Sunland Park, New Mexico

Sunland Park, New Mexico
City

Statue of Christ the King (by Urbici Soler) on Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park

Location of Sunland Park, New Mexico
Sunland Park, New Mexico

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 31°48′24″N 106°34′48″W / 31.80667°N 106.58000°W / 31.80667; -106.58000Coordinates: 31°48′24″N 106°34′48″W / 31.80667°N 106.58000°W / 31.80667; -106.58000
Country United States
State New Mexico
County Dona Ana
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • Mayor Javier Perea
 • City Manager Vernon Wilson
 • City Clerk/Administrator Alejandro Villescas
AreaDAT
 • Total 11.6 sq mi (30.1 km2)
 • Land 11.4 sq mi (29.5 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation 3,789 ft (1,155 m)
Population (2016 est)
 • Total 18,400
 • Density 1,238/sq mi (477.9/km2)
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes 88063,88008
Area code(s) 575
FIPS code 35-75640
GNIS feature ID 0920024

Sunland Park is a city in southern Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States, on the borders of Texas and the Mexican state of Chihuahua, with Ciudad Juárez adjoining it on the south and El Paso, Texas, on the east. The community of Santa Teresa adjoins it on the northwest. The population of Sunland Park was 14,106 at the 2010 census[1] and was estimated at 15,400 by the United States Census Bureau in 2014.[2] Though it lies adjacent to El Paso, being in Doña Ana County makes it a part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area. Las Cruces is 42 miles (68 km) to the north.

The city is at the foot of Mount Cristo Rey, next to the Rio Grande, and is named for Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, which lies within the city limits. The location was formerly called "Anapra", a name shared by an adjacent slum area of Ciudad Juarez.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Sunland Park has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30.1 km2), of which 11.4 square miles (29.5 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2), or 2.02%, is covered by water.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19908,179—
200013,30962.7%
201014,1066.0%
Est. 201515,940[3]13.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

As of the census[5] of 2010, 14,267 people, 3,884 households, and 3,314 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,260.6 people per mi2 (486.6/km²). The 4,131 housing units averaged 342.6 per mi2 (132.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.00% White, 0.63% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 26.02% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 96.44% of the population.

Of the 3,884 households, 44.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.% were married couples living together, 24.% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.5% were not families. About 12.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.63 and the average family size was 3.97.

In the city, the population was distributed as 37.5% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 20 to 24, 7.6% from 25 to 29, 6.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

Government

On August 2, 2012, Javier Perea was reappointed as mayor of Sunland Park. He began official duties on April 18, 2012. At the urging of the State of New Mexico, the city conducted a search for the position of City Manager. On December 17, 2013, Vernon Wilson was selected to fill the long-vacant position. He is a retired US Army officer whose other government service includes over 10 years as manager of the nearby Dona Ana County International Jetport. His first day of employment was January 2014 [6]

Education

Sunland Park is served by the Gadsden Independent School District, which operates these schools located in the city:

Sunland Park also has a branch campus of Doña Ana Community College, a two-year college branch of New Mexico State University.

History

Sunland Park was formed when the unincorporated communities of Anapra, Sunland Park, and Meadow Vista voted to incorporate as Sunland Park on July 13, 1983.

2012 extortion scandal

In February 2012, then-Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Salinas and City Manager Jaime Aguilera were arrested and charged with extortion of mayoral candidate Gerardo Hernandez. Salinas and Aguilera allegedly tried to blackmail Hernandez into withdrawing from the race with a videotape of Hernandez receiving a lap dance in his campaign office.

An election for mayor was held in March 2012, with Daniel Salinas winning the mayor's office, but he was denied taking office due to extortion, bribery, and election fraud charges filed against him, which disqualified him from taking an oath of office.[7]

Points of interest

Western Playland Amusement Park

References

  1. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sunland Park city, New Mexico". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  6. ↑ Brian Fraga, , Las Cruces Sun-News, August 2, 2012
  7. ↑ rnikolewski, , Capital Report - New Mexico, May 1, 2012
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