-24
|publisher= City of Alamogordo (published on Web by Municode.com)
}}
</ref>
It has a [[Council-manager government]] form of government (called Commission/Manager in New Mexico). <ref name="Municipal Code" />{{Rp|Article II}} There are seven city commissioners, each elected from a district within the city, on staggered 4-year terms. <ref name="Municipal Code" />{{Rp|Article VII}}
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">
{{cite book
|title= City of Alamogordo Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Budget
|publisher= City of Alamogordo
|location= Alamogordo, NM
}}
</ref>{{Rp|7}}
and expenditures of $73,655,777. <ref name="FY 2008 budget" />{{Rp|5}} City income comes from: <ref name="FY 2008 budget" />{{Rp|7}}
*[[Gross receipts tax]] 31%
* Miscellaneous 23%
* [[Grant (money)|Grants]] 22%
* [[User fees]] 19%
* [[Property tax]] 5%
== Education ==
There are two high schools, three middle schools, and 11 elementary schools in the Alamogordo Public School District. There are two private schools in Alamogordo. The German government operates the Deutsche Schule for children of [[Luftwaffe|German Air Force]] servicemen stationed at the German tactical training center at [[Holloman Air Force Base]]. The New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a state school located in Alamogordo.
<ref name="CofC Schools">
{{cite web
|url= http://alamogordo.com/profile/education.html
|title= Alamogordo Area Schools
|accessdate= 2008-05-20
|publisher= Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce
}}
</ref>
[[New Mexico State University]] has a branch campus at Alamogordo.
<ref name="NMSUA">
{{cite web
|url= http://alamo.nmsu.edu/
|title= NMSU at Alamogordo
|accessdate= 2008-05-20
|publisher= New Mexico State University
}}
</ref>
[[Alamogordo Public Library]] is a [[public library]] serving Alamogordo and [[Otero County, New Mexico|Otero County]]. The library at [[New Mexico State University]]'s Alamogordo campus is also open to the public.
== Media ==
The only newpaper in Alamogordo is [[Alamogordo Daily News]], owned by [[MediaNews Group]]. ''ADN'' is published six days a week; on Monday, when it does not appear, subscribers receive [[El Paso Times]]. ''ADN'' also publishes ''Hollogram'', a free weekly newspaper distributed at nearby [[Holloman Air Force Base]] and covering happenings on base. There are no alternative newspapers in Alamogordo. ''The Ink'' is a free Las Cruces monthly newspaper devoted to the arts; it is distributed in Alamogordo.
There is one television station, [[KVBA-LP]]. It has a religious format, and a weekly local news magazine broadcast Thursday through Saturday. Cable television service is provided by Baja Broadband. Several [[Las Cruces, New Mexico|Las Cruces]], [[Albuquerque]], and [[El Paso]] stations have [[relay transmitter]]s in Alamogordo. Satellite TV systems are sold by [[Dish Network]] and [[DirecTV]].
There are two commercial radio broadcast companies, WP Broadcasting and Burt Broadcasting; each operates several stations in several formats. There are two "listener-supported" radio stations, that do not carry advertising but depend on sponsorships and donations to survive. [[KUPR|KUPR-FM]] has a gospel music format and some live coverage of local events, including many [[remote broadcast]]s from civic events. KALH-LP is a low-power FM station that carries a music variety format, network news on the hour, and local news on some hours. Neither station is an [[NPR]] affiliate. The local NPR outlet is [[KRWG (FM)|KRWG-FM]] in Las Cruces, which reaches Alamogordo through a local [[relay transmitter]].
Many movies filmed scenes in or near Alamogordo and [[White Sands National Monument]], including: [[Transformers (film)|Transformers]] (2007), [[The Astronaut Farmer]] (2006), The Outfitters (1998), Lovest (1997), [[Mad Love (1995 film)|Mad Love]] (1995), [[Tank Girl (film)|Tank Girl]] (1995), New Eden (1993), [[White Sands (film)|White Sands]] (1992), [[Young Guns II]] (1990), [[Curse II: The Bite]] (1988), [[Young Guns]] (1988), [[Convoy (film)|Convoy]] (1978), [[The Man Who Fell to Earth (film)|The Man Who Fell to Earth]] (1976), [[Scandalous John]] (1971).
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.filmotero.com/film_history.html
|title= Film History Film Otero
|accessdate= 2008-05-25
|publisher= Otero County Film Office
}}
</ref>
== Infrastructure ==
=== Transportation ===
==== Major highways ====
Three [[United States highway|U.S. highways]] pass through Alamogordo:
* [[U.S. Route 54]]
* [[U.S. Route 70]]
* [[U.S. Route 82]]
[[U.S. Route 54]] enters Alamogordo from the south and merges with [[U.S. Route 70]] which enters the city from the southwest. The terminus for [[U.S. Route 82]] is in Alamogordo and begins where [[U.S. Route 54]] and [[U.S. Route 70]] merge at the southern end of the city. North of Alamogordo, [[U.S. Route 82]] diverges from the still merged [[U.S. Route 54]] and [[U.S. Route 70]]. At this point, [[U.S. Route 82]] turns east into the [[Sacramento Mountains]] and the [[Lincoln National Forest]], while [[U.S. Route 54]] and [[U.S. Route 70]] continue north several more miles until they diverge in the neighboring village of [[Tularosa, New Mexico|Tularosa]].
[[U.S. Route 54]] / [[U.S. Route 70]] splits into a business route (White Sands Boulevard) running through the city and a bypass route (Charlie T. Lee Memorial Relief Route) running west of the city.
==== Other transportation ====
[[Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport]] is the municipal airport serving the Alamogordo area. It is primarily used for [[general aviation]]. There is also scheduled commercial service from [[New Mexico Airlines]], operating under a subsidy from the [[Essential Air Service]] program.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Wells
| first = Kandra
| publication-date = 2008-01-16
| title = Confusion at Alamo airport
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages =
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
[[Greyhound Lines]] offers intercity bus service to Alamogordo. There are two taxi companies. 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, a casino in [[Mescalero, New Mexico|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>
{{Citation
| last = Price
| first = Joan
| publication-date = 2005-03-01
| title = Mescalero tribe, Z Trans begin public bus service
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 7A
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
Alamogordo is building a network of [[bike route]]s and walking routes. More information and maps are in the Alamogordo Comprehensive Plan.
<ref name="Comprehensive Plan">
{{cite paper
| author = Taschek Environmental Consulting
| authorlink =
| title = Alamogordo Comprehensive Plan 2000
| publisher = City of Alamogordo
| date = 2003-03-04
| url = http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/Community+Development/Alamogordo+Comprehensive+Master+Plan+2000.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-05-30
}}
</ref>{{Rp|42-44}}
The New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association operates a [[Rails to Trails]] project to convert old railroad beds to walking trails. Its trail system in Otero County, the Cloud Climbing Rail Trail, will eventually surround Alamogordo. <ref name="Comprehensive Plan" />{{Rp|45}}
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Shinabery
| first = Michael
| publication-date = 2005-01-12
| title = Springer hails rail trails
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages =
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
Otero Walkability Advocacy Group (formerly Alamogordo Walkability Advocacy Group) is a group that works to popularize walking and to make walking safer and more convenient.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Wagoner
| first = Alice Louise
| publication-date = 2005-08-05
| title = Grants awarded to city help fund water and trails projects
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 1A
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
=== Utilities ===
Electric power and natural gas are supplied within the city by [[PNM]]. PNM also provides electrical power in the [[Tularosa Basin]], while Otero County Electric Cooperative, a member of [[Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association]], serves the mountain areas. The natural gas service generally does not go outside the city limits, and houses in rural areas use [[LP gas]] from house tanks.
Alamogordo has a [[Dark-sky movement|dark sky]] ordinance that is intended to reduce the amount of [[light pollution]] in the night skies. <ref name="Municipal Code" />{{Rp|Article 31}} City streetlights are high-pressure [[sodium vapor lamp]]s.
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Announcements/Letters_to_the_Editor.htm
|title= Letter to the Editor from Maureen K. Schmittle, Public Communications Manager submitted May 12, 2008
|accessdate= 2008-05-31
|publisher= City of Alamogordo
}}
</ref>
City of Alamogordo operates the water system within the city limits. Rural houses have individual wells. The city system includes a [[sewage treatment]] plant to reclaim the sewer water. The reclaimed water is used to water Desert Lakes Golf Course and city parks and is sold to construction companies for dust control.
<ref>
{{cite journal
| quotes =
| last = Schmittle
| first = Maureen K.
| year = 2007
| month = September
| title = Water Projects for Alamogordo
| journal = City Profile
| pages = 2
| publisher = City of Alamogordo
| url = http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/Assets/COA+Document/City+Profile/September+Profile.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-05-31
}}
</ref>
=== Healthcare ===
==== Hospital ====
[[Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center]] is a private not-for-profit hospital that serves the Alamogordo area. It first opened in 1948 at the corner of Tenth Street and Cuba Avenue in Alamogordo, then moved in 1999 to a new building on North Scenic Drive near the [[New Mexico State University]] campus.
The hospital is a joint-use facility that acts as the hospital for nearby [[Holloman Air Force Base]]. Air Force doctors treat their hospitalized patients here.
<ref name="ADC GCRMC third anniversary">
{{Citation
| last = Brown
| first = Monica M.
| publication-date = 2002-11-15
| title = Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center: Third anniversary sees more changes, improvements
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 7A
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
The Air Force contributed $7 million to the building of the $26 million facility.
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Turner
| first = Lisa
| publication-date = 1998-11-13
| title = Air Force hands over $7 million for new hospital
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 1
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
The hospital is a Level III [[trauma center]].
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Bryan
| first = Susan Montoya
| publication-date = 2007-12-20
| title = Three trauma centers named
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 1A
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
It has 95 beds and facilities for [[MRI]], [[CAT scan]], [[dialysis]], and [[sleep disorder]] studies, and has a medical laboratory on site. <ref name="ADC GCRMC third anniversary" />
A Southwest Med Evac helicopter is stationed full time at the hospital. It is used to transport patients from the mountain areas to the hospital, and to transport patients from hospitals in [[El Paso]], [[Las Cruces]], and [[Albuquerque]].
<ref>
{{Citation
| last = Wagoner
| first = Alice Louise
| publication-date = 2005-05-11
| title = After a year of flight rescue
| periodical = Alamogordo Daily News
| pages = 2A
| oclc = 10674593
}}
</ref>
==== Health profile ====
The Otero County Community Health Council prepares a detailed health profile
<ref name="OCCHC Health Profile">
{{cite paper
| title = Otero County Community Health Profile FY2008
| publisher = Otero County Community Health Council
| url = http://oterohealthcouncil.org/resources/HealthProfileFY08.pdf
| format = PDF
| id =
| accessdate = 2008-05-29
}}
</ref>
each year with many facts and figures about health in [[Otero County, New Mexico|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>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/ahr2007/states/NewMexico.html
|title= America's Health Rankings, State Snapshots: New Mexico
|accessdate= 2008-05-31
|publisher= United Health Foundation
}}
</ref>
One survey where New Mexico did well is in a book by Norman D. Ford ranking the 50 healthiest places to live and retire in the [[US]], where 6 of the 50 places are in New Mexico.
<ref name="Ford 50 Healthiest">
{{cite book
|last= Ford
|first= Norman D.
|authorlink=
|title= The 50 healthiest places to live and retire in the United States
|origdate= 1991
|publisher= Mills & Sanderson
|location= Bedford, MA
|isbn= 9780938179252
|oclc= 22510679
}}
</ref>{{Rp|frontispiece}}
Alamogordo is one of the 50 places, <ref name="Ford 50 Healthiest" />{{Rp|116-118}} and civic boosters such as the Chamber of Commerce
<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://alamogordo.com/profile/index.html
|title= Community Profile - Profile Introduction
|accessdate= 2008-05-31
|publisher= Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce
|quote = A national survey rated Alamogordo as one of the 50 healthiest places to live in the U.S.
}}
</ref>
publicize this ranking. The reason for the discrepancy seems to be that most health rankings are based on healthiness of the population, and Ford's book is based on the number of health-promoting features in the community.
==Notable natives and residents==
* The [[western (genre)|Western]] [[film]] star [[Glenn Strange]] ([[1899]]-[[1973]]) was born in Weed near Alamogordo.
* [[Edward Condon]], [[Physicist]], was born in Alamogordo.
* [[Edwin L. Mechem]], [[Governor of New Mexico]], was born in Alamogordo.
* [[Eugene Manlove Rhodes]], [[Western (genre)|Western]] writer, lived briefly in Alamogordo and for many years in the nearby [[Tularosa]] and [[Three Rivers, New Mexico]] areas.
==Other topics==
=== Points of interest ===
* Near by
** The picturesque [[Lincoln National Forest]] is accessible via [[U.S. Route 82]] or [[U.S. Route 70]].
** The [[Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation]] is accessible via [[U.S. Route 70]].
** The large "A" painted annually on the side of the Sacramento Mountains by Alamogordo High School freshmen toting buckets of whitewash through heat, rocks, cactus--and zealous supervision by AHS seniors.
** The unique and beautiful [[White Sands National Monument]] west of the city is accessible via [[U.S. Route 70]].
=== Nearby towns and cities ===
* [[Cloudcroft, New Mexico]], east of the city in the [[Lincoln National Forest]] along [[U.S. Route 82]].
* [[El Paso, Texas]], the largest nearby city, which is south of Alamogordo along [[U.S. Route 54]]
* [[High Rolls, New Mexico]], east of the city in the [[Lincoln National Forest]] along [[U.S. Route 82]].
* [[Las Cruces, New Mexico]], southwest of the city along [[U.S. Route 70]]
* [[Roswell, New Mexico]], northeast of the city along [[U.S. Route 70]]
* [[Ruidoso, New Mexico]], northeast of the city in the [[Lincoln National Forest]] along [[U.S. Route 70]]
* [[Tularosa, New Mexico]], north of the city along the merged [[U.S. Route 54]] and [[U.S. Route 70]]
== See also ==
{{portal|New Mexico}}
* [[Sacramento Mountains]]
* [[Tularosa Basin]]
* [[Atari video game burial]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Alamogordo, New Mexico}}
*[http://www.alamogordo.com/ Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://www.alamogordonews.com/ Alamogordo Daily News]
*[http://www.photos-online.org/whitesands/closeby.shtml Interesting places around Alamogordo]
*[http://www.alamogordonow.com/ Live Webcam of Alamogordo, N.M. and Cloudcroft, N.M.]
{{Otero County, New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico}}
[[Category:Cities in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Otero County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:County seats in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of New Mexico]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1898]]
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