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Sierra County, New Mexico

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Sierra County
Sierra County Courthouse in Truth or Consequences
Sierra County Courthouse in Truth or Consequences
Map of New Mexico highlighting Sierra County
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
Map of the United States highlighting New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°08′N 107°11′W / 33.14°N 107.19°W / 33.14; -107.19
Country United States
State New Mexico
Founded1884
Named forthe Black Range (Spanish: Sierra Diablo)
SeatTruth or Consequences
Largest cityTruth or Consequences
Area
 • Total4,236 sq mi (10,970 km2)
 • Land4,179 sq mi (10,820 km2)
 • Water57 sq mi (150 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,576
 • Density2.9/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.sierracountynm.gov

Sierra County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,576.[1] Its county seat is Truth or Consequences.[2]

Launching of spacecraft

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Spaceport America - the spaceport of Virgin Galactic - is located in Sierra County, 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Las Cruces and 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Truth or Consequences. Sierra County voters approved the creation of a spaceport tax district in April 2008, freeing up funding for its construction.[3] The first launch from Spaceport America happened in 2006; There have been over 300 launches. On May 22, 2021, Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity launched from the spaceport with three people aboard becoming the first crewed launch from both Spaceport America and New Mexico; New Mexico became the third U.S. state, after California and Florida, to send humans into space.[4]

References

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  1. "QuickFacts: Sierra County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Kaufman, Marc (May 10, 2008). "New Mexico Moves Ahead on Spaceport". Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
  4. "NM 'has finally reached the stars' - Albuquerque Journal". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-01-16.