White Rock, New Mexico
White Rock is a community of 5,716 people in Los Alamos County, New Mexico.
Why visit White Rock
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 2 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Bandelier CCC Historic District, Tsirege, Piñon Park and Pinon Park Pool.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 20°F, and about 42 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in White Rock
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About White Rock
White Rock is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Los Alamos County, New Mexico. It is one of two major population centers in the county; the other is Los Alamos (the county seat). As of the 2020 census, White Rock had a population of 5,852. It is largely a bedroom community for employees of Los Alamos National Laboratory and their families.
From the Wikipedia article White Rock, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks3
Bandelier CCC Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic district at Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, USA
Tsirege
Monument and historic site · 1.7 mi
Archaeological site in New Mexico, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes2
El Rigoberto's Tacos
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.3 mi
25 Bonnie View Drive, White Rock
Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00
History
In 1947 the United States Atomic Energy Commission acquired about 100 acres from the United States Forest Service to build a company town to house construction and other contractors’ workers who did not qualify to reside within the secured city of Los Alamos. The town was erected quickly from early 1949, with the intent to provide accommodation for up to 1800 residents by mid-September of that year. This was accomplished with standard building designs, many prefabricated, and included dormitories for 912 men and 32 women, 64 single-, 297 double- and 48 three-bedroom houses, all as rental properties, as well as provision for 217 mobile homes. A school, shopping center, post office and administration building were also included.
By June 1950 the population was estimated 1000 to 1200 persons, including 325 families, but from 1952 steadily dropped with the decline in major construction projects. By 1953, 251 of the prefab dwelling units had been declared surplus and disposed of, and by 1957 only 9 houses and 20 mobile home spaces were rented. The town was officially closed on September 30, and the remaining structures disposed of by the end of that year.
From the History section of White Rock, New Mexico on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship8
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.0 mi
366 Grand Canyon Drive, White Rock
White Rock Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.6 mi
310 Rover Boulevard, White Rock
White Rock United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 1.4 mi
580 Meadow Lane, White Rock
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Healthcare2
Map of White Rock
44 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 20°F | 0.9 in | 9.9 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 24°F | 0.7 in | 8.8 in |
| Mar | 53°F | 30°F | 1.0 in | 5.9 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 35°F | 0.9 in | 3.3 in |
| May | 70°F | 44°F | 1.2 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 54°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 57°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 55°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 49°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 38°F | 1.6 in | 1.7 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 28°F | 0.9 in | 4.4 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 21°F | 0.9 in | 8.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Los Alamos (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Los Alamos County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2022-05-04: Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows (Fire)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-10-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2012-08-24: Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-11-23: Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Los Alamos Airport (LAM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Los Alamos 7 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
- El Rancho 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- La Mesilla 12 mi northeast, about 20 min by car
- Pojoaque 13 mi northeast, about 20 min by car
- Tres Arroyos 13 mi southeast, about 21 min by car
- Tano Road 14 mi east, about 22 min by car
- El Valle de Arroyo Seco 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Nambe 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
- Santa Fe 16 mi southeast, about 26 min by car
- Española 16 mi northeast, about 25 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bandelier National Monument in September 2011 - Visitor Center, Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.