Alamogordo, Desert city in New Mexico, United States
Alamogordo is a desert city in southern New Mexico within Otero County, nestled between the Tularosa Basin and the Sacramento Mountains. Holloman Air Force Base sits directly adjacent to the city and shapes the surrounding area.
The city was founded in 1898 as a railroad hub for the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad running through the territory. After World War Two the town remained closely linked to military research and aviation.
The name comes from Spanish and means 'fat cottonwood tree', referring to the trees that once grew along local waterways. Today many visitors arrive to explore nearby White Sands National Park and the surrounding desert landscape.
The city sits roughly halfway between El Paso and Roswell and is easily reached via U.S. Highway 54 and 70. Summers can be very hot, so spring and fall are more comfortable for exploring the surrounding area.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History on the edge of town tells the story of space research in the region. From up there you get a wide view over the Tularosa Basin and the white sand expanse in the distance.
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