Artesia, NM 15 Apartments for Rent

Artesia is the hometown of astronaut Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon. True story!

Artesia ended up being given the name it has today after artesian wells were discovered in the area, providing a steady water supply - a result of the natural geology in this part of New Mexico. The city was officially incorporated in 1905, but Artesia had been the name used for a few years before then. Over the course of the next 20 years or so, the underground water reserves served to make the city one that flourished with agriculture. Despite the water dwindling by the mid 1920s, it was the geology of the region that came to Artesia's rescue soon after, when oil reserves were found. New oil wells soon took over from the artesian ones, and the city has grown ever since. But enough about the city's past, on to the present! As of the 2000 census, the city had well over 10,500 inhabitants split over a total of 4,080 households.

Moving to Artesia

An apartment rental in Artesia is reasonably commonplace, and there are plenty of opportunities to find something suitable, no matter what your particular needs are. Furnished apartments can be found, if that is what you require, for example. There are a couple of Inns, a Best Western Hotel and an RV park where you can stay while you look for rental apartments.

Once you have found the right place, try not to conduct your move during the hot summer months, between June and August. This far south in the United States, the temperature can soar - even in early fall -- so take reasonable precautions against sunstroke if you do have to move when it is hot. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Always apply a good level of sunscreen and get up early so that you do any lifting before the sun gets too high in the sky. Artesia stands at an elevation well in excess of 3,000 feet, so check over your car's radiator, as well as its connecting hoses. This is especially advisable if you have hired a truck to help with the move. Bear in mind that these parts of a vehicle are liable to crack under the lower pressure of higher elevations.

Once you have moved in to the city, it is possible to obtain a new voter registration from the Eddy County clerk's office. However, you can kill two birds with one trip to the New Mexico Vehicle Division and get registered at the same time as you apply for a new driver's license.

Neighborhoods of Artesia

The city is laid out in a straightforward grid system, typical of this part of America. U.S. Route 285 runs north-south through the eastern side of the city and is known to locals as First Street (how original!). U.S. Route 82 (a.k.a.: Main Street) splits the city in two, running east-west. Artesia does not have any distinct neighborhoods that you could define easily. However, since the city is cut in two by Main Street, it is probably easier to talk about each side of that road. Main Street itself has more commercial outlets and shops on it than anywhere else in the city. This is a good place to start looking if you want to see one-bedroom apartments for rent.

Northern Artesia: The far northwest of the city, close to Artesia Country Club, has some leafy avenues to explore. Try the residential streets that sit on the corner of West Richey Avenue and North 26th Rural Street. City Park, just off West Gilchrist Street, and the smaller Guadalupe Park off Cannon Avenue, are both in the north part of the city.

Southern Artesia: The residential streets in the south side of the city have a slightly higher density. Much of the housing in this part of Artesia is made up of single-story dwellings. The largest of the city's parks, J-C Park, is located in the southwest. Just head down South 26th Street to find it. There's also a convenient Dollar General store located on South 13th Street, as well as a florist on West Dallas Avenue.

Living in Artesia

The Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center, which first opened in 1970, is a good place to start when it comes to getting a flavor of the area. It is located in the Moore-Ward cobblestone house, a unique piece of architecture for the city. If you're feeling artsy, Artesia boasts its own Arts Council, which puts on regular performances and exhibitions. If you thought that this part of New Mexico had a reputation for being a cultural backwater, then you might have to reconsider.

The city is blessed with plenty of choice when it comes to eateries. Local restaurants serve the city's populace but also draw in plenty of visitors from the surrounding areas. Meat eaters might love Pecos Diamond Steakhouse!, or the Ever Spring Chinese Buffet for an international flair. Jocks will be happy here, too! Sporting activities are well catered for within the city and it is possible to take part in softball, soccer, football, volleyball, tennis, golf and racquetball, if you like.