Portales, New Mexico
Portales is a city of 11,968 people in Roosevelt County, New Mexico.
Why visit Portales
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 19 places to eat and 7 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Administration Building, Bank of Portales and Portales Country Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Portales
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Portales
Portales () is a city in and the county seat of Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Portales had a population of 12,137. Portales is located near the larger city of Clovis, and Cannon Air Force Base, a major contributor to the economy of the region.
From the Wikipedia article Portales, New Mexico (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks9
Administration Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic building at Eastern New Mexico University, USA
Bank of Portales
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Bank building in Portales, New Mexico
Portales Main Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Post office in Portales, New Mexico, United States
Roosevelt County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
County courthouse in Portales, United States of America
The Courtyard
Monument and historic site · 1.2 mi
Open-air public plaza with seating, used as a gathering space
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes19
Coach J's B.B.Q. Shack
Restaurant · Barbecue · 0.7 mi
805 West 2nd Street, Portales
Fr-Sa 11:00-19:00
Something Different Grill
Diner · American · 0.8 mi
805 West 2nd Street, Portales
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Dawg House
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
1013 West 2nd Street, Portales
Th-Sa 16:30-01:00
La Cateria de La Abuela
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.7 mi
820 West 2nd Street, Portales
Roosevelt Brewing Company & Public House
Bar and pub · 1.2 mi
201 South Main Avenue, Portales
AJs Wings
Fast food · Wings · 1.1 mi
305 South Avenue C, Portales
Mo 12:00-18:00; Th 17:00-21:00; Fr 16:00-21:00; Sa-Su 15:00-20:00
7 more on the map.
Where to stay7
Comfort Inn
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
223 West 2nd Street, Portales
Sands Motel
Motel and hotel · 0.6 mi
1130 West 1st Street, Portales
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portales
Motel and hotel
1901 West 2nd Street, Portales
History
The US territorial settlement of Portales occurred in the late 19th century as cattle herders discovered a water source emanating from a rocky ledge resembling a Spanish porch. The local watering hole took on the name "Portales", and a few settlers began ranching nearby. The Pecos Valley and Northeastern Railroad arrived in 1899. The City of Portales was formally established in 1909. The first mayor of Portales was Washington Ellsworth Lindsey, who later became a governor of New Mexico.
The town developed in an orderly fashion through the early 20th century.
In particular, given its access to the Ogallala Aquifer, improved surface irrigation techniques supported steady growth in agriculture.
Eastern New Mexico University was established in 1934 as a teacher's college. Originally a junior college, it became a four-year institution in the mid-20th century. The Great Depression brought several important Works Progress Administration construction projects, including the ENMU Administration Building, the downtown Portales Post Office, and the Roosevelt County Courthouse. All three buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2023, the FW1 Ute Reservoir pipeline project started construction to provide potable water by 2030 for Cannon Air Force Base and the communities of Clovis, Portales, Elida, Texico.
From the History section of Portales, New Mexico on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship12
Iglesia Bautista Betel
Church · Baptist · 0.7 mi
633 South Roosevelt Road S, Portales
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.1 mi
1930 South Avenue G, Portales
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Healthcare3
Map of Portales
77 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 26°F | 0.5 in | 1.7 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 29°F | 0.4 in | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 69°F | 35°F | 0.7 in | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 77°F | 43°F | 0.7 in | 0.2 in |
| May | 85°F | 53°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 93°F | 62°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 66°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 91°F | 65°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 57°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 45°F | 1.8 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 33°F | 0.6 in | 0.5 in |
| Dec | 55°F | 26°F | 0.7 in | 2.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Portales (0 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
Roosevelt County has had 5 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-04-17: Tire Fire (Fire)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2000-05-10: Severe Fire Threats (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cannon Air Force Base (CVS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Cannon AFB 14 mi north, about 23 min by car
- Clovis 20 mi northeast, about 33 min by car
- Farwell 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
- Texico 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
- Melrose 23 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- Muleshoe 36 mi east, about 58 min by car
- Bovina 36 mi northeast, about 57 min by car
- Morton 46 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Friona 48 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Sudan 48 mi east, 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
- Roosevelt County Court House, Wordbuilder, CC BY 3.0
- Aerial view of Portales, New Mexico, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Portales, New Mexico, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Portales, New Mexico skyline aerial view 2024, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Portales, New Mexico, post office from SE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Bank of Portales building from SSW 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- ENMU Administration Building, S side 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- ENMU1, The original uploader was Madmaxmarchhare at English Wikipedia ., CC BY 2.5
- HIWAY 70 (10111573284), timlewisnm, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Walkway outside Golden Library, NMU, Cathy from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Golden Library at Eastern New Mexico University, Cathy from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- LeiaOtterstatter ClovisNM2 52623, NOAA NSSL, CC BY 2.0
- LeiaOtterstatter ClovisNM 52623, NOAA NSSL, CC BY 2.0
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