Tucumcari (/ ˈ t uː k ə m ˌ k ær iː /; TOO-cum-carry) is a city in and the county seat of Quay County, New Mexico, United States. [5] The population was 5,278 at the 2020 census. [6] Tucumcari was founded in 1901, two years before Quay County was established. [7] [8]