White Rock, New Mexico

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Sign at entrance to White Rock
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Sign at entrance to White Rock

White Rock is an unincorporated community and 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.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Geography

Location of White Rock, New Mexico

White Rock is located at 35°49′10″N, 106°12′17″W (35.819439, -106.204779)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 18.6 km² (7.2 mi²), all land.

[edit] White Rock Canyon

White Rock Canyon was carved by the Rio Grande river through basalt and tuff. Averaging 1,000 feet deep, the canyon provides spectacular vistas, rugged terrain and home to rare plant species and three endangered bird species.

[edit] White Rock Canyon Rim Trail

  • Distance: 2.8 miles one way
  • Elevation: 6,300 to 6,400 feet
  • Elevation Change: 100 feet
  • Fitness Level: Easy
  • Seasons: All seasons
  • Trail Surface: Rocks and packed dirt
  • Hazards: Cliffs, rattlesnakes

[edit] Blue Dot Trail

The Rio Grande at the end of the Blue Dot Trail.
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The Rio Grande at the end of the 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: 1.1 mile one way
  • Elevation: 5,450 to 6,250 feet
  • Elevation Change: 800 feet
  • Fitness Level: Strenuous, but short
  • Seasons: All seasons, except after heavy snow
  • Trail Surface: Rocky and steep trail
  • Hazards: Cliffs, loose footing, swift river

[edit] Red Dot Trail

This petroglyph of a Mountain Lion appears along the upper section of the Red Dot trail.
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This petroglyph of a Mountain Lion appears along the upper section of the 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: 1.0 mile one way
  • Elevation: 5,500 to 6,300 feet
  • Elevation Change: 800 feet
  • Fitness Level: Strenuous, but short
  • Seasons: All seasons, except after heavy snow
  • Trail Surface: Very rocky trail
  • Hazards: Cliffs, loose footing, swift river

[edit] River Trail

  • Distance: 3.2 miles one way
  • Elevation: 5,400 to 5,500 feet
  • Elevation Change: 100 feet
  • 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

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 6,045 people, 2,226 households, and 1,860 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 325.1/km² (841.9/mi²). There were 2,282 housing units at an average density of 122.7/km² (317.8/mi²). 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.

[edit] Community Parks and Tot Lots

[edit] 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)

[edit] Pinon Park

  • playground
  • 2 full basketball courts
  • 3 tennis courts

[edit] Rover Park

  • playground
  • 1 full basketball court
  • 2 tennis courts

[edit] Jeffrey Tot Lot

  • playground

[edit] Mountain Meadows Tot Lot

  • playground

[edit] Churches

[edit] Schools

  • Piñon Elementary School
  • Chamisa Elementary School

[edit] References

Hoard, Dorothy (1981). Los Alamos Outdoors. Los Alamos, New Mexico: The Los Alamos Historical Society. ISBN 0-941-23203-4.

[edit] External links

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