City of Tucumcari

City of Tucumcari – Quay County MISSION STATEMENT To deliver Excellent Customer Service to our customers through honesty, willingness, compassion, and integrity. VALUES Customer Service –We will provide to all, a friendly, timely, respectful and knowledgeable response. Honesty – We will be sincere and truthful in all actions we take — even when it is not something someone wants to hear. Willingness – We will be prepared to meet challenges with a desire to be helpful and take action. Compassion – We recognize the emotional state of others and will be sensitive to their needs — even if we can’t fulfill those needs. Integrity – We have strong moral principles and strive to do the right thing — even when it is not easy or popular.
HISTORY The City of Tucumcari is in eastern New Mexico, near the Texas state line. It is the seat of Quay County and is located about 60 miles northeast of Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Tucumcari is comprised of 9.5 square miles of land and is surrounded by sizable mesas, rolling hills, and open plains. Agriculture and food processing are supported by 55,000 acres of irrigated farmland and proximity to railroads and highways, most notably the Interstate 40 which is a major East-West transportation route. The site of Tucumcari was occupied for thousands of years before the official establishment of the town; some of the earliest evidence of civilization in North America has been found in this region. Before human life occurred, this region was the shoreline of a prehistoric sea as evidenced by dinosaur remains and other types of fossils. Early Anasazi people settled the region and sustained agriculture because of the soil and water access. Later, several nomadic tribes, including the Apache and Comanche, roamed this area. In 1901, speculation about railroad expansion led to the settlement that would become Tucumcari. The site known as “Ragtown” and later as “Six Shooter Siding” was established two years before Quay County’s establishment. The town was incorporated and renamed Tucumcari in 1908, making it one of the oldest municipalities in New Mexico. As a newly formed junction for the Rock Island and Southern Pacific Railroads, the small town quickly exploded. Tucumcari Union Station, which had been erected in 1908, was rebuilt in 1926 and welcomed travelers until 1968. Activity from the railroad supported hotels, restaurants, and bars. 1926 also featured the creation of one of the earliest cross-country highways, Route 66, which ran through the heart of Tucumcari. The highway suddenly ushered in a new type of traveler to town: the road tripper and the route filled up with neon signs, filling stations, and motels hoping to attract drivers. The federal interstate system began replacing these routes following World War II. Intended as a replacement for Route 66, Interstate 40 (I-40) was built as a replacement for Route 66 by the late 1960s, bypassed the City to the South. Today, Tucumcari remains a transportation hub for interstate freight drivers, and old Route 66 tourists and visitors.