 santa cruz is a census-designated place (cdp) in santa fe county, new mexico, united states. it is part of the santa fe, new mexico metropolitan statistical area. the population was 423 at the 2000 census. ==history== ===prehistory=== the area that was later to be occupied by the village of santa cruz de la caÃ±ada lies in the galisteo basin at an elevation of 5,655&nbsp;ft in the santa cruz river valley, 25 miles northwest of santa fe and a few miles east of espaÃ±ola. it was originally inhabited by the tewa people (or tano), tewa-speaking pueblo indians. numerous prehistoric pueblos developed civilized life based upon agriculture and irrigation systems along the river and its tributaries. the san lazaro archaeological site is a source of materials for research into the development and history of these puebloan peoples.
Census-designated_places_in_New_Mexico Census-designated_places_in_Santa_Fe_County,_New_Mexico