Ruidoso, New Mexico

In December 2006, seven percent of eligible voters approved a $12.6 million bond issue to finance the expansion and modernization of the local wastewater treatment plant which was built in 1982. In 2011, construction was completed on a $36 million wastewater treatment plant. This state-of-the-art facility utilizes membrane technology to achieve discharge standards within regulatory guidelines. The plant was designed to accommodate future growth. The average daily volume is 1.6 million gallons. The plant can currently process up to 2.7 million gallons per day.

The town and the river were hit by devastating flash flooding from late at night on July 26, 2008, through July 27, 2008. The remnant circulation of Hurricane Dolly passed over the area and brought as much as {9 inches (229 mm) of rainfall. Hundreds of tourists, campers and residents were evacuated[6] and the storm caused damage at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track.[6] One person was killed in the flooding,[7] approximately 900 persons required rescue, approximately 500 structures were damaged, and initial damage estimates for Ruidoso were in the range of $15– 20 million.[8]

In March 2016 the village of Ruidoso entered into a Sister City relationship with Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico.

Ruidoso is in southern Lincoln County, with elevations ranging from 6,400 feet (2,000 m) at the village's southeast corner in the valley of the Rio Ruidoso up to over 7,700 feet (2,300 m) at the village's northern end near Alto. Ruidoso's southern border and westernmost border follow the Otero County line. The village is bordered to the east by the city of Ruidoso Downs. U.S. Route 70 passes through the southeast part of the village, following the valley of Carrizo Creek upstream from the Rio Ruidoso. The highway leads east down the valley of the Rio Ruidoso and Rio Hondo 70 miles (110 km) to Roswell and southwest over Apache Summit 33 miles (53 km) to Tularosa. New Mexico State Road 48 passes through the center of Ruidoso on Sudderth Drive, the village's main street, and leads north 18 miles (29 km) to Capitan.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 16.1 square miles (41.7 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²), or 0.12%, are water.[9]

Horse racing at Ruidoso Downs

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 7,868 people, 3,434 households, and 2,232 families residing in the village. The population density was 538.7 people per square mile (208.0/km²). There were 7,584 housing units at an average density of 530.8 per square mile (204.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 87.50 percent White, 0.29 percent African American, 2.38 percent Native American, 0.31 percent Asian, 0.03 percent Pacific Islander, 7.44 percent from other races, and 2.05 percent from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.21 percent of the population.

There were 3,434 households out of which 23.6 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2 percent were married couples living together, 8.8 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0 percent were non-families. 29.8 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the village, the population was spread out with 20.5 percent under the age of 18, 5.8 percent from 18 to 24, 21.9 percent from 25 to 44, 30.1 percent from 45 to 64, and 21.6 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,107, and the median income for a family was $44,846. Males had a median income of $30,452 versus $21,974 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,721. About 2.5 percent of families and 4.9 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5 percent of those under age 18 and 5.8 percent of those age 65 or over.

All public schools operate under the Ruidoso Municipal School District.

Public library

Ruidoso Public Library

Country	United States
Location	107 Kansas City Road, Ruidoso, NM 88345-6922
Coordinates	33.350224°N 105.661197°W / 33.350224; -105.661197
Other information
Staff	6
Website	ruidosolibrary.org
Map

Ruidoso Public Library is the library serving Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Alto, and greater Lincoln County.

Starting in 1954, the library developed from the Woman's Club, Beta Sigma Phi with only a small collection of books. In 1960 the Library Advisory Board was created, and Jane Parks served as the first President of the Advisory Board. Shortly after, the library was moved into a building that was once a school and Old City Hall. The library was only two rooms which the librarian Pat Ward oversaw its maintenance. In 1966, under the director Ruth McGuire Spiegel the library was moved to an old airport terminal and now had the bonus of local and state funding. The first library building was built in 1975 at 501 Sudderth Dr. and the library remained in this location for around twenty years.

In 1997 the current library was designed and built by ASA Architectures, the two-story building with vaulted windows is 14,600 square feet. The library has a garden, the Friends’ Book Shoppe, an outdoor reading patio and available window seats. In addition, the library also includes an archive room, conference room, children’s, and teen's library, two self-checkout machines and twenty-nine computers for public use. The collection consists of books, CDs, DVDs, and an e-branch with access to e-books, audio books and magazines.[15] Some of the programs offered at the Ruidoso Public Library are children’s section, adult game night, teen scene, Ruidoso writers publishing group and a bereavement support group. Also, the library offers the New Mexico FamilyPass which provides free admission to fifteen museums and historical sites across the state.[16] The library is open Monday-Saturday. [17]

The Ruidoso Osos are an independent professional baseball team in the Pecos League during the 2011 season. The team was on hiatus for the 2012 season because of low attendance. There were no lights on the team's home field, meaning games were played at 4:30 p.m. Additionally, alcohol could not be sold at White Mountain Park because it was owned by Ruidoso Municipal Schools.[18] In the 2013 season, the team moved to Raton, New Mexico and were renamed the Raton Osos.[19]

Jogging trail in a municipal park in Ruidoso just after sunrise, July 2008

• Mary Ann Almager, world champion boxer[20]
• Neil Patrick Harris, actor; grew up in Ruidoso[21]
• Yvette Herrell, Republican member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 51 since January 2011; born in Ruidoso
• Mike Runnels, lieutenant governor of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987; lived in Ruidoso
• Bram van der Stok, aka Dr. Bram "Bob" Vanderstok, WWII flying ace and hero of "The Great Escape" from Stalag Luft III

• Noisy Water Winery
• Ruidoso River Museum

• Official website
• Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Ruidoso Tourism Office