Recognitions & Awards
L
as Cruces has been the recipient of a number of important rankings by various organizations and publications.
e Most Secure Mid-Size U.S. City Sperling’s Best Place
e Outstanding Achievement Award
e Top 50 Motorcoach Destinations in the United States National Bus Association, 2004 and 2005 Motorcoach charter and tour operators were given a list of cities and asked to rank them according to where they think they will be traveling to or through in 2005.
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Family Digest, fall 2002 Las Cruces ranked the highest among 300 cities/destinations evaluated in a number of areas determined to be important to families, including crime rate, housing costs, income, pre-college education productivity, family friendliness, weather and affordability.
e One of the Best Places to Retire Money Magazine, June 2002 The article cited several factors, including Las Cruces’ great weather, amazing views, cultural scene, low cost of living, the country’s best Mexican food and, according to the article, possibly the hottest chiles in the United States. The article indicated Las Cruces’ warm climate and mild winters were perfect for year-round activities such as tennis, hiking, golf and visiting attractions like the dunes of nearby White Sands National Monument.
e One of Inc. Magazine’s 2007 Boomtowns e One of bestboomertowns.com 2009 Best Places to Thrive The website reports it chose the cities based on “key criteria specifically for baby boomer needs: low crime, range of home prices, university access, airport convenience, small town ambiance, state of the art hospitals, good weather and abundant cultural activities.”
e Best Place to Live
e Top 10 Cities for Hispanics to Live
e Top Destination
Facilities & Destinations Magazine, 2001, 2002 and 2004 Hispanic Magazine, 2002 and 2003 Las Cruces was among 75 cities in the The Las Cruces/El Paso area was ranked United States selected by the magazine’s Las Cruces topped AARP’s first list of the fifth-best city for Hispanics to live. readers to receive the annual award great places to retire based on factors The ranking was based on the recognizing cities for their ability to such as the cheapest states to live in as a percentage of Hispanics in the city, accommodate groups and conventions. retiree (based on income, property and political representation, whether you sales taxes), weather, recreational can speak Spanish without feeling like a opportunities and livability (access to foreigner and the vibrancy and “hipness” e One of America’s Top 100 health care and transportation). of the Latin cultural scene. Retirement Towns Where to Retire Magazine, fall 2001 e One of the Best College Las Cruces received praise for its diverse e Best Small Metro Area for culture, high desert climate, low cost of Towns to Retire Business and Careers living, open spaces and year-round Money Magazine, November 2005 Forbes/Milken Institute, 2002, 2003, outdoor activities. It was also one of the For the second time in four years, Las 2004 and 2005 few towns selected that ranked below Cruces made one of Money’s lists of best Las Cruces has ranked in the top five for the national cost of living average, and places to retire, this time as a college the last several years on Forbes’ list of had an average new home price under town. The article cited several factors, Best Small Metro Area for Business and $100,000. Each city considered was including Las Cruces’ great weather, Careers, including a #1 ranking in 2002 assessed on a variety of categories amazing views, cultural scene and low and #2 ranking in 2005. The rankings ranging from the availability of medical cost of living. were based on “job growth, earned care, recreational activities, continuing income, and a measure of activity in education and airports, to shopping, critical technologies that foster future dining and cultural and social growth.” organizations.
e One of AARP’s 2006 Dream Towns to retire
www.lascruces.org
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