The name was changed again to University of the Southwest in 2008. It was initially the First Baptist College, and in 1962, it became the College of the Southwest. The first college in Hobbs opened in 1956. In 1948, the city bought the air base and converted it into the Hobbs Industrial Air Park, which is still used for soaring competitions. įollowing the outbreak of World War II, Hobbs Army Airfield was built north of town in 1942. On June 23, 1938, seven local men were killed and five more injured when an explosive charge used in oil drilling detonated prematurely. A few years later, though, activity picked up in the oilfields and the population climbed to about 14,000 in 1940. When the Great Depression hit, oil prices dropped and the population fell to only about 3,000 in 1931. At the peak of this oil boom, over 12,000 people lived in Hobbs. A refinery was built the following year, and in 1929, the town of Hobbs was officially incorporated. The small, isolated settlement expanded rapidly following the discovery of oil by the Midwest Oil Company in 1927. By 1911, about 25 landowners lived in Hobbs. In 1910, the Hobbs post office opened, with James Hobbs as the first postmaster. When James Isaac Hobbs (1852–1923) established a homestead and named the settlement. Hobbs is the principal city of the Hobbs, New Mexico micropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Lea County. Its population was 40,508 at the 2020 census, increasing from 34,122 in 2010.

It's not your normal good-times-roll casino.Hobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. Just be aware of what you are getting into. Not saying you can't have a good time here. No drinks of any kind on the casino floor (including no water). Some other oddities: Children in the bar with tons of people smoking (no rules about that). 'You are impaired and can't come in.' Ok, so we called a cab and went back to hotel. 'Have you had any alcohol?' Yes, we have. The attendant (yes, there are guards at the entrance to the casino) sez, 'Have you been in the restaurant? ' Yes. We order a pizza and consume three beers each over the course of 90 minutes. We walk past the casino and into the restaurant/bar to have some dinner before gambling. After about 20 minutes, you start to acclimate to the smell. You walk in and - OH NO - the cigarette smell is overwhelming.

We took a cab from our hotel so we could enjoy the casino and some drinks. I am from Texas and was in Hobbs for two days, so I look at this place with fresh eyes.

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