Jal, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jal, New Mexico
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City
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| Motto(s):
"The Enchantment Starts Here!"
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Location of Jal, New Mexico
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 Jal, New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Lea |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.82 sq mi (12.49 km2) |
| • Land | 4.82 sq mi (12.49 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,045 ft (928 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,202 |
| • Density | 456.56/sq mi (176.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
88252
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| Area code(s) | 575 |
| FIPS code | 35-35040 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410131 |
Jal is a small city in Lea County, New Mexico, USA. It's the most southeastern city in New Mexico, right next to Texas. In 2010, about 2,047 people lived there. Jal has a long and important history with the natural gas industry, going back to the early 1900s.
Contents
Exploring Jal's Location
Jal covers about 4.8 square miles (12.49 square kilometers) of land. It's located entirely on land, with no water areas within its city limits.
Who Lives in Jal?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 404 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,157 | 186.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,047 | 76.9% | |
| 1960 | 3,051 | 49.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,602 | −14.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,675 | 2.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,156 | −19.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,996 | −7.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,047 | 2.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,202 | 7.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 2,047 people living in Jal, in 788 homes. The city had about 426 people per square mile. Most residents (about 84.8%) were White. About 48.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many homes (34.1%) had children under 18 living there. The average household had 2.6 people. The average family had 3.04 people.
The population of Jal includes people of all ages. About 29.5% were under 19 years old. About 22.4% were 60 years or older. The average age in Jal was 38.2 years.
The average income for a household in Jal was $39,813. For families, it was $51,538. About 14.4% of all people in Jal lived below the poverty line. This included 23.6% of those under 18.
A Look at Jal's Past
How Jal Got Its Name
In the early 1900s, the Cowden brothers moved their cattle herd to an area near present-day Jal. Their cattle were branded with a special "JAL" mark. They registered this brand in Silver City, New Mexico Territory. This brand later gave the city its name.
Moving the Town
In 1913, a merchant named Charles Justis wanted to open a post office called "Jal." It was planned for a spot six miles east of where Jal is now. But in 1916, a big drought hit the area. Because of the drought, the store and post office had to move. They relocated to Muleshoe Wells, and that's how the city of Jal was started in its current spot.
The Oil and Gas Boom
Jal's history is closely tied to the natural gas industry.
- In 1927, the first successful gas well, called the Rhodes #1, was drilled.
- Then, in 1928, another well was found that produced a lot of gas. This discovery caused a "boom town" effect. Many people moved to Jal, bringing both wealth and new challenges.
- However, during the Great Depression, gas prices dropped. Many people left, and Jal almost became a ghost town.
- In 1934, the Cooper #1 well brought another "Big Boom" to Jal. The city's population grew to about 500 people. There wasn't enough housing, so local ranchers even opened their homes to oil workers. New businesses started, and with a gas collection system built by El Paso Natural Gas, Jal continued to grow and prosper.
Learning in Jal
Students in Jal attend schools that are part of the Jal Public Schools district.
Getting Around Jal
Roads and Highways
Several state roads help people travel in and out of Jal:
- NM 18 runs north and south.
- NM 128 runs east and west.
- NM 205 goes southwest towards Bennett.
Train Service
The Texas & New Mexico Railway provides freight service to Jal. This means goods and materials can be transported by train.
Airport Access
Jal has its own airport, the Lea County/Jal Airport. It's about three miles northeast of the city. The airport has a paved runway that is 4,700 feet long. In 1964, a small airline called Solar Airlines even offered flights from Jal.
Jal's Weather
Jal has a cool semi-arid climate. This type of climate is common in the high plains of eastern New Mexico. It means Jal usually has dry weather, but it's not as hot as a desert.
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Famous People from Jal
- Kathy Whitworth - A very successful golfer who won 88 LPGA Tour events. She was named female athlete of the year in 1965 and 1966.
See also
In Spanish: Jal (Nuevo México) para niños
