La Luz, New Mexico
Otero County
35-38330
La Luz is a municipality and a census- designated place (CDP ) in Otero County in the U.S. state of New Mexico.
Geography
La Luz is directly adjacent to the north of Alamogordo. About 100 kilometers away is south-west of Las Cruces. Through the village run the roads connecting U.S. Highway 54 and U.S. Highway 70, which are identical in this section. In the east, the Sacramento Mountains are located.
History
The first settlers in the region were Franciscan missionaries from Spain. This was built around 1719 a chapel and called it Our Lady of the Light ( Spanish: Nuestra Senora de la Luz ). From the Spanish La Luz ( The Light ) was derived the name of the city. More settlers followed in the fertile area and established farms for fruit and wine growing. In addition, pottery and weaving were established. Also artists, especially painters settled in the place. 1898 reached a railway line in the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, the city of Alamogordo and was further extended in the following years as the Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountain Railway in the mountains to the 2640 meter high place Cloudcroft, whereby La Luz was a station. Because of the extraordinary for that time altitude for a railway station (up in the clouds ), the line was referred to as Cloud Climbing Railroad. Many historically significant buildings were constructed in the following period and are recorded today in the National Register of Historic Places. These include the DH Sutherland House, the Queen Anne House, Juan Garcia House, the La Luz Pottery Factory and the historic city center (La Luz Historic District ).
Queen Anne House
La Luz Historic District
La Luz Pottery Factory
Main employer in La Luz are today still fruit and wine farms, as well as about 20 kilometers south to Holloman Air Force Base. In addition, tours are offered to the located near the White Sands National Monument.
Demography
In 2010 a population of 1697 persons was determined, which represents an increase of 5.1% compared to the year 2000. The average age of residents in 2010 was 43.5 years, slightly below the average of New Mexico, which was 45.5 years.
34.2 % of today's residents are Hispanic origin. Other significant immigrant groups during the beginnings of the town came to 11.5% from Germany and 7.4% from Ireland.