Located in the southeastern part of New Mexico, Carlsbad straddles the Pecos River and sits at the eastern edge of the Guadalupe Mountains.

The development of southeastern New Mexico in the late 19th century was fueled by the arrival of colonies of immigrants from England, Switzerland, France, and Italy.

[5] With the commercial development of local mineral springs near the flume for medicinal qualities, the town later voted to change its name to Carlsbad after the famous European spa Karlsbad, Bohemia (now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic), which in turn was named after Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia.

On March 25, 1918, the growing town surpassed a population of 2,000, allowing then-governor of New Mexico Washington Ellsworth Lindsey to proclaim Carlsbad a city.

Local cattlemen recognized the value of diverting water from the Pecos River to the grazing lands on Eddy's Halagueno Ranch.

Key to the growth of the area was special excursion trains that brought visitors from the East at reduced fares.

The city is leading in the production of oil and natural gases across the entire area, causing an increase in the employment rate.

[10] The Honkers (1972) Guitar Man (2015) I'll Be There with You (2006) Do It for Uncle Graham (2004) À l'ouest du Pécos (1993)[11] Gene Roddenberry (the creator of Star Trek) created and produced the made-for-television film Genesis II (1973), a science fiction film that starts with the main character having been in suspended animation in the Carlsbad Caverns at a point in the future.

[13] Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)[14] The Bat People (1974)[15] Earth vs. the Spider (1958)[16] King Solomon's Mines (1950) [15] Carlsbad is located near the center of Eddy County at 32°24′43″N 104°14′11″W / 32.41194°N 104.23639°W / 32.41194; -104.23639 (32.407577, -104.245167)[17] at an elevation of 3,295 feet (1,004 m).

Carlsbad is situated in the northern reaches of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, in the lower Pecos River Valley.

[19] It is classified as hot semi-arid (Köppen BSh), meaning average annual precipitation is less than potential evapotranspiration, but more than half.

Summers are very hot which is very common for southern Plains of New Mexico and West Texas and average around 35 days per year of temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) which can be unpleasant.

Voters elect both the mayor and the eight members of the city council (two for each ward), who pass laws and make policy.

The economy of the Carlsbad area is based primarily on the mineral extraction sector; the city overlies the rich oil- and gas-producing formations of the Permian Basin and produces more potash than any other location in the United States.

[33] The present-day main building was built in 1980; an additional instruction center was added in 1987 and the computer facilities wing was completed in 1996.

By 2011, the campus had added an additional building to house its nursing program, the Allied Health and University Transfer Center.

[37] The channel airs coverage of special events and also local news; many residents host shows on topics from plant care to science.

Classic films including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Meet John Doe, and Scarlet Street are shown on Wednesdays.

[40] Carlsbad recently constructed a youth sports complex on the southwest side of town, containing six softball and four soccer fields.

Carlsbad High School has teams competing in the sports of football, baseball, softball, basketball, track and field, golf, tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming, wrestling, and rodeo.

Established in June 1996, CMTS operates a fleet of 17 vans and services persons with disabilities, seniors, students, and the general public.

[41] BNSF Railway provides freight service in the Carlsbad area, mainly to the local potash mines.

Two yard operations are present in Carlsbad: one between Muscatel Avenue and Orchard Lane, and the other between Greene and Church Streets.

The news item addressed the remote community's limited hospital care options, and seized wages for exorbitant billing.

The Carlsbad Department of Development and the City operate the Aero-Tech Industrial Technology Park including the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Training Center.