Jal, New Mexico
City
Motto: 
"The Enchantment Starts Here!"
Location of Jal, New Mexico
Location of Jal, New Mexico
Jal, New Mexico is located in the United States
Jal, New Mexico
Jal, New Mexico
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 32°06′53″N 103°11′24″W / 32.11472°N 103.19000°W / 32.11472; -103.19000[1]
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountyLea
Area
[2]
 • Total4.82 sq mi (12.49 km2)
 • Land4.82 sq mi (12.49 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[1]
3,045 ft (928 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total2,202
 • Density456.56/sq mi (176.28/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
88252
Area code575
FIPS code35-35040
GNIS feature ID2410131[1]
Websitewww.cityofjal.us

Jal is a small city located in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. It is New Mexico's south-easternmost city, and shares a border with Texas to the east and south. The population was 2,047 at the 2010 census.[4] Jal is historically important in the natural gas industry, from the early 1900s to the present day.[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930404—
19401,157186.4%
19502,04776.9%
19603,05149.0%
19702,602−14.7%
19802,6752.8%
19902,156−19.4%
20001,996−7.4%
20102,0472.6%
20202,2027.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6][3]

As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 2,047 people, with 788 occupied houses. The population density was 426.5 inhabitants per square mile (164.7/km2). There were 1009 housing units at an average density of 210.2 per square mile (81.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.81% White, 0.83% African American, 0.73% Native American, 11.82% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.12% of the population.

There were 788 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 19, 12.2% in their 20s, 10.1% in their 30s, 12.6% in their 40s, 13.2% in their 50s, and 22.4% who were 60 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,813, and the median income for a family was $51,538. Males had a median income of $46,250 versus $30,147 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,597. About 12.0% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.

History

During the early 1800s, the Cowden boys of Midland, Texas moved the entire John A. Lynch herd to the Monument draw, about 6 miles northeast of present-day Jal. All the cattle were branded with the JAL brand from shoulder to hip. In the process of trying to rebrand the Cowdens, they found it too big a task so they registered the brand under their name in Silver City, New Mexico Territory.[8]

In 1913, Charles Justis (a merchant) applied for a post office under the name "Jal" to open six miles east of the city of Jal. However, in 1916, Jal became drought-stricken and the store and post office were relocated to Muleshoe Wells and the city of Jal was established in its present location.[8]

On November 1, 1927, Texas Co. brought in the first well, the Rhodes #1. Then on June 2, 1928, a second well, serving up more than 90 million cubic feet of gas a day, was brought online 6 miles west of Jal. This created a “boom town,” with all the prosperity and problems that go with it. The Great Depression and low crude prices caused a sharp slump in drilling and people left in droves. Jal almost became a ghost town overnight.

In the summer of 1934, the Cooper #1 brought the “Big Boom” back to Jal. By then Jal had a passenger train and its population rose to around 500. Housing was in short supply and ranchers opened their homes to “roughnecks”. New businesses sprang up, and with the gas gathering system by El Paso Natural Gas, prosperity continued.

Government

In 1950 a city hall was built. In 1966 it received a renovation, and in 1987 it received another one. By 2019 the municipal authorities considered the 1950 building out of date, so that year they authorized a renovation of the 37,900-square-foot (3,520 m2) former Burke Junior High School, with city hall in a 14,300-square-foot (1,330 m2) eastern portion. This was under construction in 2021.[9]

Education

It is within Jal Public Schools.[10]

Airport

The city is served by the Lea County/Jal Airport about three miles to the northeast. The airport has a paved, 4700 ft. runway. Jal once saw commuter airline service in 1964 by Solar Airlines.[11]

Climate

Jal experiences a cool semi-arid climate, typical of the high plains of eastern New Mexico. However, it borders a hot semi-arid climate.

Climate data for Jal, New Mexico.
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 85
(29)		 89
(32)		 98
(37)		 102
(39)		 107
(42)		 114
(46)		 112
(44)		 110
(43)		 108
(42)		 100
(38)		 89
(32)		 84
(29)		 114
(46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 59.9
(15.5)		 65.2
(18.4)		 72.9
(22.7)		 81.8
(27.7)		 89.0
(31.7)		 95.6
(35.3)		 96.3
(35.7)		 95.0
(35.0)		 88.8
(31.6)		 80.3
(26.8)		 68.6
(20.3)		 61.0
(16.1)		 79.5
(26.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 27.9
(−2.3)		 32.4
(0.2)		 38.8
(3.8)		 47.6
(8.7)		 56.8
(13.8)		 65.3
(18.5)		 68.0
(20.0)		 66.8
(19.3)		 60.2
(15.7)		 48.9
(9.4)		 36.7
(2.6)		 29.2
(−1.6)		 48.2
(9.0)
Record low °F (°C) −11
(−24)		 −8
(−22)		 10
(−12)		 20
(−7)		 28
(−2)		 40
(4)		 50
(10)		 50
(10)		 37
(3)		 20
(−7)		 8
(−13)		 0
(−18)		 −11
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.41
(10)		 0.48
(12)		 0.42
(11)		 0.63
(16)		 1.42
(36)		 1.28
(33)		 1.82
(46)		 1.79
(45)		 2.08
(53)		 1.31
(33)		 0.47
(12)		 0.46
(12)		 12.58
(320)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.3
(3.3)		 0.7
(1.8)		 0.3
(0.76)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.6
(1.5)		 0.8
(2.0)		 3.5
(8.9)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[12]

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Jal, New Mexico
  2. ↑ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ↑ "2010.census.gov". Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  5. ↑ "JAL Ranch spawned New Mexico community, natural gas industry". Odessa American. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ factfinder2.census.gov
  8. 1 2 "The City of Jal, New Mexico". www.cityofjal.us. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Work on new Jal City Hall underway". Hobbs News. June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  10. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lea County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ Solar Airlines Inc. August 1, 1964 flight schedule
  12. ↑ "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  13. ↑ Kathy Whitworth named female athlete of the year
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