Historical Marker
Lovington
Lovington, Lea County · New Mexico
The town nearly got a blunter name. Robert Florence Love came out from Palo Pinto County, Texas, in 1890 to work the INK-Bar and Mallet ranches, built a herd of his own and filed his homestead here in 1903. When he deeded land for a townsite, a partner suggested calling it Love; he wanted something softer, and the post office opened as Lovington in September 1908. Isolated as it was, it became seat of the new Lea County in 1917. Oil struck in 1928 changed little until the Denton pool, nine miles northeast, came in around 1950.
What the plaque says
Official Scenic Historic Marker Lovington Population 9,727 - Elevation 3,900 Lovington is named after Robert Florence Love, who founded the town on his homestead in 1908. It was a farming and ranching community until the discovery of the Denton pool after World War II turned into an oil town. It is the county seat of Lea County.
Where it stands
32.91189, -103.32893 · Directions
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