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{{Short description|City in the United States}} {{Redirect|Tucumcari}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Tucumcari, New Mexico |settlement_type = [[City]] |nickname = |motto = |image_skyline = Quay County Courthouse.jpg |image_caption = Quay County Courthouse in 2008 |image_flag = |image_seal = Tucumcari logo.jpg |image_map = Quay_County_New_Mexico_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Tucumcari_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location of Tucumcari in [[New Mexico]] |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = | pushpin_map = New Mexico#USA | pushpin_label = Tucumcari | pushpin_map_caption = Location in New Mexico##Location in the United States | pushpin_relief = yes | subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] |subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in New Mexico|County]] |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_name1 = [[New Mexico]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Quay County, New Mexico|Quay]] |government_type = |leader_title = [[Mayor]] |leader_name = Micheal Cherry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoftucumcari.com/commissioners_and_their_districts/index.php |access-date=2024-09-30 |title=Commissioners and Their Districts}}</ref> |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1901 |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web |title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory |url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='35'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref> |area_total_sq_mi = 9.51 |area_total_km2 = 24.63 |area_land_sq_mi = 9.51 |area_land_km2 = 24.62 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 |area_water_km2 = 0.00 |population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] |population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/> |population_total = 5278 |population_metro = |population_density_km2 = 214.34 |population_density_sq_mi = 555.17 |timezone = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]] |utc_offset = −7 |timezone_DST = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]] |utc_offset_DST = −6 |coordinates = {{Coord|35|10|12|N|103|43|32|W|region:US-NM_type:city|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 4032 |postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] |postal_code = 88401 |area_code = [[Area code 575|575]] |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] |blank_info = 35-79910 |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 2412105<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412105}}</ref> |website = [http://www.cityoftucumcari.com City Website] |footnotes = }} '''Tucumcari''' ({{IPAc-en|'|t|u:|k|@|m|,|k|aer|i:}}; {{respell|TOO|cum|carry}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Quay County, New Mexico|Quay County]], [[New Mexico]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 5,278 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/tucumcaricitynewmexico,US/PST045221 |access-date=2022-05-28 |title=QuickFacts Tucumcari city, New Mexico}}</ref> Tucumcari was founded in 1901, two years before Quay County was established.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Tucumcari |url=https://www.visittucumcarinm.com/about |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Visit Tucumcari |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Quay County {{!}} NM Counties |url=https://www.nmcounties.org/counties/quay-county/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=en-US}}</ref> ==History== [[File:New Mexico - Silver City through Zuni Buttes - NARA - 68144891 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Tucumcari in 1929]] In 1901, the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]] built a construction camp in the western portion of modern-day Quay County. Originally called Ragtown, the camp became known as "Six Shooter Siding", due to numerous gunfights. Its first formal name, Douglas, was used only for a short time.<ref name="name">{{cite web|title=Tucumcari|publisher=New Mexico Office of the State Historian|url=http://www.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails_docs.php?fileID=391|access-date=2012-11-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415153024/http://www.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails_docs.php?fileID=391|archive-date=2013-04-15}}</ref> After it grew into a permanent settlement, it was renamed Tucumcari in 1908. The name was taken from [[Tucumcari Mountain]], which is situated near the community.<ref>{{cite web|title=Photo Guide:T|publisher=Southwest Collection Library|url=http://www.swco.ttu.edu/Guide/Photo/Tph.htm|access-date=2008-09-18}}</ref> The origin of the mountain's name is uncertain; it may have been derived from the [[Comanche]] word ''tʉkamʉkarʉ'', which means "ambush".<ref>Lila Wistrand-Robinson & James Armagost. ''Comanche Dictionary and Grammar'', 2nd edition (2012, Summer Institute of Linguistics).</ref> A 1777 burial record mentions a Comanche woman and her child captured in a battle at Cuchuncari, which is believed to be an early version of the name Tucumcari.<ref name="name" /><ref>"Cuchuncari", however, is from Old Comanche ''kuhtsunkarɨ'' 'buffalo sitting'.</ref> A [[False etymology|folk etymology]] for the town name claims that a Comanche saw a [[brakeman]] carrying a lantern and exclaimed "''tukaʔ manoori!'', carry the light!", which the brakeman heard as "''tukama'' carry".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gelo |first1=Daniel J. |title="Comanche Land and Ever Has Been ": A Native Geography of the Nineteenth-Century Comancheria |journal=The Southwestern Historical Quarterly |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |date=January 2000 |volume=103 |issue=3 |pages=273–307 |jstor=30239220}}</ref> In December 1951, a water storage tank collapsed in the city. Four were killed and numerous buildings were destroyed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Barnhart|first1=Charles E.|last2=May|first2=Marvin C.|last3=Wager-Smith|first3=D. R. W.|last4=Bailey|first4=Arthur P.|last5=Hill|first5=H. O.|last6=Greenberg|first6=S. A.|date=1952|title=The Tucumcari Tank Failure: New Mexico Society of Professional Engineers [with Discussion]|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41236514|journal=Journal (American Water Works Association)|volume=44|issue=5|pages=435–441|doi=10.1002/j.1551-8833.1952.tb15382.x|jstor=41236514|issn=0003-150X}}</ref> In 2014, a series of suspicious fires destroyed abandoned buildings, including the Tucumcari Motel, Payless Motel, and a house in the 500 block of North Fourth Street. A former Tucumcari Police Department officer and several others were charged with arson.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://qcsunonline.com/2014/09/03/payless-motel-abandoned-house-destroyed-by-fire/ |title=Payless Inn, abandoned house destroyed by fire |access-date=2014-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021200341/http://qcsunonline.com/2014/09/03/payless-motel-abandoned-house-destroyed-by-fire/ |archive-date=2014-10-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.qcsunonline.com/2014/10/10/former-tucumcari-police-officer-target-of-state-police-investigation/ |title=Former Tucumcari police officer target of state police investigation |access-date=2014-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015044318/http://www.qcsunonline.com/2014/10/10/former-tucumcari-police-officer-target-of-state-police-investigation/ |archive-date=2014-10-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.qcsunonline.com/2014/09/09/fires-destroy-2-abandoned-tucumcari-motels/ |title=Fires destroy 2 abandoned Tucumcari motels |access-date=2014-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014160905/http://www.qcsunonline.com/2014/09/09/fires-destroy-2-abandoned-tucumcari-motels/ |archive-date=2014-10-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{out of date|date=April 2025}} The town formerly hosted an [[air show]] each year. The show held on October 4, 2006, was canceled after one hour when a single-engine plane crashed, resulting in the pilot's death.<ref>[http://www.kvii.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=18603 Fatal accident at air show : News : KVII<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928040317/http://www.kvii.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=18603 |date=2007-09-28 }}</ref> ===Former railroad transit point=== Tucumcari until the mid-twentieth century was a junction for transcontinental train service. The [[Rock Island Railroad]] ran pool train operations with the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]] (originally the [[El Paso and Northeastern Railway]]), with transfers at the station (for the Tucumcari-Los Angeles leg of the trip). The ''[[Choctaw Rocket]]'' (Memphis-Little Rock-Tucumcari-El Paso-Los Angeles) made the switch there (for the coach cars). The ''[[Golden State (train)|Golden State]]'' (Chicago-Kansas City-Topeka-Tucumcari-El Paso-Los Angeles) ran continuously through the town.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} ===Cattle ranches=== * [[Bell Ranch]] - created from a land grant in 1824 and now one of the largest ranches in the United States * [[T4 Cattle Company]] - founded in 1902 and continues to be a family run enterprise, one of the country's largest ranches ==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|19.6|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|19.5|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} is land and 0.13% is water. ===Climate=== Tucumcari has a [[Semi-arid climate|cool semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk''), characterized by cool winters and hot summers. Rainfall is relatively low except during the summer months, when thunderstorms associated with the [[North American Monsoon|North American monsoon]] can bring locally heavy downpours. Snowfall is generally light, with an average of {{convert|14.9|in|m|2}}. Due to the frequency of low humidity, wide [[Diurnal temperature variation|daily]] temperature variations are normal. The record high temperature at Tucumcari was {{convert|111|F|C}} on June 11, 2022, and the record low temperature {{convert|-22|F|C}} on January 13, 1963. The hottest monthly mean maximum has been {{convert|100.5|F|C|1}} in July 2011 and the coldest mean minimum {{convert|12.4|F|C|1}} in January 1963, although the coldest month by mean maximum was January 1949, with a mean high of {{convert|38.6|F|C|1|disp=or}}.<ref name=NOWData /> The wettest calendar year has been 1941, with {{convert|34.94|in|mm|1}} and the driest, 1934, with {{convert|6.13|in|mm|1}}. The most rainfall in one month was {{convert|11.19|in|mm|1}} in July 1950. The most rainfall in 24 hours was {{convert|4.41|in|mm|1}} on June 21, 1971. The most snowfall in one year was {{convert|51.2|in|m|2}}, from July 1911 to June 1912. The most snowfall in one month was {{convert|30.0|in|m|2}}, in February 1912.<ref name=NOWData /> {{Weather box|width=auto |location = Tucumcari, New Mexico, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1904–present |single line = Yes |Jan record high F = 80 |Feb record high F = 87 |Mar record high F = 92 |Apr record high F = 97 |May record high F = 103 |Jun record high F = 111 |Jul record high F = 110 |Aug record high F = 108 |Sep record high F = 105 |Oct record high F = 97 |Nov record high F = 90 |Dec record high F = 82 |year record high F = |Jan avg record high F = 72.1 |Feb avg record high F = 76.9 |Mar avg record high F = 84.4 |Apr avg record high F = 89.3 |May avg record high F = 95.8 |Jun avg record high F = 103.5 |Jul avg record high F = 103.8 |Aug avg record high F = 101.4 |Sep avg record high F = 98.0 |Oct avg record high F = 90.8 |Nov avg record high F = 81.1 |Dec avg record high F = 73.2 |year avg record high F = 105.7 |Jan high F = 53.4 |Feb high F = 57.9 |Mar high F = 65.7 |Apr high F = 73.3 |May high F = 82.0 |Jun high F = 92.0 |Jul high F = 94.5 |Aug high F = 92.3 |Sep high F = 85.5 |Oct high F = 74.6 |Nov high F = 62.6 |Dec high F = 53.4 |year high F = |Jan mean F = 39.0 |Feb mean F = 43.0 |Mar mean F = 50.2 |Apr mean F = 57.7 |May mean F = 66.9 |Jun mean F = 76.7 |Jul mean F = 80.1 |Aug mean F = 78.1 |Sep mean F = 71.2 |Oct mean F = 59.4 |Nov mean F = 48.1 |Dec mean F = 39.5 |year mean F = |Jan low F = 24.7 |Feb low F = 28.1 |Mar low F = 34.8 |Apr low F = 42.2 |May low F = 51.8 |Jun low F = 61.4 |Jul low F = 65.7 |Aug low F = 63.9 |Sep low F = 56.8 |Oct low F = 44.3 |Nov low F = 33.6 |Dec low F = 25.6 |year low F = |Jan avg record low F = 9.2 |Feb avg record low F = 12.0 |Mar avg record low F = 18.2 |Apr avg record low F = 27.6 |May avg record low F = 37.0 |Jun avg record low F = 50.4 |Jul avg record low F = 58.5 |Aug avg record low F = 56.8 |Sep avg record low F = 43.5 |Oct avg record low F = 28.1 |Nov avg record low F = 17.3 |Dec avg record low F = 8.7 |year avg record low F = 4.2 |Jan record low F = −22 |Feb record low F = −16 |Mar record low F = −3 |Apr record low F = 14 |May record low F = 25 |Jun record low F = 37 |Jul record low F = 52 |Aug record low F = 49 |Sep record low F = 30 |Oct record low F = 12 |Nov record low F = −2 |Dec record low F = −12 |year record low F = |Jan precipitation inch = 0.42 |Feb precipitation inch = 0.38 |Mar precipitation inch = 0.93 |Apr precipitation inch = 1.03 |May precipitation inch = 1.76 |Jun precipitation inch = 1.80 |Jul precipitation inch = 2.84 |Aug precipitation inch = 2.60 |Sep precipitation inch = 1.63 |Oct precipitation inch = 1.41 |Nov precipitation inch = 0.57 |Dec precipitation inch = 0.70 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 2.7 |Feb precipitation days = 3.0 |Mar precipitation days = 3.9 |Apr precipitation days = 4.7 |May precipitation days = 5.9 |Jun precipitation days = 6.4 |Jul precipitation days = 8.9 |Aug precipitation days = 9.4 |Sep precipitation days = 5.6 |Oct precipitation days = 5.8 |Nov precipitation days = 3.3 |Dec precipitation days = 3.9 |Jan snow inch = 3.8 |Feb snow inch = 2.1 |Mar snow inch = 1.5 |Apr snow inch = 0.4 |May snow inch = 0.0 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 0.0 |Oct snow inch = 0.8 |Nov snow inch = 2.2 |Dec snow inch = 4.1 |year snow inch = |unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 1.6 |Feb snow days = 1.4 |Mar snow days = 1.0 |Apr snow days = 0.3 |May snow days = 0.0 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.3 |Nov snow days = 1.2 |Dec snow days = 2.2 |year snow days = 8.0 |Jan snow depth inch = 3.7 |Feb snow depth inch = 1.9 |Mar snow depth inch = 1.8 |Apr snow depth inch = 0.8 |May snow depth inch = 0.0 |Jun snow depth inch = 0.0 |Jul snow depth inch = 0.0 |Aug snow depth inch = 0.0 |Sep snow depth inch = 0.0 |Oct snow depth inch = 0.4 |Nov snow depth inch = 1.9 |Dec snow depth inch = 3.6 |year snow depth inch = 5.8 |source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00299156&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access - Station: Tucumcati 4NE, NM |access-date = November 1, 2022 }} </ref> |source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData> {{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=abq |publisher = National Weather Service |title = NOAA Online Weather Data - NWS Albuquerque |access-date = November 1, 2022 }} </ref> }} ==Demographics== {{US Census population |1910= 2526 |1920= 3117 |1930= 4143 |1940= 6194 |1950= 8419 |1960= 8143 |1970= 7189 |1980= 6765 |1990= 6831 |2000= 5989 |2010= 5363 |2020= 5278 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> <ref name="2020 census"/><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:35&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref> }} [[File:TucMt.jpg|thumb|[[Tucumcari Mountain]], 2007]] [[File:Tucumcari Grain Elevator 2011.jpg|thumb|Attebury Grain Elevator, 2011]] As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,989 people, 2,489 households, and 1,607 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|793.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,065 housing units at an average density of {{convert|406.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.29% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.20% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.22% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 17.10% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.94% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 51.41% of the population. There were 2,489 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $22,560, and the median income for a family was $27,468. Males had a median income of $25,342 versus $18,568 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,786. About 19.1% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over. ==Arts and culture== The buildings formerly at Metropolitan Park (locally known as "Five Mile Park" because it is located about five miles (8 km) outside of town) were designed by Trent Thomas, adapted from his design of [[La Fonda Hotel]] in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]]. The park once featured New Mexico's largest outdoor swimming pool. Owing to deterioration, Metropolitan Park was named to the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance's list of Most Endangered for 2003.<ref>[http://www.nmheritage.org/endangered/2003.php?ID=75 NMHeritage.org: Resources: NM Preservation Resources<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212132104/http://www.nmheritage.org/endangered/2003.php?ID=75 |date=2007-02-12 }}</ref> In 2010, the park's main building caught fire and burnt to the ground. The city of Tucumcari razed the site weeks after the fire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qcsunonline.com/articles/playground-8525-relocate-officials.html |title=Officials to relocate playground equipment | playground, relocate, officials - News - Quay County Sun |access-date=2011-01-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715133858/http://www.qcsunonline.com/articles/playground-8525-relocate-officials.html |archive-date=2011-07-15 }}</ref> ===Tucumcari Tonite, Route 66, and tourism=== [[File:Blue Swallow Motel from SW 2.JPG|thumb|[[Blue Swallow Motel]], 2012]] [[File:Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico.jpg|thumb|Route 66 in Tucumcari, 2020]] For many years, Tucumcari has been a popular stop for cross-country travelers on [[Interstate 40]] (formerly [[U.S. Route 66]] in the area). It is the largest city on the highway between [[Amarillo, Texas]] and [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]. [[Billboard]]s reading "TUCUMCARI TONITE!" placed along I-40 for many miles to the east and west of the town invite motorists to stay the night in one of Tucumcari's "2000" (later changed to "1200") motel rooms. The "TUCUMCARI TONITE!" campaign was abandoned in favor of a campaign which declared Tucumcari, "Gateway to the West". However, on June 24, 2008, Tucumcari's Lodgers Tax Advisory Board, the group responsible for the billboards, voted to return to the previous slogan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2008/06/25/abqnewsseeker/715am-tucumcari-tonite-returns-to-billboards.html|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|title='Tucumcari Tonite' Returns to Billboards|date=June 25, 2008}}</ref> Old U.S. Route 66 runs through the heart of Tucumcari via Route 66 Boulevard, which was previously known as Tucumcari Boulevard from 1970 to 2003 and as Gaynell Avenue before that time. Numerous businesses, including gasoline service stations, restaurants, and motels, were constructed to accommodate tourists as they traveled through on the Mother Road. A large number of the vintage motels and restaurants built in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s are still in business despite intense competition from newer chain motels and restaurants in the vicinity of Interstate 40, which passes through the city's outskirts on the south. Tucumcari is the home of over 50 murals. Most were painted by artists Doug and Sharon Quarles and serve as a tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/new-mexico-couple-s-murals-helping-bring-tourists-to-their-town/1757746500|publisher=[[KRQE]]|title=New Mexico couple's murals helping bring tourists to their town|date=February 6, 2019|access-date=2019-02-07|archive-date=March 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321101915/https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/new-mexico-couple-s-murals-helping-bring-tourists-to-their-town/1757746500|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Downtown=== [[File:Tucumcari NM Train Station.jpg|thumb|right|Train station, 2008]] [[File:Sand Dorsey fire.jpg|thumb|right|The Federal Building (Sands-Dorsey Drug) burned on June 8, 2007.]] Most of Tucumcari's oldest buildings lie along or near Main Street in the Historic Downtown area. These include: * [[Tucumcari station|Rock Island-Southern Pacific Train Station]] (built 1926, restored 2011) * Odeon Theatre (built 1937, still operating) * Crescent Creamery (vacant) * Masonic Temple (still operating) * Princess Theater (under renovation) Also located in the downtown area are the concrete arches that once surrounded the Hotel Vorenburg, which was demolished in the 1970s after being damaged by fire. The Federal Building, commonly known as Sands-Dorsey Drug, was damaged by two fires before finally being demolished in 2015. The location is now a park.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sands-Dorsey building collapses under fire|work=Quay County Sun|url=http://qcsunonline.com/news/story-609420.html|date=2012-05-08|access-date=2012-05-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714172636/http://qcsunonline.com/news/story-609420.html|archive-date=2012-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=City acquires the Sands Dorsey building for demolition|work=Quay County Sun|url=http://www.qcsunonline.com/2015/07/28/city-acquires-the-sands-dorsey-building-for-demolition/|date=2015-07-28|access-date=2016-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701115644/http://www.qcsunonline.com/2015/07/28/city-acquires-the-sands-dorsey-building-for-demolition/|archive-date=2016-07-01|url-status=dead}}</ref> ==Education== It is a part of the [[Tucumcari Public Schools]] school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35037_quay/DC20SD_C35037.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Quay County, NM|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-07-12}}</ref> Schools in Tucumcari include: * Tucumcari Early Head Start and [[Head Start (education)|Head Start]] (non-public daycare and preschool) * Tucumcari Elementary School (public Pre-K through fifth grade) * Tucumcari Middle School (public sixth grade through eighth grade) * [[Tucumcari High School]] (public ninth grade through twelfth grade) Tertiary schools: * [[Mesalands Community College]] (community two-year institution of higher learning) ==Notable people== *[[Paul Brinegar]], an American character actor, was born in Tucumcari.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2nVQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2128%2C5738668 | title=Small Towns Have Produced Many Big Stars | work=The Milwaukee Sentinel | date=Nov 27, 1969 | access-date=22 May 2015 | author=Wilson, Earl | pages=A33 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> *[[Abel Cullum]], former [[List of KOTC champions|King of the Cage Flyweight Champion]] *[[Stan David]], a Tucumcari High School graduate, was a star safety for the [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech Red Raiders]] and played 16 NFL games for the [[Buffalo Bills]] in 1984.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/new_mexico/greatest | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030805051112/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/new_mexico/greatest/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 5, 2003 | work=CNN | title=SI.com - SI 50th - New Mexico - The 50 Greatest New Mexico Sports Figures - Wednesday July 09, 2003 04:11 PM}}</ref> *[[Tom Ketchum|Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum]] and his associates robbed a post office and store in Liberty, NM, in 1896. *[[Rex Maddaford]], a Tucumcari Public Schools faculty member, competed for the [[New Zealand]] team in the [[1968 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qcsunonline.com/engine.pl?station=quay&template=storyfull.html&id=1340 |title=Quay County Sun |access-date=2006-09-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419175344/http://www.qcsunonline.com/engine.pl?station=quay&template=storyfull.html&id=1340 |archive-date=2012-04-19 }}</ref> *[[Bob Scobey]], a musician, was born in Tucumcari in 1916.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=600911|title=Yahoo!|website=www.mmguide.musicmatch.com|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-date=May 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507072808/http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=600911|url-status=dead}}</ref> == In popular culture == {{see also|List of songs about cities#Tucumcari, New Mexico}} * Many of the scenes in the television show ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1959–1966) starring [[Clint Eastwood]] were shot in the Tucumcari area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jcgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,869242,00.html |title=Domain Inquiry |publisher=jcgi.pathfinder.com |access-date=3 April 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Paul Brinegar]], who played Wishbone, was from Tucumcari. * In the movie, ''[[For a Few Dollars More]]'' by Sergio Leone featuring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef, the town of Tucumcari, is mentioned repeatedly. Filming actually occurred in [[Tabernas]], [[Almería]], Spain. * In the novel series by David Stone featuring Micah Dalton, the lead character was raised in Tucumcari.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mp9CEiBSL1MC&q=tucumcari Google Books: ''The Echelon Vendetta'']</ref> * Scenes for the film ''[[Hell or High Water (film)|Hell or High Water]]'' were filmed in Tucumcari on June 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qcsunonline.com/2015/06/02/hollywood-comes-to-tucumcari/ |title=Hollywood comes to Tucumcari |access-date=2016-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510144017/http://www.qcsunonline.com/2015/06/02/hollywood-comes-to-tucumcari/ |archive-date=2016-05-10 }}</ref> * Tucumcari was featured in the television series ''[[Better Call Saul]]''. ==See also== * [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Quay County, New Mexico]] ** [[Baca–Goodman House]] (former listing) ** [[Blue Swallow Motel]] ** [[Cactus Motor Lodge]] (structure no longer exists) ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Commons|Tucumcari, New Mexico}} {{wikivoyage}} * [http://www.cityoftucumcari.com City of Tucumcari] * [http://www.tucumcarinm.com Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce] {{Quay County, New Mexico}} {{New Mexico}} {{Wild West}} {{New Mexico county seats}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Tucumcari, New Mexico| ]] [[Category:Cities in New Mexico]] [[Category:County seats in New Mexico]] [[Category:Cities in Quay County, New Mexico]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1901]]
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