In Roswell, What Does ‘UFO’ Stand For?

In this charming New Mexico city, it means "Undeniably Fabulous Offerings," which is what you get everyday when you move to Roswell.

By Amy Antonation on December 11, 2023

Juliana Halvorson

Thanks to the flying saucer craze of 1947, Roswell may be the most famous city in the Land of Enchantment. But there’s way more to the region than conspiracy theories and little green men. This city offers an impressive economic landscape, scenic neighborhoods, and an attractive way of life for those who are thinking about making the move to Roswell and Chaves County.

Rich Culture 

“Our art bubble surpasses the quality and quantity of probably any city our size,” says Nancy Fleming, director of the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Several organizations in Roswell drive art initiatives. There’s the Roswell Museum and Art Center, which was founded in 1935 and was the only museum in town when the Roswell Artist-in-Residence (RAiR) Program launched in 1967, awarding fellowships to artists to live and work in the area. In 1994, the Anderson Museum opened to the public as a permanent home for work by RAiR artists. 

Nathan Lambrecht

Add all the programming that both museums do and some of the newer art efforts related to RAiR artists (like RAiR alum Miranda Howe’s Bone Springs Art Space) and there’s artsy fun for everyone. The Anderson hosts yearly art exhibits in concert with the Roswell Independent School District and teams up with local artists to put on a Valentine-making event every February. It also offers plenty of free events.

“(Museum founder Donald B. Anderson) bought the museum a concert grand Bösendorfer piano, so we try to offer free music concerts at least twice a year. … We have offered free cultural events to the community from flamenco to small theatrical performances,” Fleming says. 

Those looking for the best of local art and music have plenty of options in addition to the Anderson. Fleming recommends the Main Street Arts co-op art gallery, the gift shops at Bone Springs Art Space, the Miniatures & Curious Collections Museum and Roswell Museum. 

Good Music, Food and Fun

If you move to Roswell, get ready to enjoy plenty of great entertainment. As for live music, she says, many venues offer regularly scheduled events, such as Pecos Flavors Winery, Peppers Grill and Bar, The Liberty, Farley’s and Antigua restaurants.

“All one has to do is start participating, get on mailing lists and pay attention, and you will not be bored!” Fleming says. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just under 60% of Chaves County’s population is Hispanic or Latino; that means culturally rich cuisine, small businesses and especially events. 

For instance, there’s the Chile Cheese Festival in late September that includes green chile stew, pecan pie and ice cream-eating contests. Local businesses also sponsor community celebrations like Cinco de Mayo and Día de los Muertos. 

“In a small town like Roswell, it is not hard to participate in just about everything that happens – it’s wonderfully diverse,” Fleming says. 

Bullock’s Jewelry

Family-Friendly Factors 

Kyle Bullock of Bullock’s Jewelry, a family-owned jeweler that’s been doing business in the city for nearly a century, describes Roswell as “small but not tiny, large but not sprawling,” which is good news for locals on several fronts. 

People looking to move to Roswell and buy property will be pleased to know their money goes further in Chaves County, where the average home price is just $137,900; in Roswell, it’s only $143,000 (Zillow, August 2023). In Albuquerque and Santa Fe, houses can cost double or triple that amount. And getting to work is a breeze – the average commute time in the city is a mere 17 minutes. 

Move to Roswell and Launch a Career 

Andrea Moore, president and CEO of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce, says the city’s size as well as its major business sectors (agriculture, aerospace, tourism, cannabis and government) make it an ideal place to launching a variety of technical and vocational careers. 

“We understand we’re not a big metropolitan area,” Moore says. “We are not going to need a lot of lawyers, but we have people who want to work with their hands, like welders because of agribusiness, mechanics, both automotive and airplanes, doctors and nurses.” 

Bullock says few places in the country offer the opportunity to start a business, grow it and make as big of an impact on the community as Roswell. “Because of our size … you can build a career or business that will get noticed and have people there to support it,” he says. 

“If you spend time giving back to the community and striving for excellence, the Roswell community will rally behind you with overwhelming support.”