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Tatum, New Mexico
Tatum Community Library, May 2009
Tatum Community Library, May 2009
Location of Tatum in Lea County
Location of Tatum in Lea County
Tatum, New Mexico is located in New Mexico
Tatum, New Mexico
Tatum, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Tatum, New Mexico is located in the United States
Tatum, New Mexico
Tatum, New Mexico
Location in the United States
Country United States
State New Mexico
County Lea
Area
 • Total 1.59 sq mi (4.12 km2)
 • Land 1.58 sq mi (4.11 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
3,996 ft (1,218 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 706
 • Density 445.43/sq mi (171.96/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
88213, 88267
Area code(s) 575
FIPS code 35-76620
GNIS feature ID 2413367

Tatum is a small town located in Lea County, New Mexico, in the United States. In 2020, about 706 people lived there. The town is known for its quiet, rural setting in the eastern part of the state.

Geography of Tatum

Tatum is found in the northern part of Lea County. A main road, U.S. Route 380, goes right through the town. This road can take you about 72 miles west to Roswell. Or, if you go east, it's about 30 miles to Plains, Texas.

Another important road, New Mexico State Road 206, crosses US 380 in the middle of Tatum. Heading north on State Road 206, you can reach Portales in about 65 miles. Going south for about 22 miles will take you to Lovington. Lovington is the main town for Lea County, called the county seat.

The town of Tatum covers a total area of about 1.59 square miles (4.1 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area is water.

Tatum's Climate

Tatum has a type of weather called a cold semi-arid climate. This means it's generally dry, but not a true desert. It can get quite cold in winter and very hot in summer.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Tatum was 115°F (46°C). This happened on June 28, 1994. The coldest temperature recorded was -16°F (-27°C). This extreme cold happened on two different dates: January 11, 1962, and January 13, 1963.

Population Changes in Tatum

The number of people living in Tatum has changed over the years.

Historical population
Census Pop.
1950 688
1960 1,168 69.8%
1970 982 −15.9%
1980 896 −8.8%
1990 768 −14.3%
2000 683 −11.1%
2010 798 16.8%
2020 706 −11.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

In the year 2000, there were 683 people living in Tatum. By 2010, the population grew to 798 people. However, the most recent count in 2020 showed the population had decreased slightly to 706 people.

Getting Around Tatum

Tatum Airport

Tatum has its own small airport called Tatum Airport. It is owned by the town and is open for public use. The airport is located about 3 nautical miles (6 kilometers) east of the town's main area.

Major Roads

  • US 380.svg U.S. Route 380
  • New Mexico 206.svg State Road 206

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tatum (Nuevo México) para niños

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