[3] During the 1990s and early 2000s, the town, north of the much larger Alamogordo, experienced moderate growth and construction as a bedroom community, especially in the housing industry.

Tularosa is noted for its abundance of cottonwood shade trees and its efforts to preserve the adobe-style architecture of its past.

The Rio Tularosa, which still exists along the north side of the village, attracted the original settlers as a water source in the desert.

Settlers attempted to establish a settlement in 1860 but were unsuccessful due to Mescalero Apache raids.

Two years later, after a battle at nearby Round Mountain, Mexican farmers from the Rio Grande valley succeeded in settling the area.

In 1863, the Town of Tularosa was formally established and was mapped with 49 blocks and water rights distributed and recorded.

[citation needed] The original acequia (ditch irrigation system) remains virtually unchanged and provides the water for the trees lining the streets, private gardens, and landscaping that give Tularosa its unique character.

The local branch of the program, Keep Tularosa Beautiful, received a grant in 2008 of $10,000 for beautification projects from Waste Management.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the village[5] has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all land.

There is an old-timer's picnic, a Rose Queen, arts and crafts - all celebrating the abundance of blossoming flowers.

This one-night-only display of light, love and tradition is one of the best parts of the holiday season in the Tularosa Basin.

A luminaria is a candle carefully set in sand inside of a paper bag and lit to create a warm glow at night.

[10] The Tularosa Original Townsite District is a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.