Named for the artesian wells discovered here in the early 1900s, Artesia is a rural Eddy County city shaped by water, oil and art. Home to about 13,000 residents, Artesia is surrounded by the open landscape of the Chihuahuan Desert. “People move here for the warm climate, small-town feel and affordability,” says Stephanie Bertram, New Mexico resident and Associate Broker with eXp Realty. “It’s less than 100 miles from the Texas border, and a lot of residents move here from Texas for work.”
Artesia became an “oil patch town” in 1924, a reputation it still holds today as a city driven by the oil and gas industry; HollyFrontier’s Navajo Refinery is the city’s largest employer. Artesia’s Downtown Main Street has been designated a New Mexico Arts and Cultural District, its early 1900s storefronts painted with murals that tell the city's stories.
Named for the artesian wells discovered here in the early 1900s, Artesia is a rural Eddy County city shaped by water, oil and art.
Artesia became an “oil patch town” in 1924, a reputation it still holds today as a city driven by the oil and gas industry.
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Custom-built homes on the outskirts of town
Artesia's median home price is $266,000, compared to Carlsbad's $315,000 and Roswell's $208,000. Early- and mid-20th-century ranch-style homes are the most common here, set side-by-side on grid-style streets. Newer, custom-built estates are found just outside city limits near the Artesia Municipal Airport, set on large plots of land for keeping livestock. The older ranch-style homes typically cost between $200,000 and $300,000; larger custom-built homes range between $400,000 and about $600,000.
Early- and mid-20th-century ranch-style homes are the most common in Artesia, set side-by-side on grid-style streets.
Newer, custom-built estates are found just outside Artesia's city limits near the Artesia Municipal Airport.
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The city roots for Artesia High’s championship team
The Artesia Public School District is rated an overall B-plus by Niche. Its only high school is the B-rated Artesia High, where students who maintain a 3.0 GPA can earn college scholarships from the Chase Foundation to colleges and universities in New Mexico and West Texas. Artesia High football games are a city-wide event at the school’s football stadium, The Bulldog Bowl; the team has won the New Mexico State Championship 30 times since 1957.
New Mexico State University operates an Agricultural Science Center in the Artesian Conservancy District, 7 miles south of the city. The Science Center works to improve the overall agriculture and environment for all of southeastern New Mexico.
Artesia's only high school is the B-rated Artesia High, where students who maintain a 3.0 GPA can earn college scholarships from the Chase Foundation to colleges and universities in New Mexico and West Texas.
Artesia High football games are a city-wide event at the school’s football stadium, The Bulldog Bowl; the team has won the New Mexico State Championship 30 times since 1957.
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Art, parks and cooling off at the Aquatic Center
Jaycee Park is the largest of the city's nine parks, featuring playing fields, picnic areas and walking tracks, and hosting Artesia's annual 4th of July celebration. Locals can escape the desert heat at the Artesia Aquatic Center, which offers four pools, waterslides and a lazy river.
The Artesia Historical Museum preserves local history, while the Artesia Arts Council organizes workshops and events like Art in the Park, an annual art festival held in Jaycee. Main Street Artesia showcases public murals along its Heritage Walkway, and sculptures honoring the city’s ranching heritage are found throughout the city.
Jaycee Park is the largest of Artesia's nine parks, featuring playing fields, picnic areas and walking tracks.
Artesia locals can escape the desert heat at the Artesia Aquatic Center, which offers four pools, waterslides and a lazy river.
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Independent businesses surrounding Downtown Main Street
West of U.S. Route 285, Artesia’s food and shopping scene centers around Main Street (U.S. Route 82) in Downtown, where locally owned restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques fill historic storefronts. Mexican fast-casual spots are common, but Adobe Rose Restaurant stands out for upscale Southwestern dishes served in a historic adobe building on the edge of town. Instead of big shopping centers, the area is dotted with second-hand stores and practical chain grocers like Walmart and Dollar General. Main Street is also where the city holds the Red Dirt Black Gold Festival, which celebrates the people and industries of Southeast New Mexico.
Artesia’s food and shopping scene centers around Main Street in Downtown, where locally owned restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques fill historic storefronts.
Adobe Rose Restaurant stands out for upscale Southwestern dishes served in a historic adobe building on the edge of Artesia.
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Between Carlsbad and Roswell
Artesia is set at the intersection of US-285 and 82; the 285 leads 40 miles north to Roswell, and about 36 miles south to Carlsbad. There's no public transportation, so residents rely on their cars to get around. Artesia General Hospital is right in the city, and the nearest commercial airport, Roswell International Air Center (ROW), is 38 miles away.
Mitigating local pollution
According to the FBI's most recent data, the Artesia Police Department reports lower rates of violent and property crime than state and national figures. The police department’s Patrol Division is especially active, conducting preliminary investigations and identifying the community’s concerns.
Artesia has long struggled with pollution problems due to the local Navajo Refinery. This crude oil processing facility releases chemicals like benzene into the air and contributes to water contamination from industrial waste and toxic materials. In early 2025, the company agreed to a major settlement to reduce emissions and improve environmental safety by upgrading their equipment and implementing stricter pollution controls.
Written By
Braxton Chea
Photography Contributed By
Nate Myers
Video By
Jacob McAllister
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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