Lea County is a county in New Mexico, United States, in the state’s southeastern corner along the Texas line. It had a population of 74,455 at the 2020 census and covers 4,394 square miles (11,380 km2) centred near 32°48′N 103°25′W.
Lovington is the county seat, and its postal code is 88260. The county has four incorporated cities, one incorporated town, and several unincorporated communities and census-designated places. Lea County is in the Mountain Time Zone.
Towns & Villages in Lea County
Lea County has four incorporated cities, one incorporated town, and a number of unincorporated communities and census-designated places scattered across its oil-and-gas plains. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated place with no formal municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbs | City | 39,141 | 88240 / 88242 |
| Lovington | City · seat | 11,393 | 88260 |
| Eunice | City | 3,081 | 88231 |
| Jal | City | 1,916 | 88252 |
| Tatum | Town | 631 | 88267 |
| Monument | CDP | — | 88265 |
| Nadine | CDP | — | — |
| North Hobbs | CDP | — | — |
| Caprock | Unincorp. | — | 88213 |
| Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | 88114 |
| Maljamar | Unincorp. | — | 88264 |
| McDonald | Unincorp. | — | 88262 |
A handful of names from older lists — Air Base City, Arkansas Junction, Bennett, Buckeye, Gladiola, Halfway, Hillburn City, Humble City, Jones City, Knowles, Lea, Maypens, Medlin Place, Ochoa, Oil Center, Prairieview, Warren — are historic oilfield camps, ranch stops, or Hobbs neighborhoods with no current post office or census recognition; they are not repeated in the table above because no verifiable modern source confirms them as standing places.
ZIP Codes
- 88240 — Hobbs
- 88242 — Hobbs
- 88244 — Hobbs (unique ZIP)
- 88260 — Lovington
- 88231 — Eunice
- 88252 — Jal
- 88267 — Tatum
- 88265 — Monument
- 88213 — Caprock
- 88114 — Crossroads
- 88264 — Maljamar
- 88262 — McDonald (also serves surrounding ranch country)
North Hobbs and Nadine share Hobbs ZIP codes rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Lea County sits on the flat, semi-arid Llano Estacado of southeastern New Mexico, part of the oil-rich Permian Basin. The terrain is mostly shortgrass plains and shinnery-oak sandhills with little surface water; the county has no major perennial river or natural lake.
It borders Roosevelt County to the north, Chaves County to the northwest, Eddy County to the west, Loving County, Texas, to the south, Winkler County, Texas, to the southeast, Andrews County, Texas, Gaines County, Texas, and Yoakum County, Texas, to the east, and Cochran County, Texas, to the northeast.
Demographics
Lea County had 74,455 residents at the 2020 census, its largest population on record, driven by Permian Basin oil activity. Hobbs, with 39,141 people, and Lovington, with 11,393, are the two largest communities and together hold about two-thirds of the county’s population. Median household income runs below the New Mexico median of $62,268 in the county’s smaller oilfield towns but tracks close to it in Hobbs and Lovington, where oil-and-gas wages lift local pay. Population density is roughly 17 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas extraction dominates the local economy; Lea County sits over some of the most productive acreage in the Permian Basin, and the region as a whole produces roughly 500,000 barrels of crude a day. Hobbs is home to New Mexico Junior College and the Lea County Airport, and hosts oilfield-service company offices, a Levi Strauss distribution operation, and the Zia Park casino and racetrack. Lovington’s economy centers on county government, ranching, and oilfield services. Agriculture — cattle ranching and some irrigated farming — remains significant away from the oilfields.
History
Lea County was organized on March 17, 1917, the last of New Mexico’s 33 counties to be created, and was named for Captain Joseph Calloway Lea, a rancher and early Roswell civic leader. It began as ranch country before the 1920s discovery of oil transformed Hobbs and the surrounding plains into one of the state’s major petroleum-producing regions. Hobbs grew rapidly through mid-20th-century oil booms, and the county has weathered repeated boom-and-bust cycles tied to crude prices ever since.
Getting There
US Highways 62/180, 82, and 380, along with a network of state roads, cross Lea County.
- Roswell — 65 miles northwest
- Carlsbad — 65 miles southwest
- Midland, Texas — 90 miles southeast
- Clovis — 100 miles north
Lea County Regional Airport in Hobbs offers commercial air service; Midland International Air and Space Port in Texas is the nearest larger commercial hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lea County, New Mexico?
It is in the southeastern corner of New Mexico, on the Texas state line, part of the Permian Basin.
What is the population of Lea County?
74,455 at the 2020 census.
How big is Lea County?
4,394 square miles (11,380 km2), making it the second-largest county in New Mexico by land area.
What is the Lea County seat?
Lovington is the county seat.
How many towns are in Lea County?
Four incorporated cities (Hobbs, Lovington, Eunice, Jal), one incorporated town (Tatum), and several unincorporated communities and CDPs.
What ZIP codes are in Lea County?
Codes include 88240 and 88242 (Hobbs), 88260 (Lovington), 88231 (Eunice), 88252 (Jal), and 88267 (Tatum), among others.
What is Lea County’s main industry?
Oil and gas extraction from the Permian Basin, supported by ranching and oilfield services.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in New Mexico.