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For the 1992 motion picture, see White Sands (film).

White Sands is a census-designated place (CDP) in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,323 at the 2000 census. See also White Sands Missile Range and White Sands National Monument.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Condition 4 External links

White Sands is located at 32°23′3″N, 106°29′52″W (32.384064, -106.497698)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.0 km² (3.1 mi²), all land.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,323 people, 432 households, and 355 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 165.8/km² (429.2/mi²). There were 667 housing units at an average density of 83.6/km² (216.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.43% White, 11.56% African American, 0.98% Native American, 3.70% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.27% from other races, and 5.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.61% of the population.

There were 432 households out of which 56.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.0% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 37.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 39.7% from 25 to 44, 13.0% from 45 to 64, and 0.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,500, and the median income for a family was $47,750. Males had a median income of $40,402 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,186. About 1.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over. The White Sands of New MExico=275 square miles.

The desert lies under the scorching sun of Tularosa Basin New Mexico, its white sands gleaming like freshly fallen snow. These powdery grains of sand are not composed of quartz, unlike most desert sands, but of soft, chalky gypsum, or calcium sulphate. Also, unlike other desert sands, they are cool to the touch, due to the high rate of evaporation of surface moisture and also to the fact that the sands reflect, rather than absorb, the sun's rays. It is the world's largest surface deposit of gypsum, the mineral from which plaster of Paris is made.

Gypsum is one of the most common mineral compounds found on Earth but is rarely seen on the surface, as it dissolves easily in water.The origins of this amazing 'desert' dates back to around 100 million years ago, during which it was covered by a shallow sea. As its waters gradually receded, saltwater lakes were left behind, which eventually evaporated in the sun. In addition to salt, gypsum was also laid down in thick deposits on the old seabed.

The Sacramento and San Andreas mountain ranges, with the Tularosa Basin between them, started taking shape 65 million years ago. Giant upheavals in the Earth's crust folded and crumpled the land and the gypsum deposits, thrusting them high into the air.

Constant rainfall and meltwater coming from the mountains caused the gypsum to leach out and concentrated solutions were washed down the mountainsides. The gypsum solution accumulated in Lake Lucero, the lowest part of the Tularosa Basin. Water in the lake does not have any means of escaping except by evaporation, which leaves behind thin layers of crystalised gypsum, or selenite. Weathering then reduces these crystals to fine, sandy grains. South-westerly winds carry the grains farther up the basin, and the grains pile in steep dunes that are often as high as 15m (50ft). The winds carve more dunes and, at the same time, carry small amounts of the gypsum grains by distances of up to 9m (30ft) a year.

This constant movement of the sands, added with their alkaline nature and the little amount of rainfall makes it difficult for plants to grow here.

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 32.384064° -106.497698°
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