Hobbs Oil Boom Payroll Cache — Lea County

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Hobbs Oil Boom Payroll Cache — Lea County

Lost Treasure NM • Lea County County
Description
Hobbs legend of a petroleum-boom payroll cache from the 1920s–1930s Lea County oil rush — south of Clovis in the Permian Basin extension of southeastern New Mexico.
Historical Notes
The Hobbs oil field discovery in 1928 transformed Lea County into one of New Mexico's leading petroleum producers. Roughneck payrolls, lease bonuses, and contractor cash often moved outside established banks in early boom towns. Oil-boom specie folklore parallels Midland–Odessa traditions across the Texas line. Hobbs and Clovis anchor opposite ends of the eastern New Mexico energy-and-agriculture corridor. Coordinates mark downtown Hobbs in Lea County south of Clovis.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

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