Roswell
City in Chaves County, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in Chaves County, New Mexico, with 48,422 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 3,573 ft (1,089 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Midway, 6.9 miles SE.
- 48,422residents (2020 Census)
- 3,573 ftelevation · 1,089 m
- 29.7 sq miland area · 77.0 km²
- 1,629 / sq mipopulation density
- 88230ZIP code
About Roswell
Roswell ( ROZ-well) is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,422 at the 2020 census, making it the fifth-most populous city in New Mexico. It is home to 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 incident in 1947 was named after the town, though the crash site of the alleged UFO was some 75 miles (121 km) north of Roswell and closer to Corona. The investigation and debris recovery were handled by the local Roswell Army Air Field. On the 50th anniversary of the Roswell incident, an annual UFO Festival was started. In the 1930s, Roswell was a site for much of Robert H. Goddard's early rocketry work. The Roswell Museum and Art Center maintains an exhibit that includes a recreation of Goddard's rocket engine development workshop, and Goddard High School is named after him.
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 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.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Roswell weather: 7-day forecast
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Nearest webcams to Roswell
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Webcams: Windy.com
Living in Roswell
- Median household income
- $51,583
- Median home value
- $152,600
- Median rent
- $876/mo
- Median age
- 37.1
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Map of Roswell
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Open in Google Maps ›Roswell, NM population
Roswell had 48,422 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 48,422 |
|---|---|
| Density | 1,629 per sq mi (629 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Roswell at a glance
| State | New Mexico (NM) |
|---|---|
| County | Chaves County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 48,422 (2020) |
| Land area | 29.72 sq mi (77.0 km²) |
| Water area | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km²) |
| Elevation | 3,573 ft (1,089 m) |
| Coordinates | 33.3734° N, 104.5294° W |
| ZIP code | 88230 |
| Official website | roswell-nm.gov |
| Census code (GEOID) | 3564930 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Roswell
- Midway6.9 mi SE
- Dexter15.4 mi SE
- Hagerman21.1 mi SE
- Lake Arthur27.6 mi S
- Morningside36.2 mi S
- Artesia36.6 mi S
- Hope40.3 mi S
- Atoka41.7 mi S
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Roswell
What county is Roswell in?
Roswell is in Chaves County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Roswell, NM?
48,422 people lived in Roswell at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Roswell, NM?
The ZIP code of Roswell is 88230.
What is the elevation of Roswell?
3,573 feet (1,089 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Roswell?
Midway (6.9 mi), Dexter (15.4 mi), Hagerman (21.1 mi), Lake Arthur (27.6 mi), Morningside (36.2 mi).
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