Sierra County, New Mexico
Sierra County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,576.[1] Its county seat is Truth or Consequences.[2]
| Sierra County, New Mexico | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of New Mexico | |
 New Mexico's location in the U.S. | |
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1884 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Truth or Consequences |
| Largest City | Truth or Consequences |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
4,236 sq mi (10,971 km²) 4,179 sq mi (10,824 km²) 57 sq mi (148 km²), 1.4% |
| Population - Density |
2.9/sq mi (1/km²) |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC-7/-6 |
| Website: http://www.sierracountynm.gov/ | |
| Named for: the Black Range (Spanish: Sierra Diablo) | |
Economy
Launching of spacecraft
Spaceport America - the spaceport of Virgin Galactic - is located in Sierra County, 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Las Cruces and 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Truth or Consequences. Sierra County voters approved the creation of a spaceport tax district in April 2008, freeing up funding for its construction.[3] The first launch from Spaceport America happened in 2006; There have been over 300 launches. On May 22, 2021, Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity launched from the spaceport with three people aboard becoming the first crewed launch from both Spaceport America and New Mexico; New Mexico became the third U.S. state, after California and Florida, to send humans into space.[4]
References
- ↑ "QuickFacts: Sierra County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Kaufman, Marc (May 10, 2008). New Mexico Moves Ahead on Spaceport. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/09/AR2008050902508.html. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
- ↑ "NM 'has finally reached the stars' - Albuquerque Journal". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
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