History thumb|left|St. Genevieve Church in 1887 During the Mexican–American War, the Battle of El Bracito was fought nearby on Christmas Day, 1846. The settlement of Las Cruces was founded in 1849 when the US Army first surveyed the town, thus opening up the area for American settlement. The town was first surveyed as the result of the American acquisition of the land surrounding Las Cruces, which later became the New Mexico Territory. This land had been ceded to the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848, which ended the Mexican-American War. The town was named "Las Cruces" after three crosses which were once located just north of the town. See pages 9 - 11.
History thumb|left|St Genevieve Church in 1887 During the Mexican–American War the Battle of El Bracito was fought nearby on Christmas Day 1846 The settlement of Las Cruces was founded in 1849 when the US Army first surveyed the town thus opening up the area for American settlement The town was first surveyed as the result of the American acquisition of the land surrounding Las Cruces which later became the New Mexico Territory This land had been ceded to the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848 which ended the Mexican-American War The town was named "Las Cruces" after three crosses which were once located just north of the town See pages 9 - 11