Las Cruces, County seat in New Mexico, United States.
Las Cruces stretches along the Rio Grande at 3900 feet (1191 meters) elevation and is surrounded by irrigated fields growing cotton and pecan trees. The city spreads across flat terrain between gentle hills and desert plains in southern New Mexico.
The settlement formed in 1849 after the war between Mexico and the United States and served as a crossroads for travelers between El Paso and northern territories. The railroad reached the town later and reinforced its role as a trading point in the region.
New Mexico State University grants degrees in agriculture and engineering each year and welcomes students from many states. The campus hosts research laboratories and public events throughout the academic season.
The city runs 87 parks and 18 tennis courts plus 4 golf courses distributed across the urban area. The farmers market opens every Wednesday and Saturday in the downtown district with local seasonal products.
The town borders directly on White Sands Missile Range and White Sands National Monument and combines military research with wide dune fields. Visitors can see the white sand areas from the city edge on clear days.
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