Live In Chaparral, nothing to do (Las Cruces, Dona Ana: 2010, insurance, crime rate)

[tellintruth]

I've lived in Chaparral for 11 years and we moved here for the purpose of getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city of El Paso. we used to live in the Northeast and it became a bit challenging to live there because the crime rate was starting to grow and we had two small children at the time and were planning to have a third one. Well, everything seemed great at the beginning but as the year went by, I noticed that the people in this town usually keep to themselves. there's no "neighborly" people where we live except our next door neighbors (who keeps to themselves),
after living here for a while I've heard and saw things. Yes, we have 3 Elementary schools, 1 Middle school, and a High school which was finally completed last fall. There's Stires Market which my biggest "pet-peeve" is that there's never enough of the advertised grocery specials and they don't believe in "rainchecks" so when it's gone, it's gone. There's a few little Mom and Pop stores here and there tucked away, a couple of tortilla factories/markets (my favorite is Susy's) they have fresh tortillas all the time as well as a meat market, american and mexican groceries a restaurant as well as "sell-by-the -pound" barbacoa, carnitas, and turkey tails, fresh chicharrones and made by hand flour tortillas as well.
We also have "stela's market which has been re-done and looks great and spacious, a liqour store, a couple of pizza delivery places, 3-4 hardware stores, lumber yard, a reputable tire repair shop, an Auto Zone, a Family Dollar, Dollar General, 3 gas stations, many churches(christian and catholic), 2 daycare facilities, 2 bakeries, a Tae-Kwon-Do Academy/Party Hall, Digital Cable co., 1 cemetery, a new bank/post office, a video store/postal needs store as well, well-stocked gift shop/party rental, a few restaurants that personaly the food is not that good ( I cook better) but there they are.
An insurance co., a thrift shop, many trailer parks, neighborhood contractors who do odd jobs here and there, and an old park that looks like it was built back in the time of the great depression! and get this...NO COMMUNITY CENTER!!! I don't know for what reason Dona Ana County fights it with tooth and nail not to use this building that's in the same premisses as the park!
The people here I've noticed for the past 11 years, not only do they keep to themselves, but they expect for someone to come along and hand them everything without any effort, e,i; community center(s), more police or sheriffs, gas lines, more sewer lines, more businesses. But the problem is that when it comes to bring the offer to the table, once money is discussed, they turn the other way and blame the County because the citizens of Chaparral think that they have to have it at no price, or they just plain out don't even go to Town meetings and discuss anything, they just expect to have it, I've seen it.
I used to teach an exercise class from 2001-2007 and the group got really big, didn't have room where we were and suggested me to go for that building at the park. went out of my way to talk to the county about it and was asked I needed a petition. Just a few signed. So that was out the window. Had the idea of maybe building a new community center, people excited about this one too, needed a petition. a few names were jotted down. My point is that people complain but they don't want to do anything about it or they expect for everyone else to do it for them.
So if you're looking for a town that expects from you but doesn't return the favor, keeps to themselves(don't expect for a good neighbor to watch over your house if you're away) most everyone doesn't like to get "involved" The bright side is that if you buy your own property, you get to build on it, have horses(if you can afford it), have chickens, pigs, and up to 6 dogs, all pets included have to be a total of 6.
Happy house Hunting!

[skprdh]

Where is Chaparral? I am awaiting a final offer from WSMR and will be looking for an apt. It sounds like I'd want to steer clear of this area. Sorry things are not what you wanted.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by skprdh

Where is Chaparral? I am awaiting a final offer from WSMR

It is about 50 miles South of White Sands National Monument:
Chaparral, nm - Google Maps



Rich

[cheeser]

Actually, Chapparal is only like 35 miles from WSMR, the missile range, not the monument.

[jaxart]

Chaparal is quite literally a suburb of El Paso. The city of El Paso is bounded on the north and west by the NM state line, and Chaparral is in Otero County, NM, just over the TX/NM state line. It's only about a 15 minute drive to major shopping areas of NE El Paso. It is also on the utility highway that runs from El Paso to WSMR, making it the easiest commute for those who work at WSMR and live in the El Paso areas. There are shuttle buses (or used to be) that run between the two for those not wishing to drive it.

[Cathy4017]

Chaparral is actually in Doña Ana county rather than Otero.

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Chaparral is actually in Doña Ana county rather than Otero.

Correct you are. Thanks for setting that straight. I was, "close but no cigar!"

[mike0421]

I think there is actually a small section of Chapparal that is in Otero County. It comes up as "Newman" in google maps, however, I think that area is considered part of Chapparal.

Remember earlier this year when ICE raided some homes in Chapparal? I believe the Otero County Sheriff's department assisted, therefore, I believe some of that area is under the perview of Otero County. But most of it is in Dona Ana.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by jaxart

Correct you are. Thanks for setting that straight. I was, "close but no cigar!"

LOL!! What gets me about NM is that there are so few counties (33), yet it is the 5th largest state of the 50. Most counties are relatively large, and quite a few of them have a lot of scattered small communities/villages within them.

This site lists 42(!!) places for Otero.

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And even more for Doña Ana, 64......

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The 2010 census is going to have fun.....

[Poncho_NM]

I remember going through this once before when I was down in the area about 10 years ago.

Chaparral, New Mexico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chaparral is a census-designated place (CDP) in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,117 at the 2000 census. A portion of Chaparral is also in Otero County, New Mexico, United States.

While there is some employment within Chaparral, Chaparral is primarily a bedroom community for the neighboring city of El Paso, Texas and the neighboring military installations of White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss. It is officially part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Rich