Located in the southeast corner of the state, Lovington, New Mexico boasts a popular seasonal Farmer's Market held Saturdays on Main Street, and is also home to a number of outdoor festivals throughout the year.
With a population of 11,009 (2010 census), Lovington, New Mexico qualifies for small town status; but even if the population totaled three times this amount, Lovington would somehow still represent the best in small town living
Located in the southeast corner of the state, Lovington, New Mexico boasts a popular seasonal Farmer's Market held Saturdays on Main Street, and is also home to a number of outdoor festivals throughout the year.
With a population of 11,009 (2010 census), Lovington, New Mexico qualifies for small town status; but even if the population totaled three times this amount, Lovington would somehow still represent the best in small town living. Along with this Mayberry vibe, however, Lovington maintains a healthy business community and has a strong corporate presence. Industrial manufacturer MRC Global has a sales and support location in Lovington, and it's also the home of the Wildcat Wind Project, an eco-friendly power initiative from energy giant Exelon. In addition, oilfield service provider Gandy Corporation has a location in Lovington, as does Yates Petroleum. Walking along Main Street, however, you'd never notice the hum of corporate activity in the air; instead, you might keep your eyes open for a stray Blue-Footed Booby (an unusual marine bird that occasionally frequents the area), or you might stop somewhere for a cup of coffee and a chance to catch up with your neighbors. It's that kind of town.
If you're looking for rental properties in Lovington, you'll find apartments and rental housing at a variety of sizes and price points for every lifestyle. It's a pretty small town, however, and selections in some neighborhoods can be limited, so just be aware of this when it comes time to make a decision. If you find a good deal, you might want to grab it quickly before someone else does. There isn't a renter's season in Lovington, so you can expect prices and availability to be stable year round. Likewise, thanks to the mild climate you don't have to worry about contending with winter weather, so you can plan your move for any time of the year.
There aren't a lot of rentals advertised nationally online in this area, but you're sure to have much better luck with the local newspapers. When it comes to finding a place, however, the best thing you can do is to get in the car, drive around and get to know the neighborhoods. By doing this, you can narrow down your search and also increase your chances of locating a few unadvertised rentals along the way.
Lovington is too small a town to have real neighborhoods, but there are a few residential sections that are especially popular with renters and home buyers. Here are some areas to keep in mind during your search:
Cottonwood / West Cottonwood Avenue: This bike-friendly residential area always has a number of lovely ranch-style and multi-level homes for sale, and it's close to area shops, restaurants and service providers.
Tatum Highway: Located conveniently close to businesses (including Yates Petroleum), this part of town always features a number of homes, as well as lots, for sale. While you're looking, you may luck into a rental home here.
West Brian Urlacher: Named after the NFL player and resident, this is a good place to search if you're looking for a house rental. It's also close to area shops and is bike / pedestrian friendly.
West Polk Avenue: If you're looking for an apartment complex, this is a great place to start. You'll find apartments at a variety of prices in this bike-friendly neighborhood, all close to area restaurants and shops.
Lovington has one of those classic southwestern climates; days are hot and sunny, and nights are cool. Don't be surprised to see summertime temps plummet from the 90s during the day to the 60s at night and you'll be glad of the chill in the air after experiencing that hot desert sun. Karma rolls back around and evens things out in the wintertime, when you can enjoy highs in the upper 60s while the rest of the country is freezing.
If you're planning to live in Lovington, you'll want to get yourself some wheels of some sort. The good news is that this is a bike-friendly town, so a bike, adult trike (great for hauling!) or scooter can get you just about anywhere locally if you don't want to invest in a car. For longer treks, the Lea County Regional Airport (known to the locals as HOB) is only half an hour away, and offers twice daily commercial service to a number of nearby cities.
Whoever said that there's nothing to do in a small town? Lovington may not be a bustling metropolis, but there's still plenty to do here. If you're a history buff, you'll fall in love with the Lea County Museum (103 S Love St), Lovington's premier historic site. Located in a former hotel, it displays artifacts and exhibits relating to the original settlers who founded the town in 1908. The museum also hosts the Lea County Athletic Hall of Fame, whose inductees include former NFL linebacker Brian Urlacher, a resident of the town.
Just because you're living in a small town, there are still plenty of places where you can spend your money, thanks to Town and Country Shopping Center (US Highway 82) and Beall's (938 W Avenue D). You'll also want to check out the stores on Main Street, where you'll find a wealth of antique shops and gift and clothing boutiques. Speaking of Main Street, don't forget to visit the famous Farmer's Market, where you can load up on fresh local produce and crafts every Saturday during the spring and summer months.
After all that shopping, take a walk over to Chaparral Park (1005 S Commercial St), where you can enjoy pristine ponds, beautiful green walks and a variety of playing fields and it's also a great place for bird watching. New Mexico is something of a golfer's paradise for those who prefer playing in the hot, dry desert air, and locals take advantage of the climate by joining the Lovington Country Club (1227 S Country Club Dr), where you'll find a beautifully-landscaped, 18-hole course designed by Warren Cantrell.
Lovington may not have what you'd call a nightlife, but don't expect the sidewalks to be rolled up at sundown, because there's a great selection of restaurants and bars to enjoy. If you're a true carnivore at heart, check out Pioneer Steak House (2510 S Main Ave), home of a fantastic barbecue buffet that includes just about everything you can think of, including coconut cake and peach cobbler. There's also a gigantic fish fry buffet on Friday nights. If you're looking for tasty classic comfort food, you'll want to visit Burger Builders (806 W Avenue D), where the yummy breakfast burritos will fill you up for the rest of the day. Another great place for classic American cuisine is the Ranch House Restaurant (1318 S Main Ave), where you can get delectables such as chicken fried steak smothered in gravy.
After a day in the hot New Mexico sun, you're going to want to quench your thirst with a brew or three, so check out the Border Bar (1237 E US Highway 82), a longtime locals' hangout with a great selection of beers. For a fantastic sports bar, take a half hour drive to nearby Hobbs, where you'll find Babe's Sports Page Bar and Grill (5024 N Lovington Hwy), which offers plenty of screens, super portions of great barroom food and great drink specials.
If coffee's more your thing, you can get a great cup of java at the Cornerstone Coffeehouse (111 N Main), where, instead of snippy urban types (think "Frasier") you'll meet nice, friendly down home folks who won't sneer at you if you don't pronounce "caf marocchino" correctly. You'll find a similar friendly atmosphere at The Muddy Moose Coffee House (1601 S Donna Rd).
In a town like Lovington, you can be sure of some pretty funky festivals and local traditions, such as the New Mexico Texas Challenge Marathon, a 5k and 10k run in April that fosters a bit of competition between the two states. If you really want to get into the groove here, however, show up for the annual Beautification Day, held every April on Main Street. You'll not only get a chance to help clean up your new home town; you'll also meet a lot of interesting locals. If your idea of a great festival is to eat, drink beer and listen to live music, then you'll want to check out Smokin' on the Plaza, held at Central Plaza (100 North Main Avenue) every June. This barbecue blow-out features some of the best sauce-slathered meat in the region, as well as a top-notch roster of regional musicians and a motorcycle poker run and rally. There's also the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, a fabulous, authentic county fair that's right out of a 1950s movie. Held every August at the Lea County Fairgrounds, it also features a great championship rodeo.
With so much going on, Lovington has a cheerful, best-of-both-worlds vibe that attracts a lot of people. For folks who want small town America, it's there; but for those who enjoy living in a town that has a vital presence in contemporary industry well, it's there as well. The two worlds coexist here, but the friendly, welcoming Americana vibe predominates and that's always a good thing when you're looking for a place to live.
