Portales is a city in and the county chair of Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 12,280 at the 2010 census. Portales is located close the larger city of Clovis, and Cannon Air Force Base, a major contributor to the economy of the region.

Eastern New Mexico University opened in Portales in 1934 as Eastern New Mexico Junior College, and has previously grown to become the third-largest academic world in the state. The Place is one of the largest producers of Valencia peanuts in the United States and is the nation’s top producer of ascribed organic peanut butter. Portales is home to practically 40 dairies and a major US dairy solids plant, together producing and exporting hundreds of millions of dollars of local milk products each year. It is the principal city of the Portales micropolitan statistical area, which is allowance of the larger Clovis-Portales amass statistical area, including Clovis, 19 miles (31 km) away and Cannon Air Force Base, 13 miles (21 km) away.

The city’s downtown area is centered just about a traditional-style town square, based upon Spanish urban design. The middle of the town square includes the 1930s WPA-style Roosevelt County Courthouse, including native architectural details from the era, as competently as the next-door 1930s proclaim office. The Courthouse Square is ringed considering retail shops. The Yam Theater, a historic theater located in the downtown area, has recently been renovated. Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) forms a sizable district as soon as its campus and surrounding residential accretion catering largely to students. Arts and cultural offerings emanate from ENMU, the third-largest state the academy in New Mexico. Portales ranks in the summit 20% of US cities for racial diversity, percentage of college-educated adults, and percentage of people who saunter or bike to work. The city rates in the top 10% of US cities for a immediate commute, rent affordability, and low taxes.

Clovis Man inhabited the Blackwater Draw area north of Portales until 11,000 years ago.