Las Cruces, New Mexico:
Hispanic landscape features
The largest number of Hispanics, essentially of Mexican ancestry, in Dona Ana County, NM, are concentrated in rural areas where they live in colonias.

Read an article on the colonias in Dona Ana County.

While 92 percent of New Mexico's colonias have drinking-water systems, the systems are old and in need of repair and/or upgrade. The systems also lack sufficient pressure for fire-fighting purposes. Only 15 of New Mexico's 141 colonias are connected to a waste-water treatment or sewer system.

Dona Ana County has 65 percent Hispanics, the largest concentration of Hispanics in New Mexico. The city of Las Cruces itself is 52 percent Hispanic and the state average is 42 percent.

Mesilla, NM: Spanish plaza town near the Rio Grande, adjacent to Las Cruces

 border crossing in New Mexico
  highway border inspection station