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Tatum, New Mexico

5 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1970. It stands in the Tatum census division. It lies in ZIP code area 88267. The Survey maps it on the Tatum North quadrangle. 706 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,999 feet above sea level.

Tatum within Lea County

Population over time

3 figures

Tatum grew from 683 to 706 between 2000 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
2000683
2010798+115 (+17%)
2020706-92 (-12%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 5 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

21 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 21 fires within 5 miles of Tatum between 1993 and 2020, burning about 38,272 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Equipment and vehicle use9
Missing data/not specified/undetermined5
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Natural2
Debris and open burning1
Arson/incendiarism1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
22 August 2007Natural7,600 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionANGEL
2 August 2016Natural200 acresCapitan DistrictDUNCAN ROAD
10 August 2020Power generation/transmission/distribution3.5 acresCapitan District21-50390182X
25 July 2016Power generation/transmission/distribution35 acresCapitan DistrictFOX STREET
15 July 1998Missing data/not specified/undetermined150 acresNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionSTERLING
14 July 2016Equipment and vehicle use7.0 acresCapitan DistrictSARTIN
25 June 2015Power generation/transmission/distributionunder an acreNew Mexico State Forestry DivisionBLEDSOE 380
18 June 2018Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresCapitan District224

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Lea County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 12 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Tatum: 11 unknowns, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Crusher No. 2Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerSedimentary
State Hwy. Pit No. 58-123-SSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Hwy. Pit No. 58-125-FSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Tatum PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Un. Grav. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Un. Grav. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Un. Grav. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Un. Grav. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Un. Grav. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Un. Grav. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Every working recorded in Lea County

Storms near this place

60 of 94 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Tatum in 94 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 46 thunderstorm wind, 39 hail, 4 flash flood, 3 funnel cloud. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2024Thunderstorm WindTatum$100,000Lea County EM reported downed power lines and broken skylights from severe winds and hail in Tatum. Time is estimated from radar. Wind speeds and property damage costs are estimates.
April 2025HailTatum$50,000Reports of shattered windows caused by wind-driven golf ball sized hail in Tatum. Time was estimated by radar. Property cost damage is an estimation.
October 2004Thunderstorm WindTatum$50,000A local utility company reported severe thunderstorm winds that downed power poles at several locations in northern Lea County. One pole was blown down along State Highway 206 north of Tatum at 17:55 MST. Additional utility poles were broken along U.S. Highway 380 east of Tatum between 18:25 and 19:05 MST. A resident near Gladiola estimated 60 MPH winds shortly before 19:00 MST. The electric company reported minor damage to a home near that community when thunderstorm winds ripped lines off of the home. Live electric lines came to rest tangled around a nearby pole. The extent of structural damage to the home was unknown. Power lines were blown 100 yards from utility poles just west of Bronco at 19:05 MST.
October 2004Flash FloodTatum$30,000Law enforcement officials reported flash flooding that inundated State Highways 125 and 206 near Tatum. In addition, U.S. Highway 380 also was impacted. Flash flooding caused damage to one structure when flood waters entered a residence in the northern part of town. High water continued to flow over several roadways after the heavy rainfall ended as runoff caused the flash flood threat to persist. Local officials continued to report road closures due to high water after sunrise on the morning of the 6th.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindTatum$30,000Outflow winds from the forward flank of an HP supercell uprooted trees, blew over or removed roofs from sheds, and downed power poles.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindTatum$25,000A trained spotter measured sustained winds of 59 mph and at least one wind gust of 78 mph. Also reported power outages in Tatum due to the strong wind gusts. No other damage was reported. Another trained spotter reported 60 to 70 mph winds in Gladiola, east of Tatum on U.S. 380.
April 2004HailTatum$25,000Hail ranging in size from pennies to golfballs was reported in the city of Tatum. Hail accumulated on the ground up to four inches deep. Snowplows were used to the clear the hail from the city streets. Numerous reports of damage to vehicles were received.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindTatum$20,000A rural resident of northeast Lea County reported severe thunderstorm winds estimated between 60 and 70 MPH. The resident's home was severely damaged by the winds.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindTatum$15,000Severe winds blew a fifty-five gallon drum across a local highway. The drum impacted a Sheriff's Department cruiser. The vehicle sustained significant damage but the deputy was not injured.
June 2004HailTatum$5,000Tennis ball size hail was reported in the small community of Bronco near the New Mexico/Texas state line.
September 1994HailTatum$5,000,,,,,, The Tatum Police Department reported up to quarter-size hail lasting for 10 minutes.
April 2006Thunderstorm WindTatum$2,000Severe thunderstorm winds moved a tractor rim weighing 150 pounds and a 25 foot stock trailer.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindTatum$2,000Another transmission pole was downed as a bow formed in a developing line of storms.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindTatum$2,000Outflow winds from a young single-cell storm knocked down a transmission power pole.
April 1995HailTatum$2,000The Tatum Police Department reported dime-size hail from a northeast-moving storm. A SKYWARN spotter reported nickel-size hail near the northern Hobbs city limit in a storm that formed south of the Tatum storm.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindTatum-The West Texas Mesonet station 2 miles west/southwest of Tatum reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindTatum-The Mesonet station 51 2SW Tatum recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
May 2025Flash FloodTatum-Roadway and street flooding in/around Tatum was reported by emergency management. The timing is approximated by radar. No damage was reported.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindTatum-The Mesonet station 51 2SW Tatum NM measured a 66 mph wind gust.
April 2025HailTatum-A storm chaser reported half dollar sized hail in downtown Tatum. Time is estimated from radar.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindTatum-A maximum thunderstorm wind gust of 59 MPH was observed by the West Texas Mesonet site, 2SW Tatum.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindTatum-A maximum wind gust of 67 MPH was observed at the West Texas Mesonet site, 2SW Tatum, associated with a severe thunderstorm.
May 2024Flash FloodTatum-The emergency manager reports water standing on all roads near Tatum, including Highways 206 and 380.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 59 mph wind gust at the Tatum mesonet site.
March 2021Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 81 mph wind gust near Tatum.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm produced a 66 mph wind gust two miles southwest of Tatum.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm produced a 69 mph wind gust one mile southwest of Tatum.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindTatum-Strong thunderstorm embedded within a line of storms moving from NW to SE across SE New Mexico provided a severe wind gust at the Tatum mesonet in northern Lea county NM.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 58 mph wind gust near Tatum.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 59 mph wind gust two miles southwest of Tatum at the mesonet site.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 61 mph wind gust at the mesonet site two miles southwest of Tatum.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 69 mph wind gust near Tatum.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 66 mph wind gust near Tatum.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindTatum-A storm moved across Lea County and produced a 61 mph wind gust near Tatum as recorded by the local mesonet station.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 73 mph wind gust near Tatum. No damage was reported.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced a 62 mph wind gust. There was blowing dust as a result of this wind. No damage was reported.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved over Lea County and produced a 62 mph wind gust two miles southwest of Tatum.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindTatum-A thunderstorm moved over Lea County and produced a 62 mph wind gust two miles southwest of Tatum.
December 2010Thunderstorm WindTatum-A brief thunderstorm combined with environmental windy conditions to produce a strong wind gust.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindTatum-Damage was not reported with the wind gust.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindTatum-A trained spotter measured the wind gust and no damage was reported.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindTatum-A cooperative observation station measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 65 mph. A Texas Tech Mesonet station also measured a severe thunderstorm gust of 58 mph. No damage was reported.
March 2007Thunderstorm WindTatum-A NWS cooperative observer reported gusts between 70 and 82 mph on an anemometer. No damage was reported.
March 2007HailTatum-Golfball size hail fell three mile north of the intersection of N.M. Highway 206 and Lea County Road 165.
March 2007HailTatum-Golfball hail was found on the ground north of Tatum...this hail was observed by NWS damage survey team the following day in piles of pea to quarter size hail. Interviews during the damage survey indicated that hail piled to six inches deep and ranged from quarter to golfball size hail with a few baseball sized hailstones. Time is estimated from depth and size of the hailstones and from archived radar data indicating location and duration of the storm.
March 2007Thunderstorm WindTatum-A spotter reported 80 mph winds and penny size hail. No damage reported.
March 2007HailTatum-A spotter reported 80 mph winds and penny size hail. No damage reported.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindTatum-The National Weather Service cooperative observer at Tatum recorded a 71 mph wind gust. No damage was reported.
May 2007HailTatum-Quarter sized hail fell on Highway 380, six miles west of Tatum.
May 2007HailTatum-Nickel to quarter size hail fell between Tatum and Gladiola.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindTatum-A NWS cooperative observer recorded a 58 mph wind gust on his home anemometer. No damage was reported.
May 2005Thunderstorm WindTatum-A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer recorded a severe thunderstorm wind gust to 66 MPH with a home weather station. No reports of damage were received.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindTatum-A National Weather Service cooperative observer measured a 60 mph wind gust at his home in Tatum.
August 2005HailTatum-Nickel to quarter size hail was reported by an amateur radio operator northwest of Tatum.
July 2004HailTatum-The public reported pea to penny size hail northeast of Tatum.
July 2004HailTatum-Thunderstorms developed during the evening of the 6th over northern Lea County. This storm evolved into an organized line of severe storms before it moved into west Texas. Golfball size hail was reported by workers at an oil rig north of Tatum.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindTatum-A 70 MPH severe thunderstorm wind gust was measured by a home weather station southwest of Tatum. No damage was reported.
October 2004HailTatum-Local officials reported large hail from near Tatum to Gladiola. Penny size hail was reported in Tatum at 18:17 MST as the core of the storm passed just north of the city. Hail up to the size of golfballs was reported northeast of Tatum at 18:45 MST. Golfball size hailstones also accompanied severe thunderstorm winds at Gladiola shortly before 19:00 MST. No damage was reported as a direct result of the hail.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindTatum-A severe thunderstorm resulted in wind gusts to 60 MPH along Highway 380 east of Tatum.
June 2003HailTatum-The public reported a large amount of penny size hail falling near Tatum. Reports indicated the hail killed birds, which then fell out of trees onto the ground.

Every storm recorded in Lea County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Gladiola7.3 miles5
McDonald8.0 miles6
Hillburn City11.8 miles7
Prairieview12.8 miles5
Crossroads17.7 miles5
Lovington21.7 miles6
Caprock22.9 miles6
Knowles30.5 miles7

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on TatumAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2041694The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 899943. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.