community

Santa Fe has a long-standing reputation as a great place to visit, to live and to retire to. A diverse economy, moderate climate and great quality of life make Santa Fe an ideal place to do business, raise children or enjoy the retirement years in a stimulating cultural environment. With a population of 87,000 the city has hundreds of years of history and a small-town charm combined with the sophistication of a world-class destination.

Residents of Santa Fe enjoy the qualities of a healthy economy, high quality healthcare, an abundance of retail shopping, and numerous cultural and entertainment outlets. At the same time, they appreciate the comforts and conveniences of small town life.

Santa Fe holds a powerful appeal for those who love arts and cultural activities, and the area holds equal advantages for those who love the outdoors, offering anything from beautifully groomed golf courses to a variety of other sports, including skiing, hiking, white water rafting, and fly-fishing.

Search our Business Directory to find real estate information, healthcare, or education.

Chamber member Employment/Personnel Agencies can assist with job searches and placement. Click HERE for a full list.

Click here for a free visitors guide

Click here for relocation packet

ARTS & CULTURE

Santa Fe is recognized worldwide for its rich culture and diverse art community. The city hosts over 250 art galleries as well as a variety of museums and performing arts. Art collectors come from all over to buy fine Native American, contemporary and western pieces. Visitors can easily stroll from gallery to gallery along the ancient streets and attend any of the traditional Friday night gallery openings. The city also hosts an array of art markets and festivals, such as the International Folk Art Market and Spanish Market that take place in July or the renowned Indian Market in August. The Objects of Art Show, which features 70+ exhibitors, with materials ranging from contemporary to historic, runs in August.

In terms of dollar sales, Santa Fe is among the largest art markets in the U.S. according to a study by the University of New Mexico's Bureau of Business and Economic Research. The more than $800 million that arts and culture tourism bring into the community may account for as much as 39% of the total inflow. Arts and culture industries bring more than $20 million in taxes and other revenues to the city - about $5 for every $1 the city spends on arts and culture. Santa Fe boasts the largest proportion of artists, performers and writers as a share of local employment of any U.S. city.

Please visit the following links for more information:

Meow Wolf
Objects of Art Shows
International Folk Art Market
Santa Fe Indian Market
Santa Fe Spanish Market
Lensic Performing Arts Center
Santa Fe Fiestas
Art Santa Fe
Canyon Road Santa Fe
SITE Santa Fe
Santa Fe Railyard Arts District

EDUCATION

Santa Fe’s education system is comprised of a variety of public and private primary/secondary schools as well as a range of high education institutes.

Santa Fe Public Schools (505) 467-2000

Elementary Schools
Acequia Madre Elementary
Amy Biehl Community School at Rancho Viejo
Aspen Community Magnet School (K-8)
Atalaya Elementary
Carlos Gilbert Elementary (K-6)
César Chávez Elementary (PK-5)
Chaparral Elementary
E.J. Martinez Elementary
El Camino Real Academy (PK-8)
El Dorado Community School (K-8)
Gonzales Community School (K-8)
Kearny Elementary
Nava Elementary
Nina Otero Community School (PK-8)
NYE Early Childhood Center (PK-8)
Piñon Elementary
Ramirez Thomas Elementary
Salazar Elementary
Sweeney Elementary
Tesuque Elementary
Turquoise Trail Charter School
Wood Gormley Elementary

Middle Schools
Aspen Community Magnet School (K-8)
El Camino Real Academy (PK-8)
El Dorado Community School (K-8)
Gonzales Community School (K-8)
Ortiz Middle School (6-8)
Milagro Middle School (6-8)
Monte del Sol Charter School (7-12)
Nina Otero Community School (PK-8)
NYE Early Childhood Center (PK-8)

High Schools
Academy for Technology and the Classics
Capital High School
Early College Opportunities School (9-11)
Mandela International Magnet School (7-12)
The Masters Program (10-12)
Monte del Sol Charter School (7-12)
New Mexico School for the Arts
Santa Fe High School
Tierra Encantada Charter School

Private Schools
Desert Montessori School (PK-7)
La Mariposa Montessori School (PK-7)
Little Earth School (PK-7)
Rio Grande School (PK-6)
Santa Fe Girls School (6-8)
Santa Fe Preparatory School (7-12)
Santa Fe School for the Arts and Sciences
Santa Fe Waldorf School (PK-12)
Santo Ni ño Regional Catholic School (PK-6)
St. Michael's High School
The Tutorial School (3-12)

Universities / Colleges
Institute of American Indian Arts
New Mexico Highlands University - Santa Fe
New Mexico State University - Santa Fe
Northern New Mexico College - Espa ñola
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Higher Education Center
Southwest Acupuncture College
Southwestern College
St. John's College
University of New Mexico, Santa Fe

NEW MEXICO FILM TOURISM INITIATIVE

The Santa Fe Chamber supports the Santa Fe Film Office, NM Film Office and NM Tourism Department initiative "to organize and promote film tourism throughout our state." The Tourism Department is also creating New Mexico True Adventures based on films shot in New Mexico. If you are a New Mexico business that offers a tourist attraction related to film and would like to be considered to be included in one of these adventures, please email Jordan Guenther describing your services. The current adventure theme is based on the popular television production "Breaking Bad." If you are a local vendor that had some affiliation with this production and have services or attractions that relate to tourism, be sure to contact Tourism as soon as possible for consideration." - NMFilm.com

Northern New Mexico has a history of moviemaking going back to 1914. It boasts the largest skilled resident crew base between coasts as well as diverse talent pool with hundreds of SAF-AFTRA members. Santa Fe Studios offers two 19,275-square-foot stages, a 4,600-square-foot mill, more than 25,000 square feet of office space, and 57 acres for back lot. Santa Fe continues to be a location for well-known film productions.

The New Mexico State Film Office serves the film and television industry locally, nationally and internationally. Our purpose is to market the state to this industry, service the productions and promote jobs for New Mexicans. We offer many resources to producers, film crew and local filmmakers. We work diligently to assist productions with finding potential filming locations. The State Film Office consults with productions regarding the financial aspects of their projects, guiding them through the incentives such as the 25% Refundable Film Production Tax Credit and the Film Crew Advancement Program. We connect productions with the crew, vendor services and film liaisons throughout the state.

CONTACT
505-476-5600 | [email protected] | nmfilm.com
1100 South Saint Francis Drive Santa Fe, NM 8750

Other Sources
Santa Fe Film Office
Santa Fe Studios
IATSE Local 480

PARKS & RECREATION

Santa Fe is ranked 3rd on Conde Nast Traveler's "Top 10 Cities in the United States" list, and the magazine has proclaimed the city "pure magic" and "heaven where souls vacation." Northern New Mexico is a scenic paradise for those who love the outdoors.

Golfing is an almost year-round activity. Local golf enthusiasts can enjoy the beautifully groomed course at the Santa Fe Country Club or play Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe, nested among the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia and Ortiz mountain ranges. The Pueblo de Cochiti Golf Course, ranked Golf Digest as one of America's "Top 75 Affordable Course," is nearby. Located in the dramatic scenery of northern New Mexico’s Pojoaque Valley just 12 miles north of the Santa Fe plaza, Towa Golf Club has three independent nine-hole courses challenge with dramatic elevation changes, seasonal weather conditions, and scenery that threatens to distract the most focused golfer.

Copyright Towa Golf Club

Skiing and snowboarding amid the aspens and under clear blue skies are favorite winter activities. Ski Santa Fe, located below 12,400-foot Sangre de Cristo Mountain peaks, boasts 1,725 vertical feet of skiing. Its Millennium Triple Chair provides rapid access to the steeper side of the mountain and opens up new terrain for blue and black runs. At Ski Santa Fe, the mountain "beckons skiers to Santa Fe's pathways of powder - where the turns and terrain are as varied as the scenery."

The Genoveva Chavez Center has a NHL-regulation ice-skating rink open year-round. Despite the desert surroundings, water sports are popular in New Mexico. White-water rafting and kayaking are available on the Rio Grande, and fly-fishing is popular on the Pecos River and on lakes located an hour or so from Santa Fe. Boating and swimming at the many surrounding lakes are favorite activities, and windsurfing can be done on Cochiti Lake.The area is also a mecca for campers, hikes, mountain bikers, rock climbers and photography buffs.

Parks and Plazas

Santa Fe has an assortment of Parks and Plazas around the city for the public to enjoy daily from 6:00am until 10:00pm (except for city approved organized activities). Parks may be reserved for special events through Parks/Special Events Reservations.

**Dogs must be kept on leash unless allocated as an official “dog park.”

Recreation & Outdoors

Santa Fe’s abundance of recreational activities gives both locals and visitors plenty of entertainment and excitement, including:
Performing arts
Santa Fe Fuego
Casinos
Santa Fe Opera
Hiking
White Water Rafing
Biking
Touring

REAL ESTATE

Whether you are seeking a mountain top estate, an original adobe home close to the historic Plaza, retirement communities, or a casita or apartment for long - or short-term rental, Santa Fe has a home perfectly suited to your needs. The variety of property available is enormous, and the resources presented here are designed to help you make the best decision to fit your needs.

If you are buying a home, your first need is for a qualified real estate agent who is familiar with the local market. The agents listed here are all members of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, and many have links to their websites and email addresses.

Commercial Realtors can assist with industrial and retail property purchase and leasing.

The Santa Fe Association of Realtors (505) 989-8385 can provide you with real estate information and property tax information.

The Public Housing Authority (505) 988-2859 assists Santa Feans with renting houses and apartments and general information.

Homewise is to help modest-income New Mexicans become successful homeowners in order to strengthen families, create wealth, and build strong communities

The Housing Trust is a non-profit community development organization that assists residents of northern New Mexico to gain access to affordable housing.

The Landlord Tenant Hotline (505) 983-8447 offers non-attorney advice for renters and landlords in order to prevent disputes arising.

The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority 800-444-6880 makes available low-interest loans, down payment and closing cost assistance to qualifying individuals.

The Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association are a resource for those who come to Santa Fe to have a home built or to renovate a home recently purchased.

Please visit Real-Estate and Construction for other helpful resources.

TRANSPORTATION

There are plenty of ways to travel around Santa Fe as well as other places around the state/country.

Santa Fe Municipal Airport has nonstop flights to Denver, Dallas and Phoenix. American Airlines has daily nonstop service to Dallas/Ft. Worth and Phoenix, and United Airlines has daily nonstop service to Denver. Santa Fe is located one hour north of Albuquerque International Airport, which serves nine commercial airlines. Shuttle bus service between the airport and Santa Fe is available daily.

Santa Fe Trails
North Central Regional Transit District
Jet Center at Santa Fe
Groom Transportation (To and From ABQ to Santa Fe)

UTILITIES

PNM Electric
Santa Fe Water Division
Solid Waste Management
Century Link
Xfinity by Comcast
Cyber Mesa
New Mexico Gas Co.