Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico - Truth Or Consequences

Truth or Consequences is a spa city and the county seat of Sierra County, New Mexico, United States. In 2012, the population was 6,411. It is commonly known within New Mexico as T or C. It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.

History

Early history

The first bath in the area was built at "John Cross Ranch" over Geronimo Springs in the late 1800s. However, major settlement did not begin until the construction of Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir in 1912; the dam was completed in 1916. Elephant Butte Dam was a part of the Rio Grande Project, an early large-scale irrigation effort authorized under the Reclamation Act of 1902. In 1916, the town was incorporated as Hot Springs. It became the Sierra County seat in 1937.

Originally named Hot Springs, the city changed its name to "Truth or Consequences", the title of a popular NBC Radio program. In March 1950, Ralph Edwards, the host of the radio quiz show Truth or Consequences, announced that he would air the program on its 10th anniversary from the first town that renamed itself after the show; Hot Springs won the honor, officially changing its name on March 31, 1950 (the program broadcast from there the following evening, April 1st). Edwards visited the town during the first weekend of May for the next 50 years. This event was called "Fiesta" and included a beauty contest, a parade, and a stage show. The city still celebrates Fiesta each year during the first weekend of May. The parade generally features area celebrities such as the Hatch Chile Queen. Fiesta also features a dance in Ralph Edwards Park.

Geography

Truth or Consequences is located at 33°8′1″N 107°15′10″W (33.1336, -107.2528).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.8 square miles (33 km²), of which 12.6 square miles (33 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.86%) is water.

The city is located on the Rio Grande, near Elephant Butte Reservoir. The city is served by the Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport, Interstate 25, I-25 Business, New Mexico State Road 51 (NM 51), NM 181 and NM 187

Climate

Truth or Consequences has a cool desert climate (Köppen BWk) with three main seasons. The summer season from April to June is very dry and generally hot with large diurnal temperature variation, giving way in July to the monsoon season which remains very hot â€" and is more uncomfortable due to the hotter nights â€" but is much more humid and rainfall from thunderstorms is frequent. The winter season from October to March has pleasantly mild and sunny days and cold to very cold nights, with very occasional rainfall from extratropical cyclones.

On average over the year 88.6 days top 90 °F or 32.2 °C, 12.9 days top 100 °F or 37.8 °C, and 91.1 nights fall below 32 °F or 0 °C. Temperatures have fallen below 0 °F or âˆ'17.8 °C only twice since 1951, during 1987 and 2011, with the record low being âˆ'6 °F (âˆ'21.1 °C) on February 3, 2011. The lowest maximum temperature on record has been 20 °F (âˆ'6.7 °C) on December 25, 1987, but during most years every single day will top freezing and on average only 19.5 days fail to top 50 °F or 10 °C. The hottest temperature on record is 112 °F (44.4 °C) on June 27, 1994, though minima virtually never stay above 75 °F (23.9 °C) due to the low humidity and hot sun, and only eighteen nights remain above 68 °F or 20 °C during an average year.

Precipitation is generally scarce apart from monsoonal storms. The wettest month on record has been July 2010 with 6.66 inches or 169.2 millimetres, but totals above 4.00 inches or 101.6 millimetres are confined to the monsoon season apart from an anomaly on December 1991 when three major subtropical cyclones brought 4.94 inches (125.5 mm). 1991 was also the wettest full calendar year with 17.04 inches or 432.8 millimetres. Snowfall is extremely rare, with a median of zero and mean of 5.0 inches or 0.13 metres; the heaviest snow known in Truth or Consequences is the 17.9 inches or 0.45 metres that fell during the record cold spell of Christmas 1987.

Hot springs

Truth or Consequences hosts several local hot springs. The combined flow of the hot springs complex in Truth or Consequences is estimated at 99 liters (3.5 cu ft) per second.

Before World War II, there were about 40 hot springs spas in Truth or Consequences. By 2008, the Hot Springs Association in Truth or Consequences had 10 spa facilities as members. Five of those obtained their water from wells, and La Paloma Hot Springs & Spa (formerly Marshall Hot Springs), Indian Springs Bath House, Artesian Bath house and Hay-Yo-Kay Hot Springs are from free flowing hot springs.

The New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources created two demonstration projects using geothermal energy in Truth or Consequences in the 1980s. The Carrie Tingley Hospital for children with physical disabilities, which has since moved to Albuquerque, used the state money to create a physical therapy program. The local Senior Citizen's Center benefits from a geothermal space heating system.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,289 people, 3,450 households, and 1,859 families residing in the city. The population density was 576.0 people per square mile (222.5/km²). There were 4,445 housing units at an average density of 351.3 per square mile (135.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% White, 0.63% African American, 1.77% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 9.36% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.4% of the population.

There were 3,450 households out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,986, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $23,214 versus $18,207 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,415. About 15.6% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

Spaceport America

Spaceport America, 30 miles (48 km) east, is "the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport", to be the headquarters of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority. Virgin Galactic plans to provide sub-orbital spaceflights to the paying public. An interim Spaceport America Visitor Center opened in downtown Truth or Consequences on June 24, 2015.

In popular culture

Truth or Consequences is a prominent location of major parts of the action in the 2015 episode "The Zygon Invasion" of the British TV series Doctor Who where the name of the town plays a role in the plot of the episode, although the scenes themselves were shot in Fuerteventura.

During Mick Foley's Cactus Jack gimmick, Truth or Consequences was listed as his hometown.

References

External links

• TorCNM.org, official website of the City of Truth or Consequences
• Truth or Consequences at Frommers.com
• Truth or Consequences at City-Data.com
• TorC hot spring spas at Sierra County official website
• Elephant Butte Chamber of Commerce serving the Sierra County region
• TorC campgrounds at Trails.com
• Truth or Consequences, New Mexico travel guide from Wikivoyage