Truth or Consequences Photo courtesy TorC/Sierra County Chamber of Commerce
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The “Jewel of the Rio Grande,” or Truth or Consequences, is bordered by the San Andres and Black Range Mountains on I-25 between Las Cruces and Albuquerque. It claims its fair share of snowbirds who flock there to enjoy mild winters, lakes and mountains, hot mineral springs, golfing, the El Camino Real Historic Trail, Geronimo Springs Museum and the Auto Museum.
T or C was chartered in 1916 as Hot Springs. In 1950, it became Truth or Consequences in response to Ralph Edwards’ request that a town in America take on the television game show’s namesake. Edwards still makes an appearance every May to celebrate the change.
At 4,260 feet above sea level, with a population of 7,500, T or C is the seat of Sierra County. It serves an agricultural and ranching community whose population is spread over 2,771,200 acres of land on 420 farms and ranches.
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Postmarks from three cities
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Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, universally called T or C, is the third name for that city. When it was first settled it was called Palomas Springs, so named because of the large number of doves (palomas) residing in the cottonwood trees along the Rio Grande.
In the early 1800s the area west of the river was considered a neutral place where all Indian tribes could bring their sick or wounded to soak in the healing springs. At that time, the springs were actually mud bogs. The original springs are located next to the Geronimo Springs Museum, named for the famed Apache leader who visited. Bath houses are located in several places within the community for those who want to test the healing waters now.
The post office was opened in 1911 as Palomas Springs but was changed to Hot Springs in 1914. That name was kept until Ralph Edwards, the master of ceremonies of the radio show “Truth or Consequences,” offered to host an annual celebration and nationwide broadcast to any city willing to change its name to Truth or Consequences. The Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce spread the news of the offer to advertise the city free of charge. No longer would it be confused with Hot Springs, Arkansas, or all the others throughout the United States.
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