According to anycountyprivateschools.com, Chaves County is located in the southeastern corner of New Mexico. It is bordered by Lincoln County to the north, Eddy County to the east, and Lea County to the south and west. As of 2020, Chaves County had an estimated population of 65,539 people making it the fourth most populous county in the state. The county seat is Roswell which is also its largest city with a population of 48,366 people.
The median age in Chaves County is 34 years old with a gender ratio of 49% male to 51% female. The racial makeup is 78% non-Hispanic white, 9% Hispanic or Latino, 6% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2% Asian, and 4% other races. The poverty rate for Chaves County as a whole is 16%, which slightly higher than both the state and national averages.
The largest industries in Chaves County are healthcare services (13%), retail trade (12%), educational services (10%), accommodation and food services (9%), and construction (8%). The unemployment rate here was 6.7% as of September 2020 which was lower than both state and national averages at that time.
Education in Chaves County is provided by nine public school districts including Roswell Independent School District which serves most of the county’s students as well as other districts such as Dexter Consolidated Schools and Hagerman Municipal Schools. There are also several private schools located here such as St Mary’s Catholic School, Trinity Christian School, and Hope Christian Academy.
Chaves County has several recreational areas including Bottomless Lakes State Park which features over nine lakes for swimming, fishing, boating, birding and hiking; Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge; Bottomless Lakes State Park; Sugarite Canyon State Park; Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area; Walker Lake Recreation Area; Lake Van Camping Resort; and many more outdoor attractions for visitors to explore.
History of Chaves County, New Mexico
Chaves County was established in 1889, when the New Mexico Territorial Legislature divided the large Lincoln County into four smaller counties. Chaves County was named after Colonel Jose Francisco Chaves, a respected leader who served during the Mexican–American War and was a member of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature. The county seat of Roswell was founded in 1871 as a farming community and quickly became an important stop along the Texas-New Mexico Railway. It grew to become an important center for ranching and farming in southeastern New Mexico.
In 1947, Roswell gained worldwide notoriety when unidentified flying objects were reported by local rancher W.W. Brazel near Roswell Army Air Field (now Walker Air Force Base). This event has become known as “The Roswell Incident” and has been widely discussed by UFO enthusiasts ever since.
Throughout its history, Chaves County has been an agricultural powerhouse with cotton being among its top crops for many years. In more recent times, however, it has shifted towards a more diversified economy with oil production playing a major role in driving economic growth. Other industries such as healthcare services, retail trade, educational services and accommodation/food services have also grown significantly in recent years making Chaves County one of New Mexico’s most economically vibrant counties.
Today, Chaves County is home to 65 539 people who enjoy its beautiful landscapes of rolling plains and towering mountains that are perfect for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing and birdwatching. With its rich cultural heritage and growing economy it is no surprise that this area of New Mexico continues to be one of its most popular destinations for visitors from all over the world.
Major cities and towns in Chaves County, New Mexico
Chaves County is located in southeastern New Mexico and is home to 65,539 people. According to abbreviationfinder, the county seat of Roswell is the largest city in the area with a population of 48,366. Roswell was established in 1871 as a farming community and quickly became an important stop along the Texas-New Mexico Railway. It gained worldwide notoriety in 1947 when unidentified flying objects were reported by local rancher W.W. Brazel near Roswell Army Air Field (now Walker Air Force Base). Other larger cities and towns in Chaves County include Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, and Picacho.
Dexter has a population of 2,043 and was founded as a railroad town in 1903. It is known for its annual celebration of Watermelon Day which takes place every August and includes a parade, rodeo events, watermelon eating contests, live music and more.
Hagerman is located on the Pecos River and has a population of 1,903 people. This small town is known for its well-preserved historic downtown area which features several buildings from the late 19th century including the old Hagerman post office building which now serves as a museum about the town’s history.
Lake Arthur has a population of 1,664 people and is named after Arthur Loomis who purchased land around the lake in 1913 to establish a farm there. Today, it is known for its beautiful lake which offers outdoor activities such as fishing and boating for visitors to enjoy during their visit to Chaves County.
Picacho has a population of 968 people and was established as an agricultural community in the early 20th century when families from Mescalero Apache Reservation relocated there to work on farms owned by local ranchers. Today, it offers visitors access to nearby parks such as Bottomless Lakes State Park where they can enjoy swimming, fishing or birdwatching during their stay in Chaves County.
These are just some of the cities and towns that make up Chaves County’s rich cultural heritage offering visitors plenty of opportunities to explore its unique history while enjoying all that this beautiful part of New Mexico has to offer.
Population in Chaves County, New Mexico
Chaves County is located in the southeastern part of New Mexico and is home to a population of 48,366 people. This county offers a diverse mix of cultures and lifestyles, from small towns to large cities. The majority of the population is located in Roswell, which is the county seat and has an estimated population of 48,120. Roswell is considered one of the largest cities in New Mexico and has been around since 1871 when it was established as a farming community. It gained worldwide notoriety in 1947 when unidentified flying objects were reported by local rancher W.W. Brazel near Roswell Army Air Field (now Walker Air Force Base).
Other larger cities and towns in Chaves County include Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, and Picacho. Dexter has a population of 2,043 and was founded as a railroad town in 1903. It is known for its annual celebration of Watermelon Day which takes place every August and includes a parade, rodeo events, watermelon eating contests, live music and more. Hagerman is located on the Pecos River and has a population of 1,903 people. This small town is known for its well-preserved historic downtown area which features several buildings from the late 19th century including the old Hagerman post office building which now serves as a museum about the town’s history. Lake Arthur has a population of 1,664 people and is named after Arthur Loomis who purchased land around the lake in 1913 to establish a farm there. Today, it is known for its beautiful lake which offers outdoor activities such as fishing and boating for visitors to enjoy during their visit to Chaves County. Picacho has a population of 968 people and was established as an agricultural community in the early 20th century when families from Mescalero Apache Reservation relocated there to work on farms owned by local ranchers. Today, it offers visitors access to nearby parks such as Bottomless Lakes State Park where they can enjoy swimming, fishing or birdwatching during their stay in Chaves County.
In addition to these larger cities and towns Chaves County also boasts many smaller communities that make up its rich cultural heritage such as Acme with an estimated population of 844; Bitter Lake with 624 residents; Mosquero with 561 inhabitants; Tinnie with 507 citizens; Lakewood Estates with 342 residents; Vaughn with 322 people; Midway Station with 285 citizens; Pinon Estates with 266 inhabitants; Tatum with 215 residents; Pine Lodge with 206 citizens; Vermejo Park Ranch with 198 residents; Elkins Ranch Acreswith 188 inhabitants; Paduca Village with 162 citizens; High Rolls Mountain Parkwith 140 residence; Weedwith 130 citizens; Trinity Estateswith 129 residence; Mountain View Estateswith 124 citizens; White Oakswith 122 residence; Hope Villagewith 112 citizen; Seven Riverswith 109 residence; Cedarvale Estateswith 106 citizen; Moonglow Acreswith 101 residence.
These are just some examples of how many different communities make up this vibrant county offering visitors plenty of opportunities to explore its unique history while enjoying all that this beautiful part of New Mexico has to offer.