Truth or Consequences Photo courtesy TorC/Sierra County Chamber of Commerce

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.

T or C and its nearyby neighbor, Elephant Butte, can be a destinations in themselves for those seeking a hot springs getaway or lake recreation, or they can serve as a base for area explorations. Many historic communities, including Williamsburg, Arrey, Derry, Winton/Chloride, Caballo, Cuchillo, Engle, Monticello/Placita, Las Palomas and Winston, add character to the varied Sierra County landscape. Hillsboro and Kingston are popular destinations about 32 miles west in the Black Range Mountains of the Gila National Forest. Fourteen miles south sits Caballo Lake State Park, and Percha Dam State Park is located on the Rio Grande river 20 miles south of T or C.

Other nearby area attractions include Cuchillo Museum and Saloon, Emory Pass Vista, Lake Valley Scenic By-Way, Engle Vineyards and the Mimbres Valley.

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Postmarks from three cities

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.

A special city election was held, and the vote was to change the name to Truth or Consequences. However, a protest was filed by 295 area residents, so there was another election. This time the “yes” vote won by an even greater margin. The town became Truth or Consequences on March 31, 1950, although the post office was not changed until a year later.

Ralph Edwards kept his promise and aired the first live, coast-to-coast broadcast of “Truth or Consequences” from the city of Truth or Consequences.

But 1950 was not the end of elections regarding the name change. In January, 1964, the question went before the people again. The “yes “vote majority once more retained the unusual name.

Yet again on August 18, 1967, another majority voted to keep the name Truth or Consequences. Now there is a Ralph Edwards Park and a Ralph Edwards room in the Geronimo Museum.

Each year the city honors Ralph Edwards, and he honors them with a return visit to the city that accepted his challenge.

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