Defining the "south side" is no simple task.

There is no formal boundary around this region of the city, but Santa Feans often talk about this place and what does or does not go on there.

The area is diverse and vast, including more than 42,000 people — over half the population of the urban area. It generally comprises everything south of St. Michael's Drive and west of St. Francis Drive, including Bellemah, Agua Fría village, Tierra Contenta, Rancho Viejo and other neighborhoods. Communities to the southeast — Arroyo Hondo, Seton Village and Eldorado — are definitely outside its accepted boundaries.

The north and east sides of Santa Fe, with their historic buildings and adobe compounds, are what's featured on tourist brochures. But travel toward the end of Cerrillos Road, and the vistas are less iconic. Big-box stores light up the streetscape with neon. Side-by-side, cookie-cutter houses blend into the sea of Santa Fe's suburbia.

The south side became a place during the last 50 years as city boundaries marched away from downtown. In 1959, the city annexed about 600 acres so that Dale Bellamah could build houses in the neighborhood later known by his name.

In 1976, St. Vincent Hospital moved from downtown to St. Michael's Drive. In 1985, Villa Linda Mall opened, and three years later students from that region first attended Capital High School.

The 1990s brought other large annexations for residential projects, including Pueblos del Sol in 1992, Carlos Rey del Sur in 1994 and Nava Adé in 1995. That same year, the first homes were built in Tierra Contenta, a 1,400-acre neighborhood priced within reach of working families. Today, nearly half of the 5,800 lots have been developed. South-side housing prices in this area continue to be lower than in other parts of the urban area.

The south side also is home to more businesses than other regions of the city, but voter participation is lowest, with both the fewest registered voters and the lowest turnout.

When it comes to crime, south-side regions have some of the highest reported incidents of burglaries in the area. But data for the past six months shows just three more violent crimes occurred south of St. Michael's Drive than north of it.

Much of what is known about the demographics of the south side comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. Since next year is the Decennial Census, new information should provide key details about Santa Fe's growth that have been relatively unmeasured over the past 10 years.

The data from nine years ago, however, show the Census tracts in the south side have some characteristics in common. They have more housing units, more people per household, more Hispanic residents and more children than other Census tracts.

The people who live in the areas on either side of Airport and Rodeo roads are also among the youngest, with median ages ranging from 27 to 30.

The south side includes areas that are not currently inside the city limits. But changes are in store on that front. The city plans to annex 3,236 acres in the "tail" of the city to the north and south of Tierra Contenta. This land includes more than 5,000 homes and about 14,000 residents, according to 2000 Census block data.

The fast-growing south side continues to play catch-up when it comes to services. Recent gains include the city's newest fire station and a library branch.

Annexation is also slated to bring changes as people who live outside the city limits now will eventually have access to city services including water, sewer, trash collection, and police and fire protection.

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.