Town of Hagerman—On March 9, 1893, the Pecos Valley Company was formed. The Town’s incorporators Joseph C. Lea, Charles B. Eddy, Arthur A. Mermod, Patrick F. Garrett and Edgar B. Bronson purchased the land upon which the future town of Hagerman would be founded.

In 1894, J.J. (James John) Hagerman, who was building the railroad from Eddy (Carlsbad) to Roswell, had become president of the Pecos Valley Town Company and had decided on the location of the town. The site is situated on junction of the Rio Felix and the Pecos River, about half-way between Roswell and Artesia. Mr. Hagerman had the land surveyed and platted—it contains 67.02 acres.

The Post Office was established in 1894, as Felix, New Mexico. The name was changed to Hagerman on February 27, 1905.

In 1905, the residents petitioned the Chaves County Commissioners for the incorporation of the Town of Hagerman. On July 5, 1905, Hagerman was declared an incorporated town. An election was held and N.J. Fritz was elected the first Mayor, Edward C. Miller, M.C. Moore, J.W. Langford and O.R. Tanner were elected to be the Town’s first Trustees.

Hagerman has always been an agricultural community and was once known as the “Alfalfa Capital of the World”. Alfalfa, dairies and agriculture in general remain the economic backbone of the community.

Hagerman’s population is estimated to be 1,168.

 

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