Artesia, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
Artesia is a city in Eddy County
, New Mexico
, United States, centered at the intersection
of U.S. Route 82
and 285
; the two highways serve as the city's Main Street and First Street, respectively. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,692.
The town assumed its present name in 1903, after the discovery of an artesian aquifer
in the area; artesian wells for agriculture flourished in the area until the aquifer became significantly depleted in the 1920s. The city was officially incorporated in 1905.
Artesia was a candidate for ESPN's Titletown USA feature.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8 square miles (20.7 km²), of which 8 square miles (20.7 km²) is land and 0.13% is water.
The Pecos River
is about three miles east of Artesia.
Artesia is home to the former Abo Elementary School
, identified by One Nation Underground (ISBN 0-8147-7522-5) as the first and most likely only public school which is entirely underground and equipped to function as a fallout shelter
. The school, completed in 1962, had a concrete slab
roof which served as the school's playground. It contained a large storage facility with room for supplies for 2000 people in the event of nuclear warfare
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1999 and is located at 1802 W Centre Ave.
The city has one of the few residential training sites of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
(FLETC), mostly for United States Border Patrol
Agents and U.S. Air Marshals . The center is located on the former campus of the College of Artesia
, which operated from 1966 to 1971.
Artesia has a high-voltage direct current
back-to-back station which connects the eastern and western electric grids in Eddy County. This tie, built by General Electric
in 1983, can transfer a maximum power of 200 megawatts. The used voltage is 82 kV.
The birthplaces of professional golfer Steve Jones
and actress Alexa Havins
are located in the city.
The Artesia Restaurant and Hotel is prominently featured as a location in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth (film)
starring David Bowie
.
Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut, identifies Artesia as his "hometown."
of 2000, there were 10,692 people, 4,080 households, and 2,896 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,341.3 people per square mile (518.0/km²). There were 4,593 housing units at an average density of 576.2 per square mile (222.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.25% White, 1.54% Native American, 1.44% African American, 0.20% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 21.56% from other races
, and 2.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.98% of the population.
There were 4,080 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,529, and the median income for a family was $34,598. Males had a median income of $30,085 versus $19,566 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,911. About 15.7% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
The Artesia Bulldogs play in 4A football division and have won 26 state titles (mostly in 3A), 25 since 1957. Head Coach and Athletic Director, Cooper Henderson, also a former player, has led the Bulldogs to 11 titles.
Eddy County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*77.4% White*1.4% Black*1.5% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.0% Two or more races*16.0% Other races*44.1% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States, centered at the intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
of U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82 is an east–west United States highway in the southern United States. What started as a 1932 addition to the system across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas eventually became a 1,609 mile route extending from the White Sands of New Mexico to Georgia's Atlantic coast.The...
and 285
U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285 is a north–south United States highway, running 845 miles through the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. The highway's northern terminus is in Denver, Colorado, at exit 201 on Interstate 25. Its southern terminus is in Sanderson, Texas at an intersection with U.S....
; the two highways serve as the city's Main Street and First Street, respectively. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,692.
The town assumed its present name in 1903, after the discovery of an artesian aquifer
Artesian aquifer
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well...
in the area; artesian wells for agriculture flourished in the area until the aquifer became significantly depleted in the 1920s. The city was officially incorporated in 1905.
Artesia was a candidate for ESPN's Titletown USA feature.
Geography
Artesia is located at 32°50′34"N 104°24′44"W (32.842744, -104.412315), at an elevation of 3,380 feet (1,030 m).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8 square miles (20.7 km²), of which 8 square miles (20.7 km²) is land and 0.13% is water.
The Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
is about three miles east of Artesia.
Located in Artesia
The principal economic activities which support Artesia are the oil and gas industry, agriculture and dairy. Prominent, local oil and gas businesses include Yates Petroleum, Mack Energy Corporation, and Marbob Energy Corp. In the Fall of 2010, Concho Resources acquired most of Marbob Energy Corp's assets for nearly $1.6 billion. Holly Corporation also operates the Navajo Refinery, the largest refinery in New Mexico, at the corner of 1st and Main Street.Artesia is home to the former Abo Elementary School
Abo Elementary School
Abo Elementary School in Artesia, New Mexico, United States, was the first public school in the United States constructed entirely underground and equipped to function as a fallout shelter. Designed at the height of the Cold War and completed in 1962, the school had a concrete slab roof which...
, identified by One Nation Underground (ISBN 0-8147-7522-5) as the first and most likely only public school which is entirely underground and equipped to function as a fallout shelter
Fallout shelter
A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War....
. The school, completed in 1962, had a concrete slab
Concrete slab
A concrete slab is a common structural element of modern buildings. Horizontal slabs of steel reinforced concrete, typically between 10 and 50 centimeters thick, are most often used to construct floors and ceilings, while thinner slabs are also used for exterior paving.In many domestic and...
roof which served as the school's playground. It contained a large storage facility with room for supplies for 2000 people in the event of nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1999 and is located at 1802 W Centre Ave.
The city has one of the few residential training sites of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center serves as an interagency law enforcement training organization for 90 United States government federal law enforcement agencies.-Location:...
(FLETC), mostly for United States Border Patrol
United States Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection , a component of the Department of Homeland Security . It is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to...
Agents and U.S. Air Marshals . The center is located on the former campus of the College of Artesia
College of Artesia
The College of Artesia was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1966 to 1973 in Artesia, New Mexico. It was one of several Midwestern colleges established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, which operated from 1966 to 1971.
Artesia has a high-voltage direct current
High-voltage direct current
A high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses...
back-to-back station which connects the eastern and western electric grids in Eddy County. This tie, built by General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
in 1983, can transfer a maximum power of 200 megawatts. The used voltage is 82 kV.
The birthplaces of professional golfer Steve Jones
Steve Jones (golfer)
Steven Glen Jones is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open in 1996.- Early life and education :Jones was born in Artesia, New Mexico. He was a semi-finalist at the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1976...
and actress Alexa Havins
Alexa Havins
Alexa Carole Havins is an American actress. She first came to prominence in 2003, when she became the originating actor in the role of Babe Carey Chandler on the daytime drama All My Children...
are located in the city.
The Artesia Restaurant and Hotel is prominently featured as a location in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth (film)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (film)
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 British science fiction film directed by Nicolas Roeg.The film is based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, about an extraterrestrial who crash lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet, which is suffering from a severe drought...
starring David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
.
Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut, identifies Artesia as his "hometown."
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,692 people, 4,080 households, and 2,896 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,341.3 people per square mile (518.0/km²). There were 4,593 housing units at an average density of 576.2 per square mile (222.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.25% White, 1.54% Native American, 1.44% African American, 0.20% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 21.56% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.98% of the population.
There were 4,080 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,529, and the median income for a family was $34,598. Males had a median income of $30,085 versus $19,566 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,911. About 15.7% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
School system
Artesia is served by the Artesia Public School District with the following schools:- Artesia High SchoolArtesia High School (Artesia, New Mexico)Artesia High School is the public senior high school of Artesia, New Mexico. It is a part of the Artesia Public Schools. The colors of AHS are: Orange, Black and White, their mascot is a Bulldog. Enrollment at the school currently stands at 751....
(grades 10 - 12) - Artesia Junior High School (grades 8 - 9)
- Artesia Intermediate School (grades 6 - 7)
- Central Elementary School (grades 1 - 5)
- Hermosa Elementary School (grades 1 - 5)
- Roselawn Elementary School (grades 1 - 5)
- Yeso Elementary School (grades 1 - 5)
- Yucca Elementary School (grades 1 - 5)
- Grand Heights Early Child Ctr. (kindergarten)
The Artesia Bulldogs play in 4A football division and have won 26 state titles (mostly in 3A), 25 since 1957. Head Coach and Athletic Director, Cooper Henderson, also a former player, has led the Bulldogs to 11 titles.
Climate
External links
- Artesia Daily Press (Local Daily Newspaper)
- Artesia Chamber of Commerce
- Artesia School District
- Eddy County Registered Properties and Historic Cultural Properties Inventory Manual (both in PDF formatPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
), from the website of the New Mexico Historic Preservation DivisionNew Mexico Historic Preservation DivisionThe New Mexico Historic Preservation Division is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.The division is responsible for the preservation of New Mexico's historical heritage. The division's activities include :... - HVDC-back-to-back station Eddy County, from a Bonneville Power AdministrationBonneville Power AdministrationThe Bonneville Power Administration is an American federal agency based in the Pacific Northwest. BPA was created by an act of Congress in 1937 to market electric power from the Bonneville Dam located on the Columbia River and to construct facilities necessary to transmit that power...
website