Roswell, established as a crossroads in the 1870s, had several large springs within a few miles that sustained cattle herds and were exploited for irrigation. It served as a stopover for cowboys moving cattle up the Chisum and Goodnight-Loving trails between Amarillo and Carlsbad.
The name Roswell comes from Van C. Smith, one of the town's first businessmen and visionaries, who named it in honor of his father.
In 1891, the Fort Worth Military University opened a branch in here, although in 1893 the school's name was changed to the New Mexico Military Institute.
Also in 1891, a huge artesian well was discovered under what is now downtown Roswell, securing the area's future as an important agricultural center.