Roswell is in Chaves County (is the county seat), and in the Southeast New Mexico region. It lies southeast of Albuquerque between Ruidoso and Clovis along U.S. Highway 70. The city also is on the banks of the Rio Hondo River.

Home of the Eastern New Mexico University campus.

The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 47,624, an increase of 3,364 since 1990.

In 1978 Roswell, New Mexico was selected as an All America City. This is a tremendous accomplishment, which doesn't happen to every city in America. Even more impressive, is the fact that Roswell was again selected as an All America City in 2002. This puts Roswell into the elite level of two-time winners of this award.