Los Alamos County

Los Alamos County is a small community with a worldwide reputation for scientific and technological development. Branded as the place “where discoveries are made,” it was a secret, gated city as the birthplace of the Manhattan Project during WWII, and today is home to Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Laboratory is the largest employer in the County.

Los Alamos is located on the Pajarito Plateau, in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. The population is approximately 18,000 people with two communities, Los Alamos and White Rock, surrounded by National Forest, National Park, Pueblo, and other Federal lands. It is the smallest county in New Mexico at 109 square miles. The community offers over a hundred miles of hiking, biking, equestrian trails, and year-round activities at Pajarito Ski Resort.

Los Alamos is an incorporated county, established under a special provision of the State constitution, giving it both county and municipal authority and powers. In addition, the County has a home rule charter, which allows the County to depart from certain statutory requirements. The County Council is the governing body with seven members elected at large for four-year, staggered terms.

County government employs over 700 people. Public utilities (electric, water, sewer, gas) are owned and operated by the County along with the Los Alamos Municipal Airport. The Fire department has a public safety contract to protect the nearby national laboratory as well as the community, employing nearly 150 individuals and making it the largest department in County government. With a low crime rate and an excellent public school system, Los Alamos County consistently ranks high in national surveys for its quality of education.