Las Cruces is a city in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,267. The population was 82,671 as of the 2005 census estimate, making it the second largest city in the state. Las Cruces is the center of an agricultural region irrigated by the Rio Grande, which flows just west of the city. The city of Las Cruces bisects the fertile Mesilla Valley, the flood plain of the Rio Grande which extends from Hatch, New Mexico to the west side of El Paso, Texas. Las Cruces is also the home of New Mexico State University. NMSU is New Mexico's only land grant university, citing more than 23,000 graduate and undergraduate students on the main campus and four branch campuses. The Organ Mountains are to the east of the city. Las Cruces has a mayor-council form of government with a city manager. It is the county seat of Dona Ana County. Las Cruces apartments for rent comparison page shows most up to date rent information on Las Cruces apartments and houses. Rent information is obtained from multiple rental sources but we cannot guarantee their accuracy.