Artesia
Artesia dates to the turn of the century, when the arrival of the railroad linking Roswell to Carlsbad brought a small community of settlers to the area. Drilling for water, they discovered local artesian wells, followed by oil, which brought prospectors and industry to the area. Today, oil and gas industry remains a big part of Artesia's economy, along with farming and ranching. Officially incorporated in 1905, Artesia has a small-town atmosphere with plenty of events and activities for everyone.