| Hobbs, New Mexico | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | "It All Happens Here" |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Pushpin Map: | USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | New Mexico |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Lea |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Sam Cobb |
| Leader Title1: | City Manager |
| Leader Name1: | Manny Gomez |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 68.47 |
| Area Land Km2: | 68.39 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.09 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 26.44 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 26.40 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.03 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 40508 |
| Population Density Km2: | 592.35 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1534.16 |
| Timezone: | Mountain (MST) |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -6 |
| Elevation Ft: | 3642 |
| Coordinates: | 32.7281°N -103.16°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 88240-88242 |
| Area Code: | 575 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 35-32520 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2410771 |
Hobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 40,508 at the 2020 census,[2] increasing from 34,122 in 2010.
Hobbs is the principal city of the Hobbs, New Mexico micropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Lea County.
Hobbs was founded in 1907 when James Isaac Hobbs (1852–1923) established a homestead and named the settlement.[3] In 1910, the Hobbs post office opened, with James Hobbs as the first postmaster.[4] By 1911, about 25 landowners lived in Hobbs.[5]
The small, isolated settlement expanded rapidly following the discovery of oil by the Midwest Oil Company in 1927. A refinery was built the following year, and in 1929, the town of Hobbs was officially incorporated.[6] At the peak of this oil boom, over 12,000 people lived in Hobbs. When the Great Depression hit, oil prices dropped and the population fell to only about 3,000 in 1931. A few years later, though, activity picked up in the oilfields and the population climbed to about 14,000 in 1940.[5]
On June 23, 1938, seven local men were killed and five more injured when an explosive charge used in oil drilling detonated prematurely.[7]
Following the outbreak of World War II, Hobbs Army Airfield was built north of town in 1942. In 1948, the city bought the air base and converted it into the Hobbs Industrial Air Park, which is still used for soaring competitions.
The first college in Hobbs opened in 1956. It was initially the First Baptist College, and in 1962, it became the College of the Southwest. The name was changed again to University of the Southwest in 2008. A second college, New Mexico Junior College, opened in 1966.
An ordinance was passed in Hobbs in November 2022 to prevent abortion clinics from operating.[8]
Hobbs is in eastern Lea County, less than 4miles west of the Texas border. U.S. Routes 62/180 pass through the city, leading east 29miles to Seminole, Texas, and west 69miles to Carlsbad. State Road 18 also passes through Hobbs, leading northwest 21miles to Lovington, the Lea county seat, and south 61miles to Kermit, Texas.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Hobbs has a total area of 68.5km2, of which 0.1sqkm, or 0.14%, is covered by water.[9] Land in the city drains either east to Seminole Draw or southeast to Monument Draw, both of which are tributaries of Mustang Draw in Texas and ultimately part of the Colorado River watershed.
Hobbs, like many parts of eastern New Mexico, has a semiarid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).[10] The city experiences hot summers and chilly winters. With around 70% of precipitation coming in the high solar half of the year, Hobbs may also be defined as a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa).
| White | 11,515 | 28.4% | |
| Black or African American | 2,058 | 5.1% | |
| Native American | 312 | 0.8% | |
| Asian | 491 | 1.2% | |
| Pacific Islander | 17 | <0.1% | |
| Other/mixed | 1,039 | 2.6% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 25,076 | 61.9% |
As of 2010, 33,405 people, 10,040 households, and 7,369 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1514sp=usNaNsp=us. The 11,968 housing units averaged 632.3/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 63.5% White, 6.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 24.5% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 42.18% of the population.
Of the 10,040 households, 39.8% had children under 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were not families. About 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.72, and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city, the age distribution was 30.4% under 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,100, and for a family was $33,017. Males had a median income of $31,352 versus $20,841 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,209. About 20.2% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.3% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
The largest industries in Hobbs are mining/quarrying and oil and gas extraction, followed by retail trade and educational services.[12] Hobbs is also home to Zia Park, a racetrack, hotel and casino with over 750 slot machines and table games.[13]
Located in Hobbs are the headquarters of the Soaring Society of America and Zia Park Casino, Hotel, and Racetrack, which offers live and simulcast racing, casino games, dining, and a 154-room hotel. The property is owned and operated by Penn National Gaming, Inc.[14]
The Texas & New Mexico Railway provides freight service.
Lea County Regional Airport serves Hobbs with one commercial passenger airline flying to it.