CHAVES COUNTY, NM HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
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Chaves County, New Mexico: A Genealogical Overview
Situated in the vast plains of southeastern New Mexico, Chaves County’s history is a dramatic story of the American West, defined by the Pecos River, colossal cattle drives, the discovery of artesian water, and a significant 20th-century military presence. Its county seat, Roswell, is famous worldwide for the 1947 UFO incident, but its deeper heritage is rooted in the Hispanic pioneers and Texas cattle barons who first settled the valley. For genealogists, the county represents a convergence of cultures—Hispanic pastoralists, Anglo ranchers, and homesteading farmers—creating a rich and complex research environment.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Chaves County was carved out of a massive, lawless territory during the final years of the frontier era. Understanding its parentage and the subsequent creation of new counties from its territory is vital for successful research.
- 1889: County Formed: Chaves County was officially established on February 25, 1889.
- Parent County: It was created entirely from the eastern portion of Lincoln County. Any civil records for settlers in the area prior to 1889 will be located in the records of Lincoln County, a county famous for its violent “Lincoln County War” in the preceding decade.
- Subsequent Formations: The original vast territory of Chaves County was later reduced to form other counties. Portions of its land were used to create Roosevelt County in 1903 and Lea County in 1917. Researchers with ancestors in the eastern parts of early Chaves County may need to consult the records of these successor counties.
- Name Origin: The county was named for Colonel Jose Francisco Chaves, a prominent Hispanic military officer who served with distinction in the Union Army during the Civil War’s New Mexico Campaign and was a respected territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress.
- County Seat History: The town of Roswell was designated as the county seat upon the county’s formation in 1889 and has held that distinction ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: For centuries, the Pecos River valley was the domain of the Mescalero Apache, as well as a hunting and raiding territory for the Comanche.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy:
- Hispanic Settlement: The first permanent non-native settlers arrived in the 1860s, as Hispanic families from the Rio Grande valley moved east to establish plazas and ranchos, such as the community of Missouri Plaza (c. 1867).
- The Cattle Kingdom: Following the Civil War, the region became a centerpiece of the American cattle industry. The famed Goodnight-Loving Trail passed through the county, and cattle baron John Chisum established a massive ranching empire headquartered near Roswell. This era was marked by conflict over grazing land and water rights.
- The Artesian Boom: The discovery of a massive artesian aquifer in 1890 revolutionized the county’s economy. Wells were drilled, allowing for widespread irrigation that transformed the arid landscape into a thriving agricultural hub known for its alfalfa and apple orchards. This brought a new wave of homesteaders and farmers to the region.
- Key Historical Events:
- Military Development: The establishment of the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell in 1891 made the town an educational center. During World War II, the Roswell Army Air Field was established, later becoming Walker Air Force Base, a major Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation during the Cold War. This brought thousands of service members and their families to the county.
- The Roswell Incident: In July 1947, the recovery of debris from a classified high-altitude military balloon on a ranch northwest of Roswell sparked what would become the world’s most famous UFO legend, cementing the town’s place in popular culture.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, most of which are housed at the county courthouse in Roswell.
- County Courthouse: The Chaves County Courthouse, located at 400 N Virginia Ave, Roswell, NM 88201, is the central repository for most historical records.
- County Clerk: Holds all land records (deeds, mortgages), marriage licenses from 1889, and birth and death registers from approximately 1907.
- Clerk of the District Court: Maintains records of civil and criminal cases, including divorces and naturalization proceedings.
- Probate Court: Manages all probate records, including wills, estate administrations, and guardianship papers, dating from the county’s formation.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in New Mexico began intermittently around 1907 and became more consistent by 1920. Early records can be found at the County Clerk’s office. Certified copies of more recent records are held by the New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics.
- Marriage Records: Marriage licenses from 1889 to the present are held by the Chaves County Clerk. For earlier marriages, consult Lincoln County records and the sacramental records of the Catholic Church.
- Libraries and Societies:
- Roswell Public Library: The library’s Southwest History, Genealogy and Archives room is an outstanding resource, holding local newspapers on microfilm, family histories, city directories, and manuscript collections.
- Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico: Located in Roswell, the society operates a museum and archives that are essential for research into the area’s pioneering families and history.
- New Mexico State Records Center and Archives (NMSRCA): Located in Santa Fe, this is the main repository for territorial records, Spanish and Mexican land grants, and microfilm copies of many county-level records.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- De Baca County (north)
- Roosevelt County (east)
- Lea County (east)
- Eddy County (south)
- Otero County (west)
- Lincoln County (west)