Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico | ||
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FIPS code 35-64930 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0894171 | |
Website | www |
Roswell (/ˈrɒzwɛl/) is a city in and the seat of Chaves County, New Mexico, United States.[3] As of the 2020 census it had a population of 48,422, making it the fifth-most populous city in New Mexico. It is home of the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), founded in 1891. The city is also the location of an Eastern New Mexico University campus. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located a few miles northeast of the city on the Pecos River. Bottomless Lakes State Park is located 12 miles (19 km) east of Roswell on US 380. Chaves County forms the entirety of the Roswell micropolitan area.
The
Roswell's tourism industry is based on ufology museums and businesses, as well as alien-themed and spacecraft-themed iconography. The city also relies on New Mexico and Americana related tourism.[4][5] including the International UFO Museum and Research Center. Local American folk and New Mexico music performances occur near Pioneer Plaza and in parks around the city. It is a center for acequia-like irrigated farming, dairying, and ranching; it is also the location of several manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum related facilities. Roswell has a history of minor league baseball. This regional pride has resulted in Roswell receiving the All-America City Award multiple times, in 1978–79 and 2002.
History
The first non-indigenous settlers of the area around Roswell were a group of pioneers from Missouri, who attempted to start a settlement 15 miles (24 km) southwest of what is now Roswell in 1865, but were forced to abandon the site because of a lack of water. It was called Missouri Plaza. It also had many Hispanic people from Lincoln, New Mexico. John Chisum had his famous Jingle Bob Ranch about 5 miles (8 km) from the center of Roswell, at South Spring Acres. At the time, it was the largest ranch in the United States.
Van C. Smith, a businessman from Omaha, Nebraska, and his partner, Aaron Wilburn, constructed two adobe buildings in 1869 that began what is now Roswell. The two buildings became the settlement's general store, post office, and sleeping quarters for paying guests. In 1871, Smith filed a claim with the federal government for the land around the buildings, and on August 20, 1873, he became the town's first postmaster. Smith was the son of Roswell Smith, a prominent lawyer in Lafayette, Indiana, and Annie Ellsworth, daughter of U.S. Patent Commissioner Henry Leavitt Ellsworth. He called the town Roswell, after his father's first name.
In 1877, Captain Joseph Calloway Lea and his family bought out Smith and Wilburn's claim and became the owners of most of the land of Roswell and the area surrounding it. The town was relatively quiet during the Lincoln County War (1877–1879). A major aquifer was discovered when merchant Nathan Jaffa had a well drilled in his back yard on Richardson Avenue in 1890, resulting in the area's first major growth and development spurt. The growth continued when the Pecos Valley Railroad arrived in 1892.[6]
During World War II, a
Roswell was a location of military importance from 1941 to 1967. In 1967, the Walker Air Force Base was decommissioned. After the closure of the base, Roswell capitalized on its pleasant climate and reinvented itself as a retirement community.
Roswell has benefited from interest in the alleged
Roswell hosted the record-breaking skydive by Felix Baumgartner on October 14, 2012.[7]
Geography
Roswell is located in the
According to the United States Census Bureau, Roswell has a total area of 29.9 square miles (77.5 km2), of which 29.8 square miles (77.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.19%, is covered by water.[9]
Climate
Roswell is located in both the
The record low in Roswell is −24 °F (−31 °C) on January 11, 1962, and February 8, 1933.[10] The record high is 114 °F (46 °C) on June 27, 1994.[10][11]
Climate data for Roswell, New Mexico (Roswell Air Park), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
102 (39) |
107 (42) |
114 (46) |
112 (44) |
111 (44) |
106 (41) |
99 (37) |
94 (34) |
84 (29) |
114 (46) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 76.2 (24.6) |
80.4 (26.9) |
87.3 (30.7) |
93.1 (33.9) |
100.4 (38.0) |
106.3 (41.3) |
104.0 (40.0) |
102.5 (39.2) |
98.1 (36.7) |
93.0 (33.9) |
82.2 (27.9) |
75.3 (24.1) |
108.0 (42.2) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 57.3 (14.1) |
63.2 (17.3) |
71.0 (21.7) |
79.4 (26.3) |
87.8 (31.0) |
96.2 (35.7) |
96.5 (35.8) |
94.6 (34.8) |
87.6 (30.9) |
77.7 (25.4) |
65.7 (18.7) |
56.5 (13.6) |
77.8 (25.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.7 (5.9) |
47.8 (8.8) |
55.2 (12.9) |
63.2 (17.3) |
72.3 (22.4) |
81.0 (27.2) |
83.2 (28.4) |
81.6 (27.6) |
74.4 (23.6) |
63.2 (17.3) |
51.0 (10.6) |
42.4 (5.8) |
63.2 (17.3) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28.1 (−2.2) |
32.5 (0.3) |
39.4 (4.1) |
47.0 (8.3) |
56.7 (13.7) |
65.7 (18.7) |
69.9 (21.1) |
68.6 (20.3) |
61.2 (16.2) |
48.8 (9.3) |
36.3 (2.4) |
28.1 (−2.2) |
48.5 (9.2) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 14.4 (−9.8) |
17.3 (−8.2) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
44.0 (6.7) |
55.9 (13.3) |
63.2 (17.3) |
61.3 (16.3) |
48.8 (9.3) |
32.4 (0.2) |
20.0 (−6.7) |
12.0 (−11.1) |
9.3 (−12.6) |
Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) |
−24 (−31) |
−5 (−21) |
17 (−8) |
27 (−3) |
40 (4) |
52 (11) |
48 (9) |
30 (−1) |
14 (−10) |
−6 (−21) |
−10 (−23) |
−24 (−31) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.36 (9.1) |
0.35 (8.9) |
0.54 (14) |
0.57 (14) |
1.14 (29) |
1.28 (33) |
1.82 (46) |
1.68 (43) |
1.55 (39) |
1.33 (34) |
0.45 (11) |
0.56 (14) |
11.63 (295) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.4 (6.1) |
1.1 (2.8) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
1.2 (3.0) |
3.8 (9.7) |
9.6 (24) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.6 | 7.1 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 51.3 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 5.2 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
56.8 | 51.1 | 39.7 | 36.5 | 39.6 | 43.2 | 49.1 | 54.1 | 57.6 | 54.0 | 52.7 | 54.5 | 49.1 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 21.9 (−5.6) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
39.0 (3.9) |
49.6 (9.8) |
56.8 (13.8) |
57.7 (14.3) |
52.5 (11.4) |
40.8 (4.9) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
21.6 (−5.8) |
37.3 (2.9) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 217.1 | 223.0 | 280.8 | 307.6 | 342.9 | 344.7 | 327.9 | 300.9 | 262.7 | 269.6 | 214.5 | 210.3 | 3,302 |
Percent possible sunshine | 68 | 72 | 76 | 79 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 73 | 71 | 77 | 68 | 68 | 74 |
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1973–1990, sun 1962–1982)[10][12][13] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/ |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 2,049 | — | |
1910 | 6,172 | 201.2% | |
1920 | 7,033 | 14.0% | |
1930 | 11,173 | 58.9% | |
1940 | 13,482 | 20.7% | |
1950 | 25,738 | 90.9% | |
1960 | 39,593 | 53.8% | |
1970 | 33,908 | −14.4% | |
1980 | 39,676 | 17.0% | |
1990 | 44,654 | 12.5% | |
2000 | 45,293 | 1.4% | |
2010 | 48,366 | 6.8% | |
2020 | 48,422 | 0.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[14][2] |
As of the
In the city, the population was distributed as 26.5% under 18, while 15.6% were 65 years of age or older.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,372, and per capita income was $22,119 (2015–2019 in 2019 dollars). In 2019, 19.7% of the population were living below the poverty line.
Education
Public schools
- Roswell Independent School District
- Mountain View Middle School
- Mesa Middle School
- Sierra Middle School
- Berrendo Middle School
Private schools
- All Saints Catholic School, a pre-K through eighth-grade Catholic school
- Gateway Christian School, a pre-K through high school parochial school
- Immanuel Lutheran School, a Junior Kindergarten through 9th grade classical school
- Saint Andrews Catholic School, a K-6 Catholic School
Colleges and universities
- Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell[16] is a branch of Eastern New Mexico University (headquartered in Portales). The Roswell campus offers several certificate and associate programs. Also, bachelor's and master's programs are available via ENMU's Instructional Television System.
- New Mexico Military Institute offers four-year high school and two-year associate college-degree programs.
Sports
The Roswell Invaders play in the Pecos League of professional baseball clubs. The Invaders wear lime-green uniforms to represent the city's extraterrestrial connections. Home games are played at the Joe Bauman Ballpark.
Previously, Roswell was home to the Roswell Giants (1923), Roswell Sunshiners (1937),
Transportation
Airport
- Roswell Air Center is served by American Airlines via its American Eagle regional airline affiliate. Its former name, Roswell International Air Center, still appears in some references and on some local signage.
Bus routes
- Served by Pecos Trails Transit
Major highways
Railroads
- BNSF Railway provides freight services. Currently there is no intercity passenger service.
Local industry
Roswell is home to
Cultural attractions
Roswell's tourism industry is based on aerospace engineering and ufology museums and businesses, as well as alien-themed and spacecraft-themed iconography.[21] A yearly UFO festival has been held since 1995.[22]
The Roswell Museum maintains an exhibit that includes a recreation of Goddard's rocket engine development workshop, as well as a planetarium and a collection of fine art.[23][24] The Roswell Artist-in-Residence (RAIR) program has an associated museum, the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art which features more than 200 artists in the collection.[25][26]
Notable residents
- Robert O. Anderson, businessman and philanthropist
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals)
- Tom Brookshier, professional football player and sportscaster, was born in Roswell
- John Chisum, pioneer, landowner, rancher
- U.S. Congress, 1894–1985
- Max Coll, 15-term New Mexico House Representative (1966–1970, 1980–2004), grandson of James F. Hinkle
- Ray Crawford, combat pilot and auto racer, born in Roswell
- John Denver, singer and actor, born in Roswell
- Sam Donaldson, TV journalist, attended NMMI
- Pat Garrett, sheriff, killer of Billy the Kid
- Robert H. Goddard, rocket pioneer
- Susan Graham, opera singer
- J.J. Hagerman, businessman and railroad developer
- James F. Hinkle, Mayor of Roswell (1904–06), New Mexico State Senator (1912–1916), Governor of New Mexico (1923–25)
- Nancy Lopez, LPGA Hall of Fame golfer
- Jody McCrea, actor, retired in Roswell
- Demi Moore, actress, born in Roswell
- Sergio de la Peña, United States Army colonel, political candidate, and former Pentagon official
- Gerina Piller, professional golfer
- Priscilla Presley, actress and businesswoman, lived in Roswell when stepfather was transferred to Walker Air Force Base
- Clinton A. Puckett, 6th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Navy Cross recipient, raised in Roswell
- James P. Riseley, Lieutenant General, USMC, retired in Roswell
- Roy Rogers, cowboy actor and singer, under his birth name (Leonard Slye) in early 1930s
- Mike E. Smith, Hall of Fame jockey, born in Roswell
- Austin St. John, first Red Power Ranger, born in Roswell
- Roger Staubach, quarterback, Pro Football Hall of Famer, attended NMMI
See also
References
Notes
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
Citations
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-4405-0872-1. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-68268-191-6. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ISBN 0-8263-1185-7
- ^ Llorca, Juan (October 14, 2012). "Felix Baumgartner Completes Record-Setting Jump". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^ "Encyclopedia of the Great Plains | ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO".
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Roswell city, New Mexico (revision of 01-02-2013)". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ a b c "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "June Daily Averages for Roswell, NM Weather.com Retrieved June 12, 2012". Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ "Station Name: NM ROSWELL IND AIR PK". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
- ^ "WMO Climate Normals for Roswell/Industrial Air Park, NM 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. April 1, 2010. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell". Eastern New Mexico University. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
- ^ "Register Team Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "1954 Roswell Rockets Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Roswell's Joe Bauman set home run record in 1954". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Lots a Mozzarella in Roswell – Leprino Foods". BNET.com. 2001. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008.
- ^ Siegler, Kirk; Baker, Liz (June 5, 2021). "The Truth Is (Still) Out There In 'UFO Capital' Roswell, New Mexico". NPR.org. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ "5 Quirky Festivals to Visit in 2023". AARP. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "New name announced for Roswell museum". KRQE NEWS 13. November 17, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ "RMAC launches new brand, changes name". Roswell Daily Record. November 17, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-64049-762-7.
- ^ Byers, Jim (October 14, 2018). "New Mexico: A Natural Playground". Newspapers.com. The Province. p. B14-B15. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- City Map, Roswell, New Mexico. Roswell: Roswell Printing, 1976.