Lea County History

Check out these Lea Co. places.
Eunice	Hobbs	Jal	Lovington	Tatum

County History

Thanks to Beverly Roberts for the above picture.

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Monument was established in 1885 in the area that is now Lea County. It was named for an old Indian monument built before 1870 in Monument Draw. Monument Draw was about six miles west of Jal, near the Texas line and extends north and south in Lea County for over 36 miles. The Indian monument was a forty- five foot high caliche marker, was visible for 35 miles and showed where Monument Spring was located. In the 1870's the monument was torn down by buffalo hunters and the rocks used to construct a fort and corrals which are said to still be standing. The spring was sold several times finally becoming a part of the HAT ranch. Jim Cook built a general store at Monument in 1900 and became the first postmaster.

Lea County, New Mexico was created March 17, 1917 from parts of Eddy and Chaves counties. It was named for Capt. Joseph C. Lea of Roswell, New Mexico who came to New Mexico Territory in 1876. Capt. Lea is known as the father of Roswell.

Capt. Joseph C. Lea came to New Mexico Territory in 1876 and lived in Elizabethtown, NM. He arrived in Roswell about 1877. Capt. Lea is also credited with founding the New Mexico Military Institute. Capt. Lea died in 1904.

Lea County Guide - Southern NM . com

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