With a population of more than 50,000, Roswell has something to offer all of our special visitors, whether from this planet, or from a distant galaxy. For example, we have five amazing museums displaying everything from modern eclectic art to the recreation of crashed alien spaceships. Roswell is also home to the oldest established orchestra in New Mexico, The Roswell Symphony Orchestra. After a night out on the town, you can have a nice dinner in one of our 45 local restaurants and cafes.

In addition to cultural outings, the Roswell Parks & Recreation Department has activities designed for children up to the age of eighty-four. Like the out of doors? You can visit nearby Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Bottomless Lakes State Park.

From the galaxy’s largest annual UFO Festival, to the world’s biggest “Hike It & Spike It” 4-on-4 Charity Flag Football Tournament, Roswell has it all! Our downtown area offers seasonal cultural activities from the Piñata Fest in September to the Cinco De Mayo Festival in May. Roswell is also home to the Roswell annual livestock sale, leading the state in financial proceeds. Roswell has an over-abundance of year-round entertainment for the entire family.

This diverse community is rich in history forged from strong Hispanic and Anglo-Saxon settler traditions. The economy is varied and remains sturdy with an unemployment rate hovering just below 4.4%. The booming tourist, health care, and construction sectors of the economy grow larger each day -- attempting to keep up with the hefty influx of retirees, the new residential housing subdivisions, and the numerous commercial and industrial developments. The old reliable sectors of our economy remain oil and gas exploration, agriculture and dairy, manufacturing, and retail goods and services.

You don’t have to be from Mars to enjoy the International UFO Museum and Research Center. Nor do you have to be in the military to tour the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), one of the finest military educational institutions in the United States. NMMI is proud of its long list of famous graduates, such as : Conrad Hilton - Founder of Hilton Hotels; Norm Brinker - Founder of Chili’s; Sam Donaldson - ABC News Anchor; Samuel Marmaduke - Founder of Hasting’s; Tony Lama Jr. - Founder of Tony Lama Boots; Victor Lowns - Co-founder of Playboy Magazine; Owen Wilson - current Hollywood superstar; Clyde C. Snow - world famous forensic pathologist; scores of professional athletes like Roger Staubach - NFL Hall of Fame; and numerous Flag Officers from various branches of the United States Military. Roswell is also proud of the fact that the Eastern New Mexico University Roswell branch boasts more students than the main home campus in Portales, New Mexico.