Vivian Medina

Los Alamos County, NM

With slightly over 70 years as a local government, Los Alamos County is relatively young in its role as an incorporated county. Los Alamos is a place of spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife, uncommon high-altitude recreational opportunities, small-town friendliness, numerous and diverse cultural activities, fascinating history, and world-changing science and technological development. At present the County is experiencing unprecedented growth, largely driven by budgetary and mission expansion at its largest employer – Los Alamos National Laboratory.
 There are two communities in Los Alamos County: Los Alamos (~12,500 residents), and White Rock (~6,500 residents). Technically, both are part of the same incorporated city/county. About 190,000 people live within a forty-mile radius of Los Alamos. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the largest employer (13,100) in the County with an annual budget of 2.92 billion dollars. Approximately 7,000 people commute to the Laboratory from the surrounding area each day. 
 The Lab supports high levels of job stability, income and education, with the highest number of PhDs per capita and a median household income of $110,190 per year. In addition, the County enjoys a low crime rate and gets high marks from residents who feel safe and secure here. The public school district is in the top 4% in the nation, and the University of New Mexico has a local branch. Los Alamos is also the Gateway to Three National Parks: with the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Bandelier National Monument, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Located at 7,245 feet altitude, Los Alamos' four-season climate, with an average annual high of 70 degrees and an average annual low of 42 degrees, promotes exceptional recreation opportunities year-round. Enjoy more than 200 miles of County Network, U.S. Forest Service and National Park trails that traverse through and around Los Alamos.