White Rock is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Los Alamos County, New Mexico.

In 1947 the United States Atomic Energy Commission acquired about 100 acres from the United States Forest Service to build a company town to house construction and other contractors’ workers who did not qualify to reside within the secured city of Los Alamos.

The town was erected quickly from early 1949, with the intent to provide accommodation for up to 1800 residents by mid-September of that year.

This was accomplished with standard building designs, many prefabricated, and included dormitories for 912 men and 32 women, 64 single-, 297 double- and 48 three-bedroom houses, all as rental properties, as well as provision for 217 mobile homes.

[6] By June 1950 the population was estimated 1000 to 1200 persons, including 325 families,[7] but from 1952 steadily dropped with the decline in major construction projects.

By 1953, 251 of the prefab dwelling units had been declared surplus and disposed of, and by 1957 only 9 houses and 20 mobile home spaces were rented.

The CDP includes the neighborhood of Pajarito Acres, directly south of and at the same elevation as the White Rock townsite.

The center of the town of Los Alamos is 9 miles (14 km) northwest of White Rock, via New Mexico State Roads 4 and 502.

A gated entrance to Los Alamos National Laboratory is on Pajarito Road, accessed directly from White Rock.

For a few decades the Chili Line, a narrow gauge railroad, ran on the east bank of the river as far south as the mouth of Diablo Canyon; some day the Rio Grande Trail may occupy the abandoned right of way.

At the midway point, the material underfoot changes from dark sharp basaltic rocks to light rounded granitic stones.

The commercial center of White Rock has been in decline since approximately 2008, due in part to loss of retail revenues to the Internet and to "big box" stores in nearby communities.

Los Alamos County recently began a major effort to revitalize the White Rock commercial center by improving infrastructure and seeking to attract new businesses.

Part of the motivation for this effort is the transfer to Los Alamos County of Department of Energy lands just north of State Road 4.

The revitalization effort has emphasized community input and is presently being driven by the White Rock Master Plan Implementation Committee, with the support of the County Council.