Community Profile

For more information regarding Artesia's economic development initiatives, contact:

Hayley Klein, Artesia Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
hklein@artesiachamber.com
107 N. 1st Street Artesia, NM 88210
Toll free: 1-800-658-6251
Local: (575) 746-2744
Fax: (575) 746-2745

Click here to see City of Artesia Economic Development Ordinance

County Eddy
County Population 51,800
Labor Force 27,684 (county); 7,220 (city)*
Community Slogan "It's a Great Day to be Artesian"
Principal Economic Activity Oil and gas, agriculture and dairy
Competitive Advantage While the economy and housing markets nationwide are not positive, Artesia, NM currently does not feel the slump. The oil & gas, dairy, agricultural, and Homeland Security industries continue to flourish creating a lot of opportunity for the development of supporting businesses. Artesia is one of few cities in New Mexico to pass the LOGRT, which has been successfully used to assist in the expansion of several businesses. Our growing economy has sent gross receipts tax collections past the $1 million mark (November 2007 was the first month in Artesia history to reach that level), which contributes to the potential for LEDA and LOGRT. The City is rapidly expanding and improving the Industrial Park which provides a competitive advantage over many other New Mexico cities. Artesia is a city steeped in entrepreneurial spirit and is interested in supporting entrepreneurial efforts. In addition to incentives the City may offer, there exists in Artesia great potential for private investment in a good, strong business idea.
Avg. summer temperature 92
Avg. winter temperature 60
Annual precipitation 12"
Sunshine days per year 320
Elevation 3380
Real Estate Market The market is increasing in equity growth to the tune of 3-5% per year. There is still a housing shortage and our city would be considered a seller's market. There has been approximately $25 million in real estate sales per year during the last two years.
Lease Rate (annualized/sq.ft..) for residential property $450-$650 per month for 2 bedroom house or apt. unfurnished; $70 per day for fully furnished, all utilities, cleaning service, all household supplies, internet & cable.
Cost of land/sq.ft. (developed) $4 per sq. ft. for commercial land with city road access and utilities available
Cost of land/sq.ft.. (undeveloped) $2 per sq. ft.
Workforce Training Artesia Vocational Training Center (digital media program, nursing program); Artesia Training Academy (CDL licensure training program)
Median household income $28,500
Median home price $130,000
Cost/sq. ft. for new home $125
Levels of educative services available Artesia Public Schools - 200 graduates per year; Artesia Vocational Training Center - 154 graduates per year; ENMU Roswell - 40 graduates per year; NMSU Carlsbad - 12 graduates per year
Overview of existing transportation infrastructure No existing public transportation system. U.S. 285 (First Street, four-lane highway up to and through city limits) and U.S. 82 (Main Street, partial four-lane) intersect on the eastern side of downtown Artesia. Traffic is light except at peak times. Maximum travel time across town is between 5 and 7 minutes. A Greyhound bus depot services one arrival and one departure daily.
Closest airport Roswell Air Center (32mi -- American Eagle services three round trip flights from Dallas daily). Nearest international airports are in Albuquerque, NM (240mi); Lubbock, TX (180mi); El Paso, TX (200mi); Midland, TX (176mi)
Type of airport (commercial, etc.) Artesia Municipal Airport
Number of flights per day No commercial flights -- private only
Runway length (units=running ft.) 6,301
Runway width (units=ft.) 150
Runway load factor (units=ppsi) Single wheel = 40; double wheel = 57
Available land adjacent to runway (in acres, specify public/private) No commercial lots available. Residential lots up to one acre. 60% of all land surrounding the airport is BLM, 40% is private
Passenger rail None
Commercial rail Burlington Northern Santa Fe serviced locally by Southwestern Rail as contracted by rail adjacent businesses such as Holly Asphalt, Navajo Refining, etc.
Proximity to border crossing 200 miles (El Paso to Juarez)
Per capita personal income $32,382
Electricity Providers Xcel Energy; Central Valley Electric Cooperative (local)
Natural Gas Providers PNM
Telecommunications Provider Penasco Valley Telecommunications (local) - 3meg with cable internet, DSL
Entity operating water system City of Artesia; municipal water service
Entity operating sewer system City of Artesia; municipal sewer
Gross receipts tax rate 7.0625%
Local economic incentives GAEDC manages a grant program from LOGRT funds to provide incentive to new and expanding businesses (see Section 7). The city's Industrial Park has very competitive lease rates and easy access to utilities and high-speed telecommunications. The City has passed LEDA, which makes available for economic development $100,000 (based on the city's $20 million budget). The City has the capacity to issue IRBs.
List all local development agencies (Greater) Artesia Chamber of Commerce also serves as the Department of Tourism and Promotion and the Economic Development Department.
Quality of life Excellent schools -- community maintains strong emphasis on youth, with state's most successful FFA and football programs, highest ACT scores in region and excellent local scholarship opportunities. Family sensitive business environment. Easy commutes. Excellent location in southeastern New Mexico with easy access to regional features such as Carlsbad Caverns, Sitting Bull Falls, Roswell aliens, mountain towns such as Ruidoso and Cloudcroft with great summer and winter activities. Safe "neighborhood watch" type environment. Well-supported community-based downtown revitalization effort. Arid weather conditions. Excellent facilities for senior citizens. Access to health clubs.
Cost of living index for community 80.5
Major community events Main Event Car Show & Cruise (late March - downtown); July 4th Pride Celebration (July - Jaycee Park; Eddy County Fair (late July-early August, fairgrounds immediately south of Artesia); Art Gala & Auction (September - downtown); Balloons & Bluegrass (bluegrass festival and hot air balloon rally, late October - downtown); New Year's Eve Celebration (downtown). Largely free entertainment for easy access for anyone.
Local recreational activities Eddy County Shooting Range (shotgun sports and archery competitions); Artesia Country Club & Golf Course (2 public golf days per week); Natatorium (Olympic-size indoor pool); skateboard park, walking tracks and several parks; regional hunting and fishing; easy access to state parks and other public access lands for outdoor recreation; city and church sports leagues; bowling alley; small movie theater showing first-run films; brew pub; winery; performing arts center; many civic club volunteer opportunities; high school athletics
Unemployment Rate % (latest count) 3.5%
Median wage $11.58
Civilian labor force 27, 684 (county); 7,220 (city)
Total employed 6,948
Total unemployed 3.5%
Post-secondary institutions located within 50 miles Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell; New Mexico State University-Carlsbad
Property tax rate - commercial 30.58%
Property tax rate - residential 26.25%
Sales tax rate - city 7.06%
Sales tax rate - county 6.81%
Type of municipality General
Municipality annual operating budget $20 million
Population per sq. mile 1,642
Land area (sq. mile) 7 sq. miles
Water area (sq. mile) none
School District Artesia Public Schools
Clinics/Hospitals Artesia General Hospital (community, non-profit); Eddy County Public Health Office
Population within 50 miles 113,000
1990 Census population 10,998
% population change 1990-2000 -2.9%
2010 Projected population 16,500*
 2000 Census / Statistics  
Population 10,692
Median age 35.1
High school graduates 2,158 (32.3%)
Some college, no degree 1,459 (21.8%)
Associates degree 261 (3.9%)
Bachelors degree 614 (9.2%)
Graduate or professional degree 193 (2.9%)
Male population 5,124 (47.9%)
Female population 5,568 (52.1%)
Hispanic population 4,809 (45%)
White population 5,533 (51.7%)
Native population 1.00%
Black population 154 (1.4%)
Asian population 21 (0.2%)
Population under 5 years 858 (8%)
Population 5-18 years 958 (9%)
Population 18 years + 7,454 (69.7%)
Population 21 years + 6,960 (65.1%)
Population 65 years + 1,616 (15.1%)
Population 85 years + 232 (2.2%)
Number of housing units 4,627
Occupied housing units 4,080 (88.8%)
Owner-Occupied housing 2,835 (69.5%)
Renter-Occupied 1,245 (30.5%)
Homeowner vacancy rate 2.1%
Rental vacancy rate 15.1%
 Current Services  
Artesia Police Department 32 Full-time
Artesia Fire Department 18 Full-time
Fire Service Rating 5
City Budget $26 million
Water Source Aquifer
Sewer Storm and Sanitary
Treatment Activated Sludge Plant
Capacity 1.2 mgd

* There is an unmeasured population located in Artesia related to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The population includes detailers who move into the area for short periods of time (as long as one year) and bring family, some of whom could be part of a labor pool. Much of the FLETC population also is not measured in most Census information. Government security controls on Department of Homeland Security do not allow us access to reliable FLETC population information.