Best Web Design in Clovis, NM (2026)

Web Design for Clovis, New Mexico

Clovis is a High Plains railroad and ranching city on New Mexico's eastern edge, born as a Santa Fe Railway division point in 1906 and named for a Frankish king. It punches far above its size in cultural history: a distinctive prehistoric spear point found nearby gave its name to the continent's 'Clovis culture,' and Norman Petty's little studio on West 7th Street is where Buddy Holly cut 'That'll Be the Day' and 'Peggy Sue.' Today Cannon Air Force Base, BNSF freight trains, and one of North America's largest cheese plants anchor the economy.

AppWT works with Clovis, NM businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Clovis

Also known as. Riley's Switch (the railroad camp's original name before 1907). Namesake of the 'Clovis culture' and 'Clovis points' in archaeology. Home of the 'Clovis Sound' in early rock and roll. City motto: 'A City On The Move - Come Grow With Us!'.

History. Founded in 1906 as a construction camp on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, first called 'Riley's Switch' before being renamed Clovis when the townsite was platted; lots went on sale May 1, 1907 The name reportedly came from a Santa Fe official's daughter who was studying French history and suggested honoring Clovis I, the first Christian king of the Franks; the city incorporated in 1909 County seat of Curry County, which was named for George Curry, territorial governor of New Mexico from 1907 to 1910 In 1929, distinctive fluted stone spear points were excavated near Clovis at the Blackwater Draw site, defining the Paleo-Indian 'Clovis culture' dated to roughly 13,000 years ago In August 2017 a gunman opened fire at the Clovis-Carver Public Library, killing two people and wounding four

Local economy. Cannon Air Force Base, about 7 miles west, is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing and is a major employer and economic driver BNSF Railway operates a division point and classification yard on its Southern Transcon through Clovis, handling a heavy daily volume of mostly intermodal freight trains Southwest Cheese Company, opened in 2005, is one of North America's largest cheddar producers, processing over 2 billion pounds of milk a year Agriculture centered on peanuts, cotton, cattle ranching, and a large dairy industry Served by the connecting Southwestern Railroad, which moves potash from the Carlsbad-area mines

Culture and community. Norman Petty Recording Studios produced the 'Clovis Sound'; Buddy Holly and The Crickets recorded 'That'll Be the Day' (a Billboard No. 1 in 1957) and 'Peggy Sue' there, along with sessions by other early rock artists The Clovis Music Festival grew out of the Norman & Vi Petty Music Festival, first held in 1987, celebrating the city's rock-and-roll heritage Pioneer Days is a long-running celebration featuring a PRCA rodeo with bull riding, team roping, bronco riding, and barrel racing The 2016 film 'Hell or High Water' was shot extensively in and around Clovis, using local banks and a restaurant

What makes Clovis distinct. Clovis is the namesake of an entire prehistoric culture and a distinct artifact type used by archaeologists across the Americas The city started life under the humble name 'Riley's Switch' In August 2008, eight inmates escaped the Clovis jail by climbing up plumbing pipes, a break later featured on 'America's Most Wanted' A grocery store turned recording studio in this small plains town became one of the birthplaces of rock and roll

Clovis Landmarks and Local Life

• Norman Petty Recording Studios on West 7th Street - preserved as a museum, plus the Norman & Vi Petty Rock 'N' Roll Museum at the local chamber of commerce displaying Holly's mixing board and memorabilia
• Hotel Clovis - a 1931 Art Deco tower that once hosted performers such as Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey and was later converted to housing
• Blackwater Draw - the archaeological site near Clovis where the Clovis points were discovered
• The historic State Theater and other vintage movie houses downtown
• Clovis-Carver Public Library