Deming, New Mexico

History

The city, founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1902, was an important port of entry on the US-Mexican border until the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. A nickname was given to the city at the time of its founding, "New Chicago." It was expected that with the surge of railroad usage, that the city would grow drastically and resemble Chicago, Illinois.

Deming is named after Mary Ann Deming Crocker, wife of Charles Crocker, one of The Big Four of the railroad industry. The Silver Spike was driven here in 1881 to commemorate the meeting of the Southern Pacific with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads. This was the second transcontinental railroad to be completed in the United States.

There are numerous ancient Native American sites around Deming. The Mimbres and Casas Grandes cultures made pottery of remarkable quality, and the Deming area is rich in native pottery artifacts, as well as beads, stone implements, stone carvings, graves, etc. The artifacts have since then been deported to Mexico, where they are now on display at multiple museums.

Geography

Deming is centered at 32°15′40″N 107°45′21″W (32.261137, −107.755857), in the Basin and Range Province.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.2 km²), all land. The city is surrounded by land that appears flat, with wide rubble aprons around the nearby mountains and imperceptible grades in various directions.

The Mimbres River floods the Deming area once a decade or so, in periods of unusually heavy rainfall in the Cooke's Range and Black Range to the north.

Deming and its surrounding area is underlain by an aquifer of good-quality water. The aquifer is slowly recharged primarily by water from the mountains to the north. The water usually has a high sulfur content.

In the late 1960s, Select Western Lands Inc. ran full-page advertisements for land in Deming in The Saturday Evening Post. The ads proclaimed "Your Own Ranchette Only $299, Only $5 a Month", for a half-acre. Up to 2 acres (0.81 ha) were offered, those for "$1196. Only $15 a month."

Climate

Deming is located within the Upper Chihuahuan Desert climate zone. The climate is dry, hot, and breezy. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 °F (37.8 °C), but the altitude (4300 ft / 1310 m) and dry air sometimes make summer days more comfortable than one would expect given the high temperature.

Most precipitation occurs as thunderstorms and showers during the July–September monsoon period. Minor flooding sometimes occurs over large areas of flat ground. There are periods lasting from 5 to 20 years of relatively wet or dry years. Springtime is often windy, and dust storms can be severe—occasionally lasting for days. Snow is likely to fall in winter, but usually melts in a day or two. Temperatures in winter are sometimes below freezing at night, but winter days are generally mild and sunny.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,116 people, 5,267 households, and 3,628 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,512.0 people per square mile (583.5/km²). There were 6,192 housing units at an average density of 663.2 per square mile (256.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.66% White, 1.37% Native American, 1.23% African American, 0.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 24.19% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. 64.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 5,267 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city, the population was: 30.9% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,081, and the median income for a family was $23,030. Males had a median income of $25,379 versus $16,462 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,943. About 28.5% of families and 32.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.4% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Deming's economy is based on transportation, real estate, agriculture, energy, retirement, tourism, and the United States Department of Homeland Security. United States Border Patrol vehicles comprise a large fraction of Deming area road traffic.

Deming is the only major stop on Interstate 10 between Lordsburg, 60 miles (97 km) west, and Las Cruces, 60 miles (97 km) east. Deming is also the closest major town to Silver City, 50 miles (80 km) north, and it provides access to Chihuahua, Mexico, via the village of Columbus, New Mexico, 30 miles (48 km) to the south. Deming also sits astride one of the major railroad lines linking the East Coast with the West Coast. (via the Southern Route)

In 2006, this city's role in American homeland security expanded. Deming's industrial park became the home of a Border Patrol training center, a 10-acre (4.0 ha) forward operating base named Border Wolf that supported Operation Jump Start. These temporary buildings at the airport have since been disassembled and removed.

Literature

Movies and television

Since 1953, several motion pictures have been filmed in Deming:

Transportation

Airports

Major highways

Train

Attractions

The Deming Luna Mimbres museum, housed in the historic Deming Armory (1916) and Customs House, features a collection of Mimbres Indian painted pottery, historic period-furnished rooms in the Seaman Fields House, an antique auto collection, a restored Harvey House restaurant, a doll collection, and a geological section.

Nearby are City of Rocks State Park, with volcanic rock formations, and Rockhound State Park, offering mineral and rock collecting.

The Great American Duck Race is held every year on the third weekend of August. It features wet and dry duck race tracks, a hot air balloon show, a Tournament of Ducks Parade, a carnival, and a variety of vendors setting up their wares in the Courthouse Square and surrounding property.

Deming has two wineries. St. Clair Winery is New Mexico's largest winery. The Luna Rossa Winery is a local estate winery that produces all of its wines with varieties grown on their own vineyards.

Education

Residents attend schools in the Deming Public Schools.

Notable people

Deming is the birthplace of:

George Scarborough (October 2, 1859 – April 5, 1900) was a cowboy, and lawman who lived during the time of the Wild West. He is best known for having killed outlaw John Selman, killer of John Wesley Hardin, and for his partnership with lawman Jeff Milton, with the pair bringing down several outlaws during their time together.

Current residents include:

Police controversy

On January 2, 2013, Deming officers Bobby Orosco and Robert Chavez pulled over David W. Eckert for a rolling stop. Based on claim of "clenched buttocks," police obtained a search warrant and executed multiple cavity searches, surgeries and several other medical procedures on the driver. No drugs were found, and the driver was sent a bill for the procedures performed by Gila Regional Medical Center located in Silver City. In January, 2014, the lawsuit with Hidalgo County and the city of Deming was settled for a total of $1.6 million.