Luna County is known for its wide open spaces, beautiful southwest desert landscapes, inexpensive real estate, and friendly residents.
History
Before dawn on March 16, 1916, Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa led several hundred of his rebel soldiers across the Mexican border into the southern county village of Columbus. The invaders raided and burned much of the town, causing many residents to flee to the desert. Although the raid completely surprised everyone in the town, it also awakened 350 United States Army soldiers at Camp Furlong at the edge of town, who defended the town with two machine guns. The fighting continued until dawn, when Villa fled back across the Mexican border, five hours after invading and approximately ninety minutes after attacking the town. Despite the U.S. Army's counter "Mexican Expedition" into Mexico, Villa was never caught; he died seven years later at the hands of an assassin.
Eighteen Columbus residents and U.S. soldiers were killed in the raid, while approximately seventy-five of Villa's soldiers were killed. This raid was the last invasion of American territory until the Japanese invasion of Attu Island during World War II.
Today, Pancho Villa State Park is located in the village of Columbus. It features beautiful cacti and the ruins of "the U.S. Army's first greaserack".
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 7,680 km? (2,965 mi?). 7,680 km? (2,965 mi?) of it is land and 0 km? (0 mi?) of it (0.01%) is water. The bulk of the county is flat lowland, either grassland or desert scrub, but it also contains three mountain ranges: Cooke's Range in the north, the Florida Mountains on the southeastern side of Deming near the center of the county, and the Tres Hermanas Mountains in the southern part of the county near Columbus.
Adjacent Counties
- Sierra County, New Mexico - northeast
- Dona Ana County, New Mexico - east
- Grant County, New Mexico - west
- Hidalgo County, New Mexico - west
- Chihuahua - the Mexican state to the south of Luna County
Demographics
As of the census? of 2000, there were 25,016 people, 9,397 households, and 6,596 families residing in the county.
Education
Residents are zoned to Deming Public Schools.
