White Sands Missile Range is one of the most important parts of the Las Cruces economy because it employs about 8,500 people. These jobs keep the Las Cruces economy active in good economic times and in bad.
However, when one mentions White Sands to people from outside of our area, they don't typically think about the missile range. One of the most interesting features of southern New Mexico is White Sands National Monument. This desert oasis of what looks like white sand (but is actually gleaming white gypsum crystals) is one of the most popular tourist destinations in NM.
If you live in southern NM, you know that White Sands Missile Range is even more important.
White Sands Missile Range is the largest overland military test range in the United States, occupying about 3,200 square miles of southern New Mexico. With more than 60 years experience in rocket and weapons system test and development, it has earned the title "Birthplace of America's Missile and Space Activity."
White Sands Missile Range is a multi-service test range whose main function is the
support of missile development and test programs for the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other government agencies and private industry.
The missile range is located in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico. At 2.2
million acres White Sands Missile Range is larger than Connecticut, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia combined, and represents 17 percent of the land owned by the U.S. Army.
The headquarters area is 20 miles east of Las Cruces, and 40 miles west of Alamogordo. The world's first Atomic Bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945 on the White Sands Testing Range. North of the impact point a small placard marks the area known as Trinity Site. Once a year tourists can access the trinity site.
White Sands Missile Range adds a unique history to southern NM, but most importantly it employs a significant number of our residents. If you are looking to learn more about the Las Cruces economy, be sure to look at White Sands Missile Range.
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