A majority of the 10 biggest cities in New Mexico reside in the northern part of the state, including its state capital, Santa Fe, which sits about an hour from the largest city, Albuquerque.
Frequently called "The Land of Enchantment," New Mexico is home to the Rocky Mountains, centuries-old communities, and a hearty interest in the supernatural in its fifth largest city, Roswell. Learn more about the biggest cities in New Mexico below:
1. Albuquerque: With a population of 555,417, Albuquerque dwarfs the additional biggest cities; it has at least five times the population of the other four. It’s also home to the University of New Mexico and the largest international balloon festival in the world, Balloon Fiesta.
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2. Las Cruces: The only other city in New Mexico to crack six digits, Las Cruces is home to just over 101,000 residents. An Old West vibe still lives here, and Billy the Kid's famous trial took place just 5 miles down the road.
One of the world's great natural wonders, White Sands National Monument, is there and the city is known for "spectacular year-round golf, unique special events, world-class Mexican food, historic attractions, and two national monuments,"
according to the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau.
3. Rio Rancho: Nicknamed "The City of Vision," Rio Rancho is one of the fastest growing cities in New Mexico, currently accounting for about 90,000 New Mexicans. One of their taglines is, "Meet the future, be enchanted," as a nod to the state's moniker, "The Land of Enchantment."
4. Santa Fe: The state's capital ranks fourth in population with just under 70,000 locals. It's also a big tourist destination, drawing around a million visitors a year
according to USA Today. Some come for the history (Santa Fe is one of the top three oldest surviving cities in America), while others stop by for the world's densest concentration of art galleries in the world.
5. Roswell: The town of Roswell, which has 48,477 residents, is typically recognized as a place connected to extraterrestrial activity. This association dates back to 1947, when "a rancher discovered unidentifiable debris in his sheep pasture outside Roswell,"
according to History.com. Today, curious folks can visit the International UFO Museum, Area 51, or attend the Roswell UFO Festival in the summer.
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6. Farmington: Located where the San Juan, Animas, and La Plata River intersect, Farmington is made up of about 45,000 people. It's nicknamed "Baseball Town" because it hosts The Connie Mack World Series every year, which is "the largest and most prestigious tournament in amateur baseball,"
according to the Connie Mack World Series website. The American Amateur Baseball Congress sponsors the event.
7. South Valley: With a population topping off at just over 40,000, South Valley is still one of the biggest cities in New Mexico, even though the U.S. Postal Service uses Albuquerque for all South Valley addresses. Its one claim to fame is that part of the popular Breaking Bad series was filmed here. On the show, viewers can see South Valley's Twisters burrito restaurant.
8. Clovis: The remaining three biggest cities in New Mexico all have between 30,000 to 40,000 residents, and the largest of those is Clovis. Its best known for the
National Historic Landmark Blackwater Locality No. 1, the "site for the oldest accepted widespread culture in the New World [and] one of the most important archaeological sites in the New World."
9. Hobbs: Hovering at the mid-30,000 mark in population size, Hobbs is located in the Southeast part of the state and borders Texas. Working cowboys can still be found here among centuries of Native American and Hispanic culture.
10. Alamogordo: Alamogordo is home to 31,500 New Mexicans and is the birthplace of the National Fire Safety's beloved symbol, Smokey Bear. This city also loves its pistachio; guests can visit PistachioLand and Eagle Ranch Pistachio Groves Farm Tour here.
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