49. Artesia, New Mexico
Centered at the intersection of the scenic U.S. Route 82 and the 846-mile-long U.S. Route 285, The city of Artesia, New Mexico is named such after the discovery of a rich source of underground water in the area, making it a thriving agricultural hub in the early 1900s. It has grown since then, adding oil and gas resourcing as one of its prominent principal industries today.
Artesia is also home to one of the few live-on-campus training sites of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, servicing the US Border Patrol, BIA Police, and the US Air Marshals. Ironically, this small city makes the list of one of the most dangerous cities in the US, recording 1,283 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents.
