A Quick Look Back
Roswell History
Welcome to the City of Roswell, New Mexico,
USA
P.O. Drawer 1838, Roswell, NM 88202-1838
(505) 624-6700, Fax: (505) 624-6709
In 1869 Van C. Smith arrived in the Pecos Valley. He found a small trading post selling
supplies to cattle ranchers as they passed through on their way to market. Smith bought
the building and began to add on. On August 20, 2025 the post office was established and
Roswell was named after Smith's father.
The future came to Roswell with the arrival of Capt. Joseph Lea in 1877. He and his
father-in-law purchased Smith's property and planned the lay out of the town. The plan was
for more than a trading stop but included broad streets lined with cottonwoods. According
to plan the town was incorporated in 1891.
In 1890 an Artesian water supply was discovered and the economy grew to include the
farming of alfalfa, cotton and a number of apple orchards. The water was so abundant at
the time that the spring river was 40 to 60 feet wide and 10 to 20 feet deep. The area
that is now Cahoon Park was known as Haynes' Dream and included a swimming hole, rides on
the steamboat "Katie" and afternoon concerts on Sunday.
1891 also saw the opening of a military school by Col. Robert S. Goss and the creation
of the town's first newspaper, the Roswell Record. The year before had brought the first
bank. E.A. Cahoon arrived with $50,000 and founded the First National Bank. The area was
connected to its markets by railroad lines built by J. J. Hagerman in 1894.
St. Mary's Hospital was built in 1906 and attracted men who suffered from tuberculosis.
During the 1930's Dr. Robert Goddard worked on his rocket experiments. His work gained
him the title "The Father of the Space Age." Over the years Roswell has grown in
size. By 1960 the population was 39,000. An important part of life in Roswell from 1941 to
1967 centered around Walker Air Force Base. The city suffered a serious setback in 1967
when the Air Base closed and the population dropped to 33,000 by 1970.
A lot of effort brought several manufacturing concerns to the town as well as
attracting retired citizens to come to the area to enjoy the climate. The old Air Base has
become the Roswell Industrial Air Center and Roswell Airport and home of Eastern New
Mexico University's Roswell campus.
