White Rock, New Mexico

Infobox Settlement
official_name = White Rock, New Mexico
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of White Rock, New Mexico


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Mexico
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Los Alamos
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 18.6
area_land_km2 = 18.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 7.2
area_land_sq_mi = 7.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6045
population_density_km2 = 325.1
population_density_sq_mi = 841.9

timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1940
elevation_ft = 6365
latd = 35 |latm = 49 |lats = 10 |latNS = N
longd = 106 |longm = 12 |longs = 17 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 505
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 35-84740
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0912322
website =
footnotes =

White Rock is a part of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos (the only City/County, or "home rule" County, in New Mexico) and is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,045 at the 2000 census. It is largely a bedroom community for employees of Los Alamos National Laboratory and their families. Access to White Rock from the town of Los Alamos and other cities and towns in New Mexico is via New Mexico State Road 4, which forms the northwestern boundary of the community. Administratively, White Rock is a neighborhood of Los Alamos; locals refer to Los Alamos (meaning not White Rock) as "townsite" and "on the hill".

History

In 1947 the United States Atomic Energy Commission acquired land from the United States Forest Service to build a temporary community to house construction workers. That community was the first White Rock, which was abandoned by 1953. By 1958 all of the old White Rock buildings had been demolished or removed. The second and present White Rock was begun in 1963.

Geography

White Rock is located at coor dms|35|49|10|N|106|12|17|W|city (35.819439, -106.204779)GR|1. Elevation is convert|6365|ft|m.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), all of it land.

White Rock Canyon

White Rock Canyon was carved by the Rio Grande river through basalt and tuff. Across the river lies the Caja del Rio. For a few decades a narrow gauge railroad ran beside the river, on the east bank; some day the Rio Grande Trail may occupy the abandoned right of way. Averaging convert|1000|ft|m deep, the canyon provides spectacular vistas, rugged terrain and home to rare plant species and three endangered bird species.

White Rock Canyon Rim Trail

* Distance: convert|2.8|mi|km one way
* Elevation: 6,300 to convert|6400|ft|m
* Elevation Change: convert|100|ft|m
* Fitness Level: Easy
* Seasons: All seasons
* Trail Surface: Rocks and packed dirt
* Hazards: Cliffs, rattlesnakes

Blue Dot Trail

The trailhead begins about 100 yards southwest of the overlook viewing platform, and is accessible from a small parking lot at the end of the last side road branching east off Overlook Road. Partway to the river a meadow lies on top of a large Toreva block bench (a large piece of terrain which has moved downhill as a unit). At the midway point, the material underfoot changes from dark sharp basaltic rocks to light rounded granitic stones. The trail passes a large spring seeping from scree as the trail nears the Rio Grande river. This water and water from the river are not safe to drink.
* Distance: convert|1.1|mi|km|sing=on one way
* Elevation: 5,450 to convert|6250|ft|m
* Elevation Change: convert|800|ft|m
* Fitness Level: Strenuous, but short
* Seasons: All seasons, except after heavy snow
* Trail Surface: Rocky and steep trail
* Hazards: Cliffs, loose footing, swift river

Red Dot Trail

This trail, also known as "Pajarito Springs Trail", is accessible from Piedra Loop in La Senda. Numerous petroglyphs appear along the way, unseen by many hikers concentrating on their footing on this very steep and challenging trail. The rock drawings are varied in style, from Kokopelli to abstract and geometric designs. The local Tewa may have imported some designs from Native Americans of the Great Plains. The "Pajarito Springs" are several in number and combine to form a small creek flowing into a pool via a small waterfall. The trail continues to the Rio Grande river.
* Distance: convert|1.0|mi|km|sing=on one way
* Elevation: 5,500 to convert|6300|ft|m
* Elevation Change: convert|800|ft|m
* Fitness Level: Strenuous, but short
* Seasons: All seasons, except after heavy snow
* Trail Surface: Very rocky trail
* Hazards: Cliffs, loose footing, swift river

River Trail

* Distance: convert|3.2|mi|km one way
* Elevation: 5,400 to convert|5500|ft|m
* Elevation Change: convert|100|ft|m
* Fitness Level: Easy
* Skill Level: Sections of the trail require route-finding ability
* Seasons: All seasons, except after heavy snow
* Trail Surface: Sand, river cobbles and rocks
* Hazards: Swift river

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,045 people, 2,226 households, and 1,860 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 841.9 people per square mile (325.1/km²). There were 2,282 housing units at an average density of 317.8/sq mi (122.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.75% White, 0.25% African American, 0.53% Native American, 2.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.87% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.59% of the population.

There were 2,226 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.2% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $92,813, and the median income for a family was $96,716. Males had a median income of $77,216 versus $44,145 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $36,288. About 1.1% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Community Parks and Tot Lots

Overlook Park

* playground
* 1 youth baseball field (non-lighted)
* 2 youth baseball fields (lighted)
* 5 softball fields (non-lighted)
* 1 softball field (lighted)
* 5 soccer fields (non-lighted)

Piñon Park

* playground
* 2 full basketball courts
* 3 tennis courts

Rover Park

* playground
* 1 full basketball court
* 2 tennis courts

Jeffrey Tot Lot

* playground

Mountain Meadows Tot Lot

* playground

Schools

* Piñon Elementary School
* Chamisa Elementary School

References

cite book
last = Hoard
first = Dorothy
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Los Alamos Outdoors
publisher = The Los Alamos Historical Society
date = 1981
location = Los Alamos, New Mexico
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0-941232-03-4

External links

* [http://www.lac-nm.us/ Los Alamos County]
* [http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KNMWHITE1 White Rock Realtime Weather]
* [http://www.weather.lanl.gov LANL TA-54 weather tower adjacent to intersection of Grand Canyon and State Road 4]