Artesia, New Mexico

Infobox Settlement
official_name = The City of Artesia
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =


imagesize = 250px
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the State of New Mexico


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = New Mexico
subdivision_name2 = Eddy
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Phillip Burch
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1905
area_magnitude = 1 E7
area_total_sq_mi = 8.0
area_total_km2 = 20.7
area_land_sq_mi = 8.0
area_land_km2 = 20.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
area_water_km2 = 0.1
population_as_of = 2000
population_total = 10692
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 518.0
population_density_sq_mi = 1341.3
timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
latd = 32 |latm = 50 |lats = 34 |latNS = N
longd = 104 |longm = 24 |longs = 44 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 1030
elevation_ft = 3380
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 88210-88211
area_code = 575
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 35-05220
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0885911
footnotes =
website = http://www.artesiachamber.com/

Artesia is a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, 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. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/titletown/news/story?id=3413694

Geography

Artesia is located at coor dms|32|50|34|N|104|24|44|W|city (32.842744, -104.412315)GR|1, at an altitude of 3380 feet (1030 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.7 km²), of which, 8.0 square miles (20.6 km²) of it is land and 0.13% is water.

The Pecos River is about three miles east of Artesia.

Located in 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 (the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis), 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, mostly for United States Border Patrol Agent-trainees. 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, former Apollo astronaut Apollo 14, identifies Artesia as his "hometown."

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

External links and sources

* [http://www.artesiachamber.com/ Artesia Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.nmhistoricpreservation.org/documents/29.DOCUMENT.pdf Eddy County Registered Properties] and [http://www.nmhistoricpreservation.org/documents/68.DOCUMENT.pdf Historic Cultural Properties Inventory Manual] (both in PDF format), from the website of the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division
* [http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/EDDYCOU.htm HVDC-back-to-back station Eddy County] , from a Bonneville Power Administration website

References