SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO

Socorro, a community of 9,000 in the sunny Rio Grande Valley of central New Mexico, combines the pleasant climate of the high desert, peace and quiet of a small town, and sophistication brought by a state university.

History

Distinguished as one of the oldest settlements in the Southwest, the city's name means "refuge" or "aid," and dates back to 1598 when people of the Pilabo Pueblo fed and sheltered weary members of the Juan de Onate expeditions. The arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1880 made possible extensive mining for ore, and Socorro quickly became New Mexico's largest town. A decade later mining opportunities had declined and Socorro returned to its agricultural heritage. However, the brief boom left as a legacy the New Mexico School of Mines (now called New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, or New Mexico Tech), which has helped to define this city as one of New Mexico's leading centers for education and research, home to one of the state's highest percentages of Ph.D.s per capita.

Demographics and Weather

Inclusion of county residence brings the area population up to about 23,000, with a median age of 30 years, 47% claiming Hispanic origins. Sitting at an elevation of 4,585 ft. above sea level, Socorro is particularly proud of its dry, sunny weather with an average July temperature of 61-93 degrees F, an average January temperature of 25 to 55 degrees F, and an average annual rainfall of 6-9 inches. Snowfall, which begins in late October, averages around 6 inches.

$$$ (Cost of Living, Taxes, Employment)

The cost of living in Socorro is relatively low at 92% of the national average. The state income tax is quite low; the tax on a family of four with a single income of $30,000 would be about $262. The retail sales tax is 6%. The real estate taxes on a home valued at $150,000 would range from $1400 to $1900 depending on the location. Unemployment is at 4.9% and falling. Socorro remains largely agricultural, producing crops of chili peppers and melons. Other major employers besides NRAO are New Mexico Tech, the city and county governments, and the school system.

Education and Medical Facilities

Socorro has seven K-12 public schools (four elementary, one middle, two high schools), and a public library. New Mexico Tech, a small state university with an enrollment of about 1400, specializes in science and engineering, offers hands-on research and laboratory experience, and prides itself on a 11 to 1 student/teacher ratio. Health care is available from several private physician groups and Socorro General Hospital. For extensive needs residents may travel to one of the five major hospitals in Albuquerque.

Recreation

In town: While adults play at the 18-hole golf course, children are often found at one of the city's six parks which offer tennis and basketball courts, softball and soccer fields, and an olympic-sized pool. The historical minded may wish to visit the San Miguel Mission or stroll the older neighborhoods, some of which still display Socorro's rich past through a mix of old adobe, Victorian, and California Mission style houses. Out of town: The nearby Magdalena Mountains offer hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, hunting and rock climbing. Just 18 miles away, greater sandhill cranes and arctic geese winter among thousands of ducks and other birds at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Over 325 species of reptiles and amphibians make the refuge their home or migrate through at different times of year, in addition to the typical desert populations of mule deer, coyote, porcupine and roadrunner. The Gila National Forest is two hours southwest of Socorro, and skiing is as close as Albuquerque.

Check out these web sites for more information....

Socorro County Chamber of Commerce

New Mexico Economic Development, Socorro

State of New Mexico

New Mexico Department of Labor

Socorro, An Uncommon Place

City of Socorro

Socorro, New Mexico (NM Tech page)

New Mexico Tech

New Mexico's Great Outdoors

Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.