SAN MIGUEL COUNTY
County Offices
500 West National Avenue
Las Vegas
505-425-9333
www.smcounty.net
Chamber of Commerce
701 Grand Avenue
Las Vegas
505-425-8631
www.lasvegasnm.org
Services
Newcomers to San Miguel County will discover an unusual blend of old-fashioned Western hospitality with unique amenities and resources. Educational services are exceptionally well developed, including quality public schools on every academic level. Luna Community College in Las Vegas serves students of all ages with affordable options for higher education but also benefits the regional economy through its Las Vegas Small Business Development Center. New Mexico Highlands University, also in Las Vegas, offers graduate and undergraduate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, and social work. Four satellite campuses in Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Farmington, and Roswell along with distance education opportunities enable the university to stretch its sphere of influence. Just a few miles away in Montezuma, the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West offers a college-prep school with a mission to unify humanity through education.
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are anchored by the Alta Vista Regional Hospital in Las Vegas, which provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient care. In addition to 24-hour emergency services, the hospital offers birthing rooms, advanced diagnostic imaging, a general surgery center, health screenings, intensive care, cardiology, dental services, and various therapies. The commitment to proactive healthcare is evidenced by community-based wellness programs, health screenings, nutrition counseling, health fairs, and a fitness center. Skilled physicians are available in family practice and most major specialties including general surgery, gynecology, internal medicine, obstetrics, orthopedics, pathology, pediatrics, radiology, urology, and vascular surgery.
Quality of Life
Providing a small-town atmosphere in a location near Santa Fe and Taos, San Miguel County attracts newcomers to fresh air, superb outdoor recreation, and a celebration of diversity. Charming older homes nestled in long-established neighborhoods contrast with contemporary construction in new subdivisions or country manors for a wide selection of housing options. The college town of Las Vegas claims some of the most remarkable architectural splendor in New Mexico, with more than 900 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Complementing the only surviving Carnegie Library in New Mexico, the Las Vegas City Museum and the Rough Rider Memorial Collection proudly display the region’s colorful history. Once a magnet for outlaws, Rough Riders, and silent screen stars, the streets of Las Vegas welcomed Kit Carson, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Teddy Roosevelt. Each year, San Miguel County celebrates its rich heritage in festivals, fiestas, fairs, and annual events. The auditorium at New Mexico Highlands University, another architectural jewel, showcases theatrical and musical performances. With a growing number of artists being drawn to beautiful San Miguel county, the frequency and quality of fine-art shows and tours tend to increase with each passing year.
The list of recreational attractions that can be easily accessible within and around San Miguel County are nothing less than spectacular, including two national forests, Pecos National Historic Park, the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge and McAllister Lake, Morphy Lake State Park, the Pecos River Complex, Storrie Lake State Park, Villanueva State Park, the Lisboa Springs State Fish Hatchery, Coyote Creek State Park, and the Sipapu Ski Area. Common pastimes include golfing, hiking, mountain and road biking, backpacking, rock and mountain climbing, cross-country skiing, camping, fishing, boating, and water sports. Interstate 25 and close proximity to Santa Fe attractions enhance a truly enviable quality of life.
Las Vegas
Municipal Offices
866-454-1401
www.lasvegasnm.gov
Chamber of Commerce
505-425-8631
www.lasvegasnm.org
The heart of San Miguel County also serves as the county seat, positioning Las Vegas as the center of healthcare, culture, and education for a regional rural population. The city is home to Luna Community College and New Mexico Highlands University, a major hospital, convenient commercial development, and diverse recreational amenities. State parks, wildlife refuges, vast forests, and sparkling lakes combine with a mild four-season climate to support every imaginable outdoor adventure and activity. Facilities like the Abe Montoya Recreation Center, the Michael Rodriguez Softball Complex, and the Montezuma Ice Skating Pond ensure a family-friendly atmosphere. The cityscape is enhanced by some of the finest architectural preservations in the state, including New Mexico’s only surviving Carnegie Library.
Montezuma
County Offices
505-425-9333
www.smcounty.net
Chamber of Commerce
505-425-8631
www.lasvegasnm.org
The once-famous resort of Montezuma Hot Springs Hotel that was developed by the Santa Fe Railroad more than a century ago has been redeveloped into a college-prep campus with an unusual mission. The Armand Hammer United World College of the American West is an integral part of an international movement that now includes nine two-year pre-university residential schools around the world. The strength of the college is derived from the exceptional leadership of Her Majesty Queen Noor of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the President of the United World Colleges, and Nelson Mandela. Residents and visitors to this lovely rural area enjoy the simple pleasures of starlit nights, outdoor recreation, lively rodeos, and the aroma of fire-roasted steak.
San Miguel
County Offices
505-425-9333
www.smcounty.net
Chamber of Commerce
505-425-8631
www.lasvegasnm.org
Distinguished as the first settlement in the region now known as San Miguel County, San Miguel del Vado served as the original county seat until governmental offices were transferred to Las Vegas. This historic
settlement is located south of Interstate 26 approximately 26 miles southwest of Las Vegas. San Miguel was one of the first places that caravans crossed the Pecos River. It was also first Hispanic settlement along the Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico until 1835, a place where traders often camped. The vintage church at San Miguel that was present throughout the Santa Fe Trail period remains today, although it has been remodeled. The outline of the plaza at San Miguel that was formed by adjoining adobe houses can still be seen, although most of the structures have not survived.
