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SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO - USA
Santa Fe (Spanish: santa holy, fe faith) is the capital of New Mexico, a
state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a
population of 62,203. It is the county seat of Santa Fe County.
The elevation of Santa Fe is 1934.9m (6348 ft), as surveyed at the Santa Fe
Municipal Airport. (Compared with 1655.4 m for Denver, Colorado).
The city has consciously attempted to
preserve and display a regional architectural style. By a law passed in
1958, all new and rebuilt buildings must exhibit the Spanish-Pueblo style of
architecture, based on the adobe (mud and straw) and wood construction of
the past. Many Cape-Cod-style houses in the city have had tile roofs and
mock adobe walls added.
In addition to being a state capital, the city saw an art and tourism boom
in the 1970s, resulting in a population of income and educational level
above the average of the U.S. southwest. Sophisticated restaurants,
boutiques, and galleries line the streets of the city center and Canyon Road.
A lovely time to visit Santa Fe is around the second week of September when
the aspens of the nearby Sangre de Cristo Range turn colors. This is also
around the time of year when the locals burn "Zozobra" -- a fifty-foot man-puppet
wearing a dress, supposedly an effigy of gloom.
History
Santa Fe was founded in 1607, making it the oldest capital city and the
second oldest city in the United States of America, behind St. Augustine,
Florida (1565). It became part of the United States in 1912.
The full name of Santa Fe is "La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco
de Asís," or "The Royal City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi."
Geography
Santa Fe is located at 35°40'2" North, 105°57'52" West (35.667231,
-105.964575).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
96.9 km˛ (37.4 mi˛). 96.7 km˛ (37.3 mi˛) of it is land and 0.2 km˛ (0.1 mi˛)
of it is water. The total area is 0.21% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 62,203 people, 27,569 households, and
14,969 families residing in the city. The population density is 643.4/km˛
(1,666.1/mi˛). There are 30,533 housing units at an average density of
315.8/km˛ (817.8/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 76.30% White, 0.66%
African American, 2.21% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander,
15.29% from other races, and 4.20% from two or more races. 47.82% of the
population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 27,569 households out of which 24.1% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 37.6% are married couples living together, 12.1%
have a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% are non-families.
36.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.2% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.20 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18,
8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100
females there are 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,392, and the median
income for a family is $49,705. Males have a median income of $32,373 versus
$27,431 for females. The per capita income for the city is $25,454. 12.3% of
the population and 9.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 17.2% are under the age of 18 and 9.2% are
65 or older.
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