City of Hobbs—Hobbs was established in 1907 and was actually three “towns”—Hobbs, New Hobbs and All Hobbs. James Isaac Hobbs settled his family in Hobbs around 1907 and by 1908 had established a grocery store, post office and school. Hobbs sometimes called “Old Hobbs” was bounded by Sanger Pasture (now Sanger Street) on the north, Marland Boulevard on the south, present-day Grimes Street on the west and what is now Del Paso Street on the east. Both New Hobbs and All Hobbs were south of Marland, with present-day Del Paso serving as the boundary between New Hobbs to the west and All Hobbs to the west. The fact that there is a east-west “Main Street” to the south of Marland Boulevard points to Hobbs’ past development pattern (and this Main Street at one time had a five story hotel, upscale movie theater, and other stores).  A fourth townsite plotted to the north of Del Paso was not as successful.

Hobbs economy originally was agrarian centered on cotton and ranching. In 1928 an oil boom began and many newcomers were drawn to the new Black Gold Rush in the area. The early 1930’s saw highly productive oil wells intensify the oil boom, the railroad came to town and the first brick buildings were constructed, one even had an elevator. In 1937 an election was held in the three towns which lead to the unification of Hobbs into one municipality.

Growth continued through the 1940s with the development of the Hobbs Army Air Base. The facility built north of the City was used to train personnel assigned to the B-17 and B-24 Bombers. The first institution of higher learning, First Baptist College, offered a four year liberal arts degree program. In 1962, First Baptist College became College of the Southwest and shortly thereafter New Mexico Junior College was established.

Hobbs has evolved as the commercial center for the region diversifying its economy to help stabilize its growth through boom-bust oil industry cycles.

Estimated population is 28,657.

 

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