SILVER CITY


Our town sits in the sunny southwest corner of New Mexico. We’re equal parts Old West heritage and a distinctive arts and entertainment community, packed with a vibrant “small-town” style of living.

GATEWAY TO
WILDERNESS


Nestled against the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest, Silver City is a quirky cultural town of just over 10,000 people.

MONUMENTAL

Boasting historical ties with Billy the Kid, the Gila Cliff Dwellings, and Geronimo, as well as the third largest open pit copper mine in the world, Silver City shines in its artistic, culinary, and historical offerings.


ART & CULTURE

The downtown Historic  District in particular is home to more than a dozen restaurants, murals, and some thirty-plus galleries and artist studios.

CLIMATE

At 6,000 feet, the summer monsoons enliven the lush landscape and provide an escape from the typical Southwestern heat.

The Silver City climate is noted for its clear mountain air, low humidity and four gentle seasons.

The bulk of Grant County and most of the towns in the county, including Silver City, fall into a high, arid region that resembles both parts of Arizona’s Chihuahuan Desert and New Mexico’s famously beautiful Ponderosa-clad mountains.
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FOUNDED:

1878


The Town of Silver City sits atop a site that has been home to Native American, Hispanic and Anglo settlers for hundreds of years, and these vibrant cultures fill an important part of the Town's exciting present day.
ELEVATION:

6,142 ft


Elevations range from 4,000 feet above sea level in the high desert at the southern end of Grant County to mountains reaching over 10,000 feet in the north.
AVERAGE TEMP:

54°F


The annual average temperature is fifty four degrees Fahrenheit, with mid-summer days in the eighties. Pleasant, above-freezing temperatures most of the winter provide near-perfect conditions for day and evening activities.
SUNNY DAYS PER YEAR:

300+


On average, the sun shines more than three hundred days per year, and there are at least one hundred and  seventy-four growing days.
AVG ANNUAL RAINFALL:

16"-20"


Annual rainfall totals in the County range from 16″ (or less) in the most arid portions of the county to 20″ (and sometimes a little more) in the high country.

HOME OF THE
[ MUSTANGS ]


Western New Mexico University has called Silver City "home" since 1893. Offering more than 70 fields of study, online Masters' and Bachelors' programs, satellite campuses, and the classic on-campus university experience, WNMU is truly an asset to our community.

You don't have to be a student to appreciate WNMU. The Western New Mexico University Museum hosts the world's largest permanent collection of Mimbres pottery.

In addition, WNMU Cultural Affairs organizes a variety of entertaining events throughout the year for locals, visitors, and students alike.

The Western Institute for Lifelong Learning also calls WNMU home, providing educational opportunities for ongoing learning outside of the traditional classroom.

SILVER CITY
[ FEATURES ]

Silver City and Grant County have been recognized by arts, retirement, and quality-of-life publications for our unique combination of affordable livability, relaxed atmosphere and incredible beauty. Here are some examples of the good news!


LOCAL HAPPENINGS