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Santa Fe Facts
Population:
66,522
(120,000 if both city and suburbs are included in the count)
Elevation:
7000 feet (with 13,000 ft. mountain peaks in the background)
Area:
39.6 sq.mi
Emergency:
For police, fire, or ambulance emergency, dial 911
Time Zone:
New Mexico is on Mountain Standard Time which is seven hours behind Greenwich mean time, and two hours behind Eastern Standard Time. When it is 8:00am in Santa Fe, it is 11:00am in New York City. ( All of the US except Hawaii observes Daylight Saving Time from midnight on the first Sunday in April until midnight on the last Sunday in October. Daylight saving time advances the clock by one hour across all of the US time zones.)
Rainfall is slight year round. There is occasional snow in the winter months. Temperatures at night are cool and perfect for sleeping year round. In October the weather is mild and the trees turn a brilliant gold. At any visit it is wise to come prepared with a jacket and/or sweater for use in the early morning and evening. Be sure to bring sunscreen and to apply it often of you will be outdoors. Even in cool temperatures, the intensity ultra violet rays of the sun at the high altitude require protection.
Public Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year's Day
January ( 3rd Monday) Martin Luther King Jr's birthday
February (third Monday) Presidents' Day
May 5 Cinco de Mayo
May (Last Monday) Memorial Day
July 4 Independence Day
September (1st Monday) Labor Day
November 11 Veterans' Day
November (4th Thursday) Thanksgiving Day
December 25 Christmas Day
Area Code:
the area code for Santa Fe is 505. Calls made from outside the local area to Santa Fe must include the area code.
Electricity:
Electric current in the US is 110-120 volts, 60 cycle. Appliances manufactured for use in most Asian and European countries will need an adapter to operate safely, as well as a plug adapter for the flat pin style of the US plug.
How to get around:
By Air:
The Albuquerque International Airport is the airport for Northern New Mexico. The airport houses about a dozen national, international and regional carriers. This pleasant, clean, efficient airport is about an hour's drive from Santa Fe. Shuttles from Albuquerque Airport into the city charge approximately $25 - $35 depending on the destination. Taxis are metered, so the fare varies. Rental cars are available.
The Santa Fe Airport has only one regional carrier at this time. United Express provides service to and from Denver on a daily basis.
Still smaller is the The Taos Airport which provides daily service to and from Albuquerque.
By Train:
Santa Fe is about 18 miles from the Washington D.C. to Los Angeles Amtrak Line. Trains arrive and depart each afternoon. (Amtrak travels to Albuquerque which is 60 miles from Santa Fe and to Lamy, 15 miles southeast of Santa Fe.) For train schedule and ticket information call (1-800) 872-7245.
By Car:
Many visitors travel to Santa Fe in their own cars or make arrangements in advance to rent a car upon arrival. This is an excellent plan, as there is not a well developed public transportation network outside the city. In the city, a street map is essential. The streets are laid out in a 17th century tangle, designed as horse and cattle trails. There is merit in leaving them as they were: this is part of the charm and beauty of Santa Fe. However, without a map, your first local experience may be that of being lost. Vehicle traffic in Santa Fe is slow because of the narrow streets and congestion. Most places within the city can be reached on foot.
Santa Fe is 385 miles from Denver, via North-South Interstate 25. I-25 enters New Mexico at Raton and continues south through Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces and terminates in El Paso, Texas on the American side and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. From Ciudad Juarez to Mexico City the distance is 832 miles.
Another route from Denver and points north is Highway 285 which winds down through Tres Piedras, Ojo Caliente, Espanola (where it joins with Highway 84) and into Santa Fe where it becomes St. Francis Drive. St. Francis intersects with I-25 on the east side of Santa Fe. Albuquerque to Santa Fe is about 60 miles via I-25. An alternate route from Albuquerque to Santa Fe is Highway 14, known as The Turquoise Trail.
Coming from the west, Albuquerque is 322 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona via Interstate 40. From Phoenix to Albuquerque the distance is 458 miles via Highway 60 which intersects with I-25 at Socorro, 136 miles south of Santa Fe.
From Tucson, take Interstate 10 to Las Cruces where it intersects with I-25 then go north 285 miles to Santa Fe.
Coming from the east, Santa Fe is about 340 miles from Amarillo, Texas, via I-40 to Albuquerque then I-25 North to Santa Fe.
Taos, New Mexico, is 70 miles from Santa Fe and may be reached by taking 285 north out of Santa Fe to Espanola. In Espanola Highway 285 will become Highway 68 which follows the Rio Grande River up to Taos.
By Bus:
Bus service Santa Fe has a comprehensive city bus service, Santa Fe Trails. The city bus system can take you nearly anywhere within the city limits on nine different routes. Buses run Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM (times may vary, depending on the route). Santa Fe Trails does not run on Sunday or holidays.
Bus schedule and information book are available on board any Santa Fe Trails bus and at more than 75 locations throughout the city, including most public buildings and many stores. Fare is 50¢ per ride for adults, including free transfers. Daily newspapers are sold on the bus. Seniors 60 and older and students from 6 to 17 years are half price, including transfers. Children younger than 6 ride free when accompanied by an adult. one-day passes are $1 and monthly passes $10. Customer assistance center: 438-1463 between 7 AM and 7 PM Mon-Fri.
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