Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Truth or Consequences is a spa city in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States, and the county seat of Sierra CountyGR6. As of the 2000 census, the population was 7,289. It is commonly known within New Mexico as T or C.
Originally called "Hot Springs", it took the name of a popular radio program in 1950, when Truth or Consequences host Ralph Edwards announced that he would do the program from the first town that renamed itself after the show. Ralph Edwards came to the town during the first weekend of May for the next fifty years. This event was called the "Fiesta" and included a beauty contest, parade, and a stage show. The town was also the fictional hometown of Cactus Jack, one of the several professional wrestling personas of Mick Foley.
Virgin Galactic, the first space tourism company to develop commercial passenger flights into space, has decided to put its world headquarters and mission control in Upham, New Mexico, 25 miles south of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Launches are expected to begin in 2015.
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[edit] Geography
Truth or Consequences is located at (33.133614, -107.252897)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.1 km² (12.8 mi²). 32.8 km² (12.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.86%) is water.
The city is located on the Rio Grande, near Elephant Butte Reservoir.
[edit] Hot Springs
There are several local hot springs. The combined flow of the hot springs complex in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico is estimated at 99 liters/second.[1]
Before World War II, there were about 40 hot springs spas in Truth or Consequences. By 2002, the Hot Springs Association in Truth or Consequences had 8 spa facilities as members. Five of those obtained their water from wells, and Marshall Hot Springs, Indian Springs Bath House and Hay-Yo-Kay Hot Springs are from free flowing hot springs.[2] However, there has recently been an increase in interest in producing new spa facilities and new wells as newcomers move to the area.[1]
There is a present controversy about new wells in Truth or Consequences. Residents are afraid that new wells will damage the flow of the hot springs on which the town's economy depends. A moratorium on new wells was proposed. Las Cruces geologist Jim Witcher was hired at the end of 2006 to do a hydrologic survey, updating the last survey done in 1942.[3]
Fluctuations in the flow and temperature of the hot springs are observed to depend on water levels in the Rio Grande. When the Rio Grande was dredged to remove sediment buildup and reduce the chance of flash floods, the flow rates and water temperatures at several spas in Truth or Consequences dropped. When an earthen dam was constructed, the temperatures and flow rates increased again.[1]
The New Mexico State Energy and Minerals Department created two demonstration projects using geothermal energy in Truth or Consequences in the 1980s. The Carrie Tingley Hospital for crippled children, which has since moved to Albuquerque, used the state money to create a physical therapy program. The local Senior Citizen's Center benefits from a geothermal space heating system.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 7,289 people, 3,450 households, and 1,859 families residing in the city. The population density was 222.5/km² (576.0/mi²). There were 4,445 housing units at an average density of 135.7/km² (351.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% White, 0.63% African American, 1.77% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 9.36% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.36% of the population.
There were 3,450 households out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,986, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $23,214 versus $18,207 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,415. About 15.6% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Characteristics
The city is a popular tourist destination for New Mexicans. It is also a common retirement location, partly due to low house prices (median $75,000). Outdoor sports such as golf, hiking and fishing are popular.
It is served by Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport.
[edit] Early history
The first bath in the area was built at "John Cross Ranch" over Geronimo Springs in the late 1800s. However, major settlement did not begin until the construction of Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir in 1912. The dam was completed in 1916. Elephant Butte Dam was a part of the Rio Grande Project, an early large-scale irrigation effort authorized under the Reclamation Act of 1902. In 1916 the town was incorporated as Hot Springs. It became the Sierra County seat in 1937.[1]
[edit] List of hot springs and spa facilities
- Hay-Yo-Kay They derive their name from the Lakota word for "clown" (previously known as Hobo Springs, and the oldest commercial spa in Truth or Consequences).
- Riverbend Hot Springs is the only hot springs resort in town with rock pools on the banks of the Rio Grande River.
- Geronomo Springs Museum, site of the original hot spring spa, located in downtown Truth or Consequences
- Hot Springs Soaking Pools, previously known as Hay-Yo-Kay
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d Truth or Consequences, New Mexico- A Spa City, John W. Lund, James C. Witcher,GHC Bulletin, December 2002.
- ^ Hay-Yo-Kay Hot Springs and Spa in Truth or Consequences, David Burch, SouthernNewMexico.com, 2003
- ^ Truth or Consequences spa owners fear new wells may drain hot spring aquifer, U.S. Water News Online, October 2006
[edit] External links
- City office Home Page
- Truth or Consequences-Sierra County, NM Chamber of Commerce
- List of hot springs in Truth or Consequences
- Trails.com description of Truth or Consequences hot springs
- Introduction to Truth or Consequences - from Frommers.com
- City-Data.com - Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
- Truth or Consequences, New Mexico travel guide from Wikitravel
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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State of New Mexico Santa Fe (capital) |
|---|---|
| Regions |
Central New Mexico | Colorado Plateau | Eastern New Mexico | Llano Estacado | Northern New Mexico | Sangre de Cristo Mountains | Southwestern New Mexico |
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Albuquerque | Las Cruces | Rio Rancho | Roswell | Santa Fe |
| Smaller cities |
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| Counties |
Bernalillo | Catron | Chaves | Cibola | Colfax | Curry | De Baca | Doña Ana | Eddy | Grant | Guadalupe | Harding | Hidalgo | Lea | Lincoln | Los Alamos | Luna | McKinley | Mora | Otero | Quay | Rio Arriba | Roosevelt | San Juan | San Miguel | Sandoval | Santa Fe | Sierra | Socorro | Taos | Torrance | Union | Valencia |
