Hobbs, New Mexico
Hobbs is a city of 40,252 people in Lea County, New Mexico, founded in 1907.
Why visit Hobbs
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 24 parks and trails, 52 places to eat, 12 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include University of the Southwest, Eagle 9, Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame and Harry McAdams State Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 94°F; January lows average 30°F.
Weather in Hobbs
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Hobbs
Hobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 40,508 at the 2020 census, increasing from 34,122 in 2010. It is the state's seventh-most populous city.
From the Wikipedia article Hobbs, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
University of the Southwest
School · 3.4 mi
University in Hobbs, New Mexico, United States
R.N.Tydings Auditorium
Cinema and theater · 2.7 mi
1332 East Scharbauer Street, Hobbs
Museums and landmarks7
Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame
Museum · 2.3 mi
Hall of Fame for Cowboys
C.O.R.E. - Center of Recreational Excellence
Monument and historic site · 1.8 mi
4808 N. Synergy Park BLVD, Hobbs
Parks, trails and playgrounds24
Harry McAdams State Park
Park · 3.8 mi
New Mexico State Park and RV Camp ground
5000 Jack Gomez Boulevard, Hobbs
12 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes52
Koi Asian Cuisine
Restaurant · Asian · 1.4 mi
220 West Bender Boulevard, Hobbs
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 0.6 mi
3600 North Lovington Highway, Hobbs
Iron Skillet Cafe
Cafe · 1.4 mi
4428 North Lovington Highway, Hobbs
40 more on the map.
History
Hobbs was founded in 1907 when James Isaac Hobbs established a homestead and named the settlement. In 1910, the Hobbs post office opened, with James Hobbs as the first postmaster. By 1911, about 25 landowners lived in Hobbs.
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. 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.
On June 23, 1938, seven local men were killed and five more injured when an explosive charge used in oil drilling detonated prematurely.
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.
From the History section of Hobbs, New Mexico on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay12
Hampton Inn & Suites Hobbs
Motel and hotel · 2.5 mi
5420 North Lovington Highway, Hobbs
Quality Inn & Suites
Motel and hotel · 0.6 mi
3610 North Lovington Highway, Hobbs
Churches and places of worship32
Shopping20
Gas and EV charging16
Schools, colleges and libraries39
Healthcare7
Map of Hobbs
213 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 30°F | 0.5 in | 0.9 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 33°F | 0.5 in | 0.2 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 40°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 77°F | 48°F | 0.8 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 85°F | 57°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 93°F | 65°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 94°F | 69°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 68°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 61°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 50°F | 0.9 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 64°F | 38°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 56°F | 30°F | 0.5 in | 0.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Hobbs (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lea County has had 6 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-10-29: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2006-01-02: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex (Fire)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2000-05-10: Severe Fire Threats (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Industrial Airpark (HBB) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- North Hobbs 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Monument 10 mi southwest, about 16 min by car
- Lovington 18 mi northwest, about 30 min by car
- Eunice 20 mi south, about 33 min by car
- Denver City 25 mi northeast, about 41 min by car
- Seminole 30 mi east, about 48 min by car
- Plains 37 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Tatum 37 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Seagraves 38 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Andrews 45 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Hobbs New Mexico Public Library, AllenS, Public domain
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