ARTESIA

Artesia, Eddy County, is on the west bank of the Pecos River at the junction of US 82 and US 285. John Chisum's cattle drives along the Pecos River started in 1866 and often watered at a spring near Artesia. John's neice, Sally Chisum Robert, filed a homestead claim and lived here for many years. In the 1890's, the railroad arrived-- the existing depot was built in 1912. The fading blue entryway still exists (1998), though the depot was abandoned in 1988.

By 1903, the Artesia Homesite Co. was formed to develop real estate in the expanding community served by so many artesian wells. Ranching and farming occupied the citizens. In 1923, the oil industry contibuted to the area's economy and still does today.