- "Roswell was a sleepy cowboy settlement in postwar America, full of farmers and military men, until, one day, something extraordinary happened. Or so the legend goes. Ever since, UFO enthusiasts have flooded in, searching for some cosmic phenomenon to prove we're not all alone in the universe."
- ―Liz[src]
Roswell, New Mexico is the town that serves as the setting for The CW science fiction series Roswell, New Mexico.
Overview
Roswell is notable for the 1947 UFO Crash. The United States Air Force covered up the alien crash, but conspiracy theories that aliens exist remain prevalent. Roswell has become a tourist trap for alien enthusiasts, with many alien-themed businesses catering to tourists.
Anti-immigrant sentiment, racism, and the threat of deportation are present from the start of the series. Being in New Mexico, it is near the United States border with Mexico, and ICE and border patrol are active in the area. The mayor has been pushing an anti-immigrant agenda.
In 2008, Rosa Ortecho allegedly got into a car accident, killing herself along with Kate Long and Jasmine Frederick. This accident "tore this town in half," according to Sheriff Valenti. The event stoked anti-immigrant and racist sentiment, with some locals believing that if Rosa's family hadn't come here illegally that the two girls who died with her would still be alive. Following the accident, the Crashdown Cafe has been terrorized because it is owned by Rosa's family. Every year on the anniversary of Rosa and the girls' deaths, someone vandalizes the cafe.
Notable locations
Businesses
Food and drink:
- Crashdown Cafe, an alien-themed diner owned by Liz Ortecho's father Arturo Ortecho
- The Wild Pony, a locals bar run by Maria DeLuca
- Bean Me Up, an alien-themed coffee shop[1]
- Saturn's Ring, a tourist-friendly bar[2]
- Planet 7, a gay bar[3]
- Vega's Diner, a 24-hour trucker-friendly diner[4]
Other businesses:
- UFO Emporium, an alien-themed museum owned by Grant Green and later Graham Green
- Sanders' Auto, a service garage where Michael Guerin works and keeps an alien artifact bunker
- Chaves County Law Partners, where Noah Bracken works
- Drive-in movie theater
- The Long Farm, owned by Wyatt Long's father
- Alien Gulch Paintball Park[5]
Facilities
- Roswell Community Medical, the hospital where Kyle Valenti and Liz Ortecho work
- Chaves County Sheriff's Department, the town's local law enforcement, where Max Evans works
- New Roswell High School, where most of the main cast attended high school
- United States Air Force Base, where Project Shepherd is located
- Frontier Valley Cemetery, Liz visits on the anniversary of Rosa's death[6][7]
- Church, Liz visits on the anniversary of Rosa's death[6]
- Sunset Mesa Assisted Living, where Mimi DeLuca lives[8]
- Library, where Michael and Forrest do research[9]
Private
- Max Evans' home, located in a more remote area outside the town
- Valenti hunting cabin, previously owned by Jim Valenti and passed to Alex Manes after his death
- Isobel and Noah's home
Other
- Foster Homestead Ranch, site of the 1947 UFO Crash, where Michael works until the Air Force acquires the land
- The Turquoise Mines, where the pods are located
- Abandoned school acquired by the air force and abandoned, where Alex has set up security for a lab base with the team
References
- ↑ 1.10 I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, mentioned by Jenna and Liz as the place where Connor Smith works.
- ↑ 1.01 Pilot, Maria mentions it to Liz
- ↑ 2.06 Sex and Candy, Isobel and Kyle visit
- ↑ 2.09 The Diner, where Sheriff Valenti takes Max for questioning.
- ↑ 2.08 Say It Ain't So, Alex and Forrest visit
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 1.02 So Much for the Afterglow
- ↑ 1.12 Creep, Isobel names the cemetery in act 3.
- ↑ Named in episode 2.01 Stay (I Missed You)
- ↑ 2.04 What If God Was One of Us