City Town Info

Portales, NM


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Portales, New Mexico

Introduction to Portales, New Mexico

Portales, New Mexico, in Roosevelt county, is 94 miles NW of Lubbock, Texas and 198 miles E of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The city is home to some 11,131 residents.

Portales History

Originally under Spanish rule in the 1600’s, this area was known as Llano Estacado, or the staked planes, due to the abundance of yucca plants in the area. Comanche Indians inhabited this area for most of the 1800’s. Territorial settlement by cattle herders began in the late 1800’s. The city of Portales was formally established in 1909.

Portales and nearby Attractions

  • Miles Mineral Museum
  • Natural History Museum
  • Roosevelt County Museum
  • Blackwater Draw Museum
  • Whispering Winds Golf Course
  • Oasis State Park

Things To Do In Portales

The Blackwater Archaeological site is a well visited historic site near Portales. The Blackwater Draw Museum and the Natural History Museum provide insight into the area's history. The Oasis State Park and other nearby parks offer visitors various outdoor recreational facilities. The Whispering Winds Golf Course provides excellent facilities to local golfers.

Portales Transportation

Flights are available from Lea County Regional Airport.

Portales Higher Education

Eastern New Mexico University is the local institution of higher education. Others in the area include South Plains College, Wayland Baptist University and Texas Tech University.

High Points

Portales strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in New Mexico):

CategoryTrophy
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 3%trophyPortales Affordability of Property Taxes
Short Commute Times
(vs. Peers)		Top 8%Portales Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)		Top 10%Portales Walking and Biking to Work
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 13%Portales Affordability of Rents
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)		Top 17%Portales College Educated Adults
Racial Diversity
(vs. Peers)		Top 17%Portales Racial Diversity

Comparative Profile of Portales, NM

Comparing Portales to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in New Mexico (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Racial Diversity99
Children Under 5 Years Old88
Male Share of the Population65
Female Share of the Population56
Senior Citizens43
Well-Paid Single Women26
Well-Paid Single Men13
Age of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Average Household Size54
Portion of People Married33

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults79
People in Middle Class or Better14
People Above Poverty13
Median Family Income14

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times109
Walking and Biking to Work109
Working at Home43
Public Transportation Use36

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Property Taxes108
Affordability of Rents96
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals79
People Living Alone67
Housing Recently Built53
Seasonal and Vacation Housing31

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Property Crime55
Low Violent Crime35

Detailed pages on related topics: Portales colleges • Portales travel.

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Additional Details

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