Town of Carrizozo

Carrizozo was born along with the dawn of the 20th century. Before the railroad tracks reached the site of present day Carrizozo in August of 1899, as far as the eye could see there were few signs of human habitation here at the upper end of the Tularosa Basin. A few scattered cattle ranches established in the 1870's - a lonely stagecoach road crossing the landscape from the booming gold mining town of White Oaks, 12 miles to the northeast.

In 1955 when the railroads turned to diesel engines to replace the old steam engines, the final blow was struck. Diesel engines do not require the manpower to service them, the water, nor the pumping stations, and railroad employment, the mainstay of Carrizozo's economy, fell drastically. By 1968 the last passenger train had passed through Carrizozo. Eventually all the old railroad buildings and many of the business establishments were torn down - or burned down. The fortunes of Carrizozo were directly tied to those of the railroad that gave it birth. Many freight trains still pass through Carrizozo daily, but they no longer stop.

We hope that as you walk or drive through our quiet neighborhoods and streets, you will catch a glimpse of the flavor of small town life in the Southwest in the first half of the 20th century and that you will enjoy the quality of life of today's Carrizozo, with it's friendly people and tranquil atmosphere.