Truth or Consequences

Truth or Consequences, city, seat (1937) of Sierra county, southwestern New Mexico, U.S. It lies along the Rio Grande, east of the Black Range in Gila National Forest, 60 miles (97 km) north-northwest of Las Cruces.

The locality was first settled in the mid-19th century near the Palomas Springs, later called Hot Springs. The community itself was subsequently named Hot Springs and attained a reputation as a mineral spa. It also became a service point for the surrounding stock-raising, mining, and farming area. Its present place-name was adopted in 1951 when the city cooperated with radio (later television) personality Ralph Edwards, master of ceremonies of the quiz show called “Truth or Consequences,” in a promotion effort to hold a yearly program and fiesta there. The name change proved controversial, but the town’s citizens voted down repeated efforts to restore the name Hot Springs in the 1950s and ’60s. The city lies between two state parks—Elephant Butte Lake (northeast) and Caballo Lake (south)—and tourism, aided by the medicinal springs, is important. Several retirement and vacation communities ring the town. Inc. 1916. Pop. (2000) 7,289; (2010) 6,475.