Community Overview:

History of Lovington

Like most of New Mexico, Lovington's history has been shaped by various cultures and time periods. Native Americans lived in the area in the 15^th century.  The two dominant tribes in the area were the Comanche and Apache.  The first Europeans came to the area in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in New Mexico and set up a colony.  After Mexican Independence, New Mexico reverted to Mexican rule.  American traders also visited  the region and with them came cowboys, many of whom settled in the Lovington area.  After the Mexican-American War, New Mexico became a territory of the United States of America.

It was during this territorial time period that Jim Love opened a store and post office in what is now present day Lovington.  The Jim B. Love Grocery Store provided the cattle ranchers and pioneers who settled in the area with basic necessities.  Population in the Lovington area grew as homesteaders settled down seeking plentiful land and water.  In 1912, New Mexico became a State and the Lovington area became part of Chaves County.  In 1917, the State reorganized its counties and Lea County, the current home of Lovington, was created from portions of Chaves and Eddy Counties.

The establishment of Lea County in 1917 corresponded with Lovington’s incorporation as a municipality and the designation of the city as Lea County’s seat of government.  The new community of Lovington relied primarily on cattle ranching and farming to drive its economy.   The area attracted new residents who enjoyed the independence and self-sufficiency that characterized the area.  In 1928, oil was discovered in the permian basin and Llano Estcado, however, this discovery did not impact Lovington’s economy immediately.   Instead, oil became a major player in the area in 1950, when the Denton Pool was discovered.  This pool, located nine miles northeast of the city gave way to 92 flowing oil wells, which led to development and drilling.  Though ranching remained strong in Lovington, oil drilling became the primary industry in Lea County.  The discovery of oil tripled the city’s population between 1950 and 1960.  Today Lovington remains deeply rooted in the ranching and oil/gas industries.   The city has also seen economic diversification with the coming of the dairy industry to southern New Mexico.

Physical Description of Lovington

The City of Lovington is located in southeastern New Mexico, just west of the Texas-New Mexico state line.  The city is located along U.S. Highway 82, a major national highway which runs from the Atlantic Seaboard to Las Cruces, NM, where it intersects Interstate 10, and continues to the West Coast.  State Highway 18  intersects with U.S. 82 to form a major intersection.  Highway 18 leads to Hobbs and eventually into Texas, where it intersects with Interstate 20  west of Midland/Odessa.  U.S. 83 enters the State of NM on the east from Plains, Texas.  To the west, US 82 connects Lovington to Artesia, NM and ultimately to Alamogordo.

Lovington, the County Seat for Lea County, lies 22 miles north of Hobbs, New Mexico, and 18 miles west of the Texas state line.  The City is 19 miles south  of Tatum at the intersection of U.S. 380 and Hwy 206

Demographic and Socioeconomic Profile of Lovington

In 1920, the first official U.S. Census was recorded for the City of Lovington and showed a total of 411 people living in the city.  Lovington grew rapidly from that time and recorded a population 3,134 in the 1950 Census.  Between 1950 and 1960, however, the City’s population exploded, growing by 308% to a total of 9,660 residents.  Since then, population growth has fluctuated between periods of growth and population decline. The city experienced its peak population in 1980, when the Census recorded the population as 9,727 persons.  This followed a period of decline in the 1970’s. Although the population declined slightly in 1990, Lovington has seen incremental growth in the population and with the results of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population stands at 9,471 people.  The average household size is 2.8 persons.

Strategic Plan Highlights:  

With the implementation of its strategic plan, the City of Lovington seeks to achieve a balance in economic and community development. The city plans to implement strategies for:

• Land Use

  • Infill development of vacant lots

  • Protection of property values

  • Creation of a land use pattern that is attractive and efficient

  • Redevelopment of downtown and preservation of its integrity

  • Ensuring that an adequate amount of land is available for future development

  • Protection of neighborhoods.

• Economic Development

  • Economic diversification

  • Expansion of the city’s revenue base

  • Development of partnerships to achieve similar economic ends

  • Promotion of the city’s existing strengths

  • Ensuring that appropriate infrastructure and roadways are in place

  • Attraction of appropriate industries to diversify the economy

  • Complement existing businesses and industries.

• Housing

  • Diversification of the city’s housing market

  • Redevelopment of homes and properties that are currently abandoned or dilapidated

  • Ensuring that infill housing is compatible with existing neighborhood.

• Infrastructure and Utilities

  • Improvement and expansion of the city’s infrastructure systems

  • Continue to provide “smart” infrastructure like high speed communication lines

  • Promote efficient use of water.

• Transportation

  • Enhance the city’s accessibility

  • Enhance and improve safety on the city’s roadways system

  • Improve regional transportation system.

Community Character

• Create a cleaner and attractive city

• Develop common theme/image for the city

• Make Lovington a friendly place for visitors

• Encourage people to stay in the city.

Partnerships include:

• Lovington Economic Development Corp

• Lovington Main Street

• Lovington Beautiful

• Lovington Chamber of Commerce.

Leveraging:

Within the last ten (10) years, the City has a history of leveraging  $6 to $1 on city street improvements.  Overall, the City has leveraged  $1 for every $7 of funds spent on street repairs.

• The City has leveraged 3 to 1 on Park improvements.

• The City has leveraged 10 to 1 on a Planning Grant.

• The City has leveraged 3 to 1 on economic development funds.

• The City has been the recipient of a $191,300 Rural Business Revolving loan.

• The City will start soon on the new Wastewater Plant with an approximate 50/50 match.

Community Involvement:

A Comprehensive Plan was developed through a publicly-driven process that involved a series of community meetings and open houses, presentations before the City of Lovington Economic Development board, and a workshop with the Lovington City Commission.  Every effort was made to make the process inclusive in order to get as many people involved as possible.  The meetings were advertised through the Lovington Leader and through individual flyers being posted at public places.  In addition, a continuously-updated mailing list of public participants was maintained so that everyone involved in the process would be informed of future events and activities

• City Commission Workshop-The purpose of the City Commission Workshop was to introduce the Comprehensive Planning project to the Commissioners, and to identify their preliminary issues.
• Economic Development Corporation, May 24, 2002 - After the first public meeting, a presentation was made before the Lovington Economic Development Corporation (EDC).  The results of the public meeting were presented and EDC members were asked for input.  The Lovington Economic Development Board is also the Champion Community Board.

• First Public Meeting, May 23, 2002 - The first public meeting was held on May 23, 2002 at the City Commission Chambers.  The purpose of the meeting was to identify values and to discuss planning themes identified at the May 13, 2002 Workshop.

• Second Public Meeting, June 27, 2002 - In an effort to attract more people to the meeting and to get additional input, a second public meeting was held on June 27^th at the Lovington Youth Center.  The event attracted additional residents, many of whom did not attend the first public meeting.  The meeting focused on input received at that first public meeting, and resulted in an affirmation of those comments as well as the identification of several new issues.

• Breakfast Town Hall Meeting  June 28, 2002 - The day after the second public meeting, a breakfast Town Hall was held with resident to identify further issues.  The format of the Town Hall was different from the previous meetings, in that Town Hall discussion was focused on a series of questions:

1. If you were asked by the City of Lovington to do this plan, what would be the most critical thing for you to include?  (it has to be something that you believe the City could accomplish)

2. If you had a guest from somewhere outside the city and they wanted to see the Lovington area, where would you take them?

3. What brings you most pride in being a citizen of Lovington?

4. What measures are most needed to improve Lovington’s visual image?

• City Commission, November 25, 2002 - The purpose of this meeting was to inform the Commissioners on the results of our public meetings.

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