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Lea County, amid open plains, blue skies, breathtaking sunrises
and fiery sunsets, is considered the gateway to the Land of Enchantment
in southeastern New Mexico.
Lea County, was created on March 17, 1917, five years after
New Mexico was admitted to the Union as a state. At that time,
the region had essentially nothing to offer except the vision
of a handful of hardy settlers. The only thing connecting the
sparse settlements were wagon roads and cattle trails. There
were none of the communication conveniences of telegraph or daily
newspaper and the mail was carried via horse. There was no railroad,
no running streams or rivers, and no major city. Politicians
in Santa Fe considered the area to be an immense, semi-arid pastureland
on the southeastern corner of the state. Therefore, they found
it hard to justify the creation of a county from such an arid,
windswept place. However, a great wealth in gas, oil and potash
was later discovered.
Change and growth has been part of Lea County's history. It's
first settlers would find it difficult to believe that the county
is now so populated and vital to the sources of energy for the
nation. Lea County's main businesses are established in the oil
and gas industry and in agriculture and dairy. (Lea
County, New Mexico (2006) History of Lea County, Retrieved
10/4/06 from http://www.leacounty.net/Default.htm)
REDTT has a strong County Tourism Council (CTC) that meets
on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in various locations around
the county. For additional information, to become a member and
to get involved in tourism in Lea County, contact the REDTT director
at redtt@nmsu.edu or call
(505) 646-8009. REDTT is open to all persons interested in tourism
issues.
Towns in Lea County include: Tatum, Lovington, Hobbs, Eunice
and Jal. Learn more about Lea County by clicking on some of the
following links:
- Tatum Chamber of Commerce: (505) 398-4766 or 5455
- Betty's Lamp Studio & Gift Shop: 321 West Broadway,
Tatum, (505) 398-2532, http://tatum.atspace.com/bettys.html
- Poor Boy's Metal Art Shop: 263 Highway 380, Tatum,
(505) 398-2893
- Westcraft Metal Art Inc.: http://westcraft.com/
- 500 W. Broadway, Tatum, (505) 398-5295
- Lovington Chamber of Commerce: New Web site coming
soon. (505) 396-5311
- Lea County Museum - Tour this 1918 hotel, and see
momentos of pioneer families. Located at 103 Love St., Lovington,
(505) 396-4805.
- Hobbs Chamber of Commerce: www.hobbschamber.org
- (505) 397-3202
- Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage
Center: Lea County has produced more PRCA Champion Rodeo
Ropers than any other county in the country. Located on the campus
of New Mexico Junior College, this museum was established to
honor those residents of Lea County who have distinguished themselves
in rodeo, as ranch cowboys and as pioneer or present-day women
on ranches, whose role has been vital in developing or furthering
the Lea County way of life. Come learn more! www.nmjc.edu/westernheritagemuseum
- Black Gold Casino & Zia Park Racetrack: www.blackgoldcasino.net
- International Soaring Society: considered the "soaring
capital of the world," Hobbs is the national headquarters
for the ISS - www.aerobatics.ws/SOARING/ssa_join.html
- Commemorative Air Force Museum: features a limited
number of airworthy aircraft, land vehicles, aircraft engines,
and artifacts from World War II, at the Hobbs airport, (505)
397-7180.
- Lea County Event Center: offers room for many types
of gala events, with a spacious ballroom and state-of-the-art
banquet facility.
- Eunice Chamber of Commerce: (505) 394-2755
- Cardinal Motor Speedway: Modifieds, I Stocks, Hobby
Stocks, Sport Mods, Factory Stocks, Stock 4s, and Enduro Cars
twice each season. www.cardinalmotorspeedway.com
- Jal Chamber of Commerce: www.jalnm.com,
(505) 395-2620
- The "Trail Ahead:" Seventeen metal silhouettes
depicting Jal cowboy's who worked cattle on the Cowden's JAL
Ranch, and others. Unique models from 7 to 20 feet tall! Pull
off and view, take pictures and enjoy this very unique trail
of silhouettes. Located 2.3 miles north of Jal, off Hwy 18.
- Woolworth Library: A small museum honoring the legacy
of the Woolworth family, early homesteaders of the area. In Jal,
(505) 395-3268.
- More to come as information is received - contact
Web master with new information
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