What Does Alamogordo Mean
Alamogordo is a Spanish-derived place name meaning ‘fat cottonwood’ or ‘big poplar,’ referring to the large cottonwood trees that once grew in the area. The name combines ‘alamo’ (poplar/cottonwood) and ‘gordo’ (fat/large). The city of Alamogordo, New Mexico, was founded in 1898 and is known for its association with the Trinity atomic test site.
