With a population of 70,000, Santa Fe is New Mexico's fourth largest city that is also a hub for art and culture. Due to sales, it now ranks as the country's third largest art market with nearly 300 galleries and dealers. In recent years, the city has also earned a reputation with food-lovers. With its warm, dry climate, booming art scene and stabilizing economy, Santa Fe is a fast-growing destination for those moving to the Southwest.
History:
In 1846 the U.S. claimed Santa Fe; the city has been under U.S. jurisdiction ever since. Santa Fe flourished, benefiting from the new trade connections that were made possible by railroad. Around the turn of the century, artists, attracted by the climate and the beauty of the area, moved to Santa Fe, and the city soon became popular as an art colony. When New Mexico attained statehood in 1912, Santa Fe entered a period of growth and prosperity. By 1920, the population had grown from 5,000 to more than 7,000 people, and by the 1940s, it was home to more than 20,000 residents. In 1957, the city established zoning codes designed to maintain a uniform architectural style. Santa Fe's populace reflects the city's Native American, Spanish and Anglo heritage. However, after an influx of new residents in the 1980s, the 1990 census reported that for the first time since the city's founding, Hispanic residents were a minority. During the 1990s, the city experienced some tensions between locals and newcomers, who are driving up the cost of housing and otherwise altering the landscape. Economic frustrations continue into the early 2000s, as wages linger at almost 20 percent below the national average, while the cost of living has remained well above the national average. The city has taken steps to remedy the issue, and today the city is optimistic in its future.
Economy:
Santa Fe's economy has been based largely on tourism and state government. Santa Fe receives an average of 1.6 million visitors annually and in 2004, ranked second only to San Francisco as the best travel destination in the country. Tourism boosts the city's retail industry, which brings in more than $1 billion annually. Because of the city's proximity to Los Alamos National Laboratory, scientific research has also become a factor. It is an important center for work on defense-related projects, conducting research on technology associated with nuclear weapons and deterrence. Health care and light manufacturing are other significant economic sectors. Santa Fe has emerged as a regional medical center. Products manufactured by local companies include electronic instruments and textiles. Large corporations are all but absent from the economy, and recruitment efforts encourage entrepreneurship and small business development. Unemployment is relatively low. Wages, especially in the service industry, have remained low while the cost of living index is high.
Tourism:
Santa Fe has a museum for just about everybody. Begin by exploring New Mexico's compelling history at the Palace of the Governors, the country's oldest continuously occupied building. This 400-year-old structure on the Santa Fe Plaza has played a part in Spanish Colonial, Mexican, Territorial and Statehood eras of New Mexico's history. Then, located just a few steps from the Palace, the New Mexico Museum of Art is home to an impressive collections of work by early Santa Fe and Taos artists as well as changing exhibits of work by contemporary artists. A city rich in the arts, Santa Fe is home to any array of art galleries. With more than 250 galleries to explore, you will be astonished by the city's art, which includes traditional and contemporary painting, photography, pottery, sculpture and more. The Adobe Gallery specializes in contemporary and antique Southwest Indian Pueblo Pottery and fine art. The city is also a utopia for hikers, skiers, mountain bikers, river rafters, horseback riders. At night, unwind at one of the city's intimate bars and nightclubs, enjoy a stunning sunset with a loved one or head out to a lively music venue.