See Also

New Mexico

New Mexico is a southwestern Southwestern United States

The southwestern United States is a region of the western United States [i], warmer than the northern st ... 

 state in the United States of America United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

. Over its relatively long history it has also been occupied by Native American Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

 population Population

In sociology [i] and biology [i], a population is the collection of people [i], or organism [i] ... 

s and has been part of the Spanish Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire [i]. ... 

 viceroyalty Viceroy

A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of ... 

 of New Spain New Spain

Viceroyalty of New Spain was the name of the viceroy [i]-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire [i] in ... 

, a province of Mexico Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

 and a U.S. territory. New Mexico has simultaneously the highest percentage of Hispanic Hispanic

Hispanic is a term denoting a derivation from Spain [i], its people [i] and culture [i] ... 

 Americans of any state some recent immigrants and others descendants of Spanish Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire [i]. ... 

 colonist Colony

In politics [i] and in history [i], a colony is a territory [i] under the immediate political control of ... 

s and nearly the highest percentage of Native Americans Native Americans

Native Americans is a term which has several different common meanings and scope, according to regional ... 

  of any continental United State second only to Oklahoma Oklahoma

Name = Oklahoma | Fullname = State of Oklahoma | ... 

 .

Discussions

  Discussion Features

   Ask a question about 'New Mexico'

   Start a new discussion about 'New Mexico'

   Answer questions about 'New Mexico'

   'New Mexico' discussion forum

Timeline

919   The Pueblo Bonito Pueblo Bonito

Pueblo Bonito, the largest and best known Great House in Chaco Culture National Historical Park [i], nor ... 

 is built by the Anasazi Ancient Pueblo Peoples

Ancient Pueblo People or Ancestral Puebloans are preferred terms for the cultural group of people ... 

 in present day New Mexico's Chaco Canyon Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a United States [i] National Historical Park [i] and World Heritage Site [i] ... 

.

1862   American Civil War: Battle of Glorieta Pass Battle of Glorieta Pass

The Battle of Glorieta Pass, fought on March 26 [i]–28, 1862, in northern New Mexico Territory [i] ... 

 - In New Mexico Union forces succeed in stopping the Confederate Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America was the government formed by eleven southern states of the USA [i] ... 

 invasion of New Mexico territory. The battle began on March 26.

1879   Doc Holliday Doc Holliday

John Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American dentist, gambler and gunfighter of the Old West [i] frontier, ... 

 kills for the first time after a man shoots-up Holliday's New Mexico saloon.

1881   Billy the Kid Billy the Kid

Henry McCarty better known as Billy the Kid, but also known by the aliases Henry Antrim and ... 

 escapes from New Mexico jail.

1884   American Old West American Old West

The American Old West was the myths, legends and stories--many of them true--that collected around the Western United States [i] ... 

 - Near Frisco, New Mexico (now Reserve, New Mexico Reserve, New Mexico

Reserve is a village in Catron County [i], New Mexico [i], United States [i]. ... 

), deputy sheriff Elfego Baca Elfego Baca

Elfego Baca was a legendary lawman, lawyer, and politician in the closing days of the American wild west [i] ... 

 holds off a gang of 80 Texan cowboy Cowboy

A cowboy tends cattle [i] and horse [i]s on cattle ranches in North [i] and South [i] ... 

s who want to kill him for arresting cowboy Charles McCarthy (the cowboys were terrorizing the area's Hispanos and Baca was working against them).

1912   New Mexico is admitted as the 47th U.S. state U.S. state

A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to as a state [i] ... 

.

1940   U.S. Army 45th Infantry Division U.S. 45th Infantry Division

The 45th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army [i] in World War II [i]. ... 

 (previously a National Guard Division in Arizona Arizona

Arizona is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southwestern United States [i]. ... 

, Colorado Colorado

Colorado is a state [i] in the western United States [i]. ... 

, New Mexico, and Oklahoma Oklahoma

Name = Oklahoma | Fullname = State of Oklahoma | ... 

), activated and ordered into federal service for one year to engage in a training program in Ft. Sill Fort Sill

Fort Sill is a United States Army [i] post near Lawton [i], Oklahoma [i], about 85 mile ... 

 and Louisiana Louisiana

cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> ... 

 prior to serving in World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

.

1951   July 1 - In New Mexico, Arizona Arizona

Arizona is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southwestern United States [i]. ... 

, California California

California is a state [i] spanning the southern half of the west coast [i] ... 

, Oregon Oregon

Oregon is a state [i] in the Pacific Northwest [i] region of the United States [i]. ... 

, Washington Washington

Washington is a state [i] in the Pacific Northwest [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

, and British Columbia British Columbia

British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of [[Canada|Canada's]... 

, thousands of hectares (many square miles) of forests were destroyed in fires.

1960   August 16 — Joseph Kittinger Joseph Kittinger

Joseph William Kittinger II was a pilot [i] in the United States Air Force [i].... 

 parachutes from a balloon over New Mexico at 102,800 feet (31,333 m). He sets unbeaten (as of 2005 2005

2005 was a common year starting on Saturday [i] of the Gregorian calendar [i]. ... 

) world records for: high-altitude jump; free-fall Free-fall

Free fall in its strictest sense is the condition of acceleration which is due only to gravity [i]. ... 

 by falling 16 miles (25.7 km) before opening his parachute Parachute

A parachute is a soft fabric device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creati... 

; and fastest speed by a human Human

Humans, or human beings, are biped [i]al primate [i]s belonging to the mammal [i]ian species ... 

 without motorized assistance, 982 km/h (614 mi/h).

1976   Microsoft Microsoft

company_name = Microsoft Corporation ... 

 is officially registered with the Office of the Secretary of the State of New Mexico.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

New Mexico is a southwestern Southwestern United States

The southwestern United States is a region of the western United States [i], warmer than the northern st ... 

 state in the United States of America United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

. Over its relatively long history it has also been occupied by Native American Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

 population Population

In sociology [i] and biology [i], a population is the collection of people [i], or organism [i] ... 

s and has been part of the Spanish Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire [i].... 

 viceroyalty Viceroy

A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of ... 

 of New Spain New Spain

Viceroyalty of New Spain was the name of the viceroy [i]-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire [i] in ... 

, a province of Mexico Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

 and a U.S. territory. New Mexico has simultaneously the highest percentage of Hispanic Hispanic

Hispanic is a term denoting a derivation from Spain [i], its people [i] and culture [i] ... 

 Americans of any state — some recent immigrants and others descendants of Spanish Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire [i].... 

 colonist Colony

In politics [i] and in history [i], a colony is a territory [i] under the immediate political control of ... 

s — and nearly the highest percentage of Native Americans Native Americans

Native Americans is a term which has several different common meanings and scope, according to regional ... 

  — of any continental United State second only to Oklahoma Oklahoma

Name = Oklahoma |
Fullname = State of Oklahoma |
... 

 . As a result, the demographics and culture of the state are unique for their strong Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. Amerindian cultural influences.

Geography


The eastern border of New Mexico lies along 103° W with Oklahoma Oklahoma

Name = Oklahoma |
Fullname = State of Oklahoma |
... 

, and 3 miles west of 103° W with Texas. Texas also lies south of most of New Mexico, although the southwestern boot-heel borders the Mexican states of Chihuahua Chihuahua

Chihuahua is a state [i] in northwestern Mexico [i]. ... 

 and Sonora Sonora

Sonora is a state [i] in northwestern Mexico [i], bordering the states of Chihuahua [i] to ... 

. The western border with Arizona Arizona

Arizona is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southwestern United States [i]. ... 

 runs along 109° W. The 37° N parallel forms the northern boundary with Colorado Colorado

Colorado is a state [i] in the western United States [i].... 

. The states of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah Utah

Utah is a U.S. state [i] located in the western [i] United States [i]. ... 

 come together at the Four Corners in the northwestern corner of New Mexico.

The landscape Landscape

A landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including physical elements such as landform [i] ... 

 ranges from wide, rose-colored deserts to broken mesas to high, snow-capped peaks. Despite New Mexico's arid image, heavily forest Forest

A forest is an area with a high density of tree [i]s . ... 

ed mountain wildernesses cover a significant portion of the state. Part of the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range [i] in western North America [i] ... 

, the broken, north-south oriented Sangre de Cristo  range flanks both sides of the Rio Grande Rio Grande

Known as the Rio Grande in the United States [i] and as the Ro Bravo in Mexico [i], the river [i] ... 

 from the rugged, pastoral north through the center of the state.

Cacti, yucca Yucca

The yuccas comprise the genus [i] Yucca of 40-50 species of perennial [i]s, shrub [i]... 

s, creosote bush, sagebrush, and desert grasses cover the broad, semiarid plains that cover the southern portion of the state.

The Federal government protects millions of acres of beautiful New Mexico as national forests including:

  • Carson National Forest Carson National Forest

    Carson National Forest is a national forest [i] in northern New Mexico [i] ... 

  • Cibola National Forest
  • Lincoln National Forest
  • Santa Fe National Forest Santa Fe National Forest

    The Santa Fe National Forest is a protected national forest [i] in northern New Mexico [i] in the southw ... 




Other protected lands include the following national monuments:

  • Aztec Ruins National Monument Aztec Ruins National Monument

    Aztec Ruins National Monument preserves ancestral Pueblo [i] structures in north-western New Mexico [i],... 

     at Aztec Aztec, New Mexico

    Aztec is a city in San Juan County [i], New Mexico [i], United States [i]. ... 

  • Bandelier National Monument Bandelier National Monument

    Bandelier National Monument is a U.S. National Monument [i] consisting of 32,737 acre [i]s of northern New Mexico [i] ... 

     in Los Alamos Los Alamos, New Mexico

    Los Alamos is an unincorporated [i] townsite in Los Alamos County, New Mexico [i]. ... 

  • Capulin Volcano National Monument Capulin Volcano National Monument

    Capulin Volcano National Monument, located in Northeastern New Mexico [i], was designated a U.S. National Monument [i]... 

     near Capulin
  • Carlsbad Caverns National Park Carlsbad Caverns National Park

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a United States National Park [i] located in the Guadalupe Mountains [i] ... 

     near Carlsbad Carlsbad, New Mexico

    Carlsbad is the county seat of Eddy County [i], New Mexico [i] in the United States [i] ... 

  • Chaco Culture National Historical Park Chaco Culture National Historical Park

    Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a United States [i] National Historical Park [i] and World Heritage Site [i] ... 

     at Nageezi Nageezi, New Mexico

    Nageezi is a census-designated place [i] in San Juan County [i], New Mexico [i] ... 

  • El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail

    El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail is a part of the United States [i] National Historic Trail [i]... 

  • El Malpais National Monument El Malpais National Monument

    El Malpais National Monument is off I-40 [i] in western New Mexico [i], USA, near Cibola National Forest [i] ... 

     in Grants Grants, New Mexico

    Grants is a city in Cibola County [i], New Mexico [i], United States [i]. ... 

  • El Morro National Monument El Morro National Monument

    El Morro National Monument is located on an ancient east-west trail in western New Mexico.... 

     in Ramah Ramah, New Mexico

    [i], [[New Mexico]... 

  • Fort Union National Monument Fort Union National Monument

    Fort Union National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service [i] located in Watrous, New Mexico [i] ... 

     at Watrous
  • Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

    Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument in southwestern New Mexico [i] was established as a United States [i] ... 

     near Silver City Silver City, New Mexico

    Silver City is a town in Grant County [i], New Mexico [i], in the United States [i] ... 

  • Old Spanish National Historic Trail Old Spanish Trail (trade route)

    The Old Spanish Trail is a historic trade route which connected the northern New Mexican [i] ... 

  • Pecos National Historical Park Pecos National Historical Park

    Pecos National Historical Park is a National Historical Park [i] in the U.S. state [i] of New Mexico [i] ... 

     in Pecos Pecos, New Mexico

    Pecos is a village in San Miguel County [i], New Mexico [i], United States [i] ... 

  • Petroglyph National Monument Petroglyph National Monument

    Petroglyph [i] National Monument stretches 17 miles along Albuquerque, New Mexico [i]'s West Mesa, a volcanic [i]... 

     near Albuquerque
  • Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

    The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is located in the U.S. [i] state [i] of New Mexico [i] ... 

     at Mountainair Mountainair, New Mexico

    Mountainair is a town in Torrance County [i], New Mexico [i], United States [i] ... 

  • Santa Fe National Historic Trail Santa Fe Trail

    The Santa Fe Trail was a historic 19th century [i] transportation route across southwestern North America [i] ... 

  • White Sands National Monument White Sands National Monument

    The White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument [i] located about 25 km southwest of Alamogordo [i] ... 

     near Alamogordo Alamogordo, New Mexico

    Alamogordo is a city in Otero County [i], New Mexico [i], United States of America [i] ... 




Visitors also frequent the surviving native pueblos of New Mexico. Tourists visiting these sites bring significant monies to the state. Other areas of geographical and scenic interest include Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, located 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico [i], is a ... 

 and the Valles Caldera National Preserve Valle Grande

Valle Grande, known to geologists as the Valles Caldera and the Jemez Caldera, is a scenic ... 

. The Gila Wilderness lies in the southwest of the state.

History


The first inhabitants of New Mexico were Native American Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

s of the Clovis culture Clovis culture

The Clovis culture is a prehistoric [i] Native American [i] culture t ... 

. By the time of European contact in the 1500s the region was settled by the villages of the Pueblo people Pueblo people

The Pueblo People are a diverse group of Native American [i] inhab ... 

s.

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado Francisco Vásquez de Coronado

Francisco Vzquez de Coronado was a Spanish [i] conquistador [i], who between 1540 [i] and 1542 [i] ... 

 assembled an enormous expedition at Compostela in 1540–1542 to explore and find the mystical Seven Golden Cities of Cibola as described by Cabeza de Vaca who had just arrived from his eight-year ordeal traveling from Florida to Mexico. Coronado's men found several mud baked pueblos in 1541 but found no rich cities of gold. Further wide spread expeditions found no fabulous cities anywhere in the Southwest or Great Plains. A dispirited and now poor Coronado and his men began their journey back to Mexico leaving New Mexico behind.

Over 50 years after Coronado, Juan de Oñate Juan de Oñate

Don Juan de Oate y Salazar was a Spanish [i] explorer, colonial governor [i] ... 

 founded the San Juan colony on the Rio Grande in 1598, the first permanent European settlement in the future state of New Mexico. Oñate pioneered the grandly named El Camino Real, "The Royal Road" as a 700 mile trail from the rest of New Spain New Spain

Viceroyalty of New Spain was the name of the viceroy [i]-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire [i] in ... 

 to his remote colony. Oñate was made the first governor of the new Province of New Mexico. The Native Americans at Acoma Acoma Pueblo

Acoma Pueblo, also known as "Sky City", is a Native American [i] pueblo [i] ... 

 revolted against this Spanish encroachment but faced severe suppression.

In 1609, Pedro de Peralta, a later governor of the Province of New Mexico, established the settlement of Santa Fe Santa Fe, New Mexico

official_name = Santa Fe, New Mexico
... 

 at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains Sangre de Cristo Mountains

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southernmost subrange [i] of the Rocky Mountains [i] ... 

. The city, along with most of the settled areas of the state, was abandoned by the Spanish for 12 years as a result of the successful Pueblo Revolt Pueblo Revolt

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 or Pop's Rebellion was an uprising of many pueblo [i]s of the Pueblo people [i] ... 

. After the death of the Pueblo leader Popé Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome [i], and, as Successor [i] of Saint Peter [i], is t ... 

, Diego de Vargas restored the area to Spanish rule. While developing Santa Fe as a trade center, the returning settlers founded the old town of Albuquerque Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is the largest city [i] in the state [i] of New Mexico [i] ... 

 in 1706, naming it for the viceroy of New Spain, the Duke of Alburquerque.

Mexican province

As a part of New Spain New Spain

Viceroyalty of New Spain was the name of the viceroy [i]-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire [i] in ... 

, the claims for the province of New Mexico passed to independent Mexico Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

 following the 1810-1821 Mexican War of Independence Mexican War of Independence

The Mexican War of Independence, which started on September 16, 1810, was Mexico's [i] struggle f ... 

. During the brief 26 year period of nominal Mexican control, Mexican authority and investment in New Mexico were weak, as their often conflicted government had little time or interest in a New Mexico that had been poor since the Spanish settlements started. Some Mexican officials, saying they were wary of encroachments by the growing United States, and wanting to reward themselves and their friends, began issuing enormous land grants to groups of Mexican families as an incentive to populate the province.

Small trapping parties from the United States had previously reached and stayed in Santa Fe, but the Spanish authorities officially forbade them to trade. Trader William Becknell returned to the United States in November 1821 with news that independent Mexico now welcomed trade through Santa Fe.

William Becknell left Independence, Missouri Independence, Missouri

Independence is a city in Missouri [i], in the Kansas City [i] metropolitan area.... 

, for Santa Fe early in 1822 with the first party of traders. The Santa Fe Trail Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail was a historic 19th century [i] transportation route across southwestern North America [i] ... 

 trading company, headed by the brothers Charles Bent and William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain, was one of the most successful in the West. They had their first trading post in the area in 1826, and by 1833 they had built their adobe fort and trading post called Bent's Fort Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent's Old Fort is a National Historic Site [i] in Otero County, Colorado [i]. ... 

 on the Arkansas River Arkansas River

The Arkansas River is a major tributary [i] of the Mississippi River [i]. ... 

. This fort and trading post, located about 200 miles east of Taos, New Mexico Taos, New Mexico

Taos is a city in Taos County [i] in the north-central region of New Mexico [i] ... 

, was the only place settled by whites along the Santa Fe trail before it hit Taos. The Santa Fe National Historic Trail Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail was a historic 19th century [i] transportation route across southwestern North America [i] ... 

 follows the route of the old trail, with many sites marked or restored.

The Spanish Trail from Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, known as "L.A." or the "City of Angels", is the largest city in the state of California [i]... 

 to Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe, New Mexico

official_name = Santa Fe, New Mexico
... 

 was primarily used by Hispanics, white traders and ex-trappers living part of the year in or near Santa Fe. Started in about 1829, the trail was an arduous 2400 mile round trip pack train sojourn that extended into Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California and back, allowing only one hard round trip per year. The trade consisted primarily of blankets and some trade goods from Santa Fe being traded for horses in California.

The Republic of Texas Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas was a short-lived country in North America [i] between the United States [i] and Mexico [i]... 

 claimed the mostly vacant territory north and east of the Rio Grande Rio Grande

Known as the Rio Grande in the United States [i] and as the Ro Bravo in Mexico [i], the river [i] ... 

 when it successfully seceded from Mexico in 1836. New Mexico authorities captured a group of Texans who embarked an expedition Texas Santa Fe Expedition

The Texas Santa Fe Expedition was a commercial and military expedition to claim parts of Northern New Mexico [i] ... 

 to assert their claim to the province in 1841.

American territory


Following the Mexican-American War Mexican–American War

The MexicanAmerican War was a military conflict fought between the United States [i] and ... 

 and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the peace treaty [i] that ended the Mexican-American War [i]. ... 

, Mexico ceded its mostly unsettled northern holdings, today known as the American Southwest Southwestern United States

The southwestern United States is a region of the western United States [i], warmer than the northern st ... 

 and California California

California is a state [i] spanning the southern half of the west coast [i] ... 

 to the United States of America in exchange for an end to hostilities, the evacuation of Mexico City and many other areas under American control. Mexico also received $15 million cash, plus the assumption of slightly more than $3 million in outstanding Mexican debts.

The Congressional Compromise of 1850 Compromise of 1850

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of Congressional [i] legislative actions to ... 

 halted a bid for statehood under a proposed antislavery constitution. Texas transferred eastern New Mexico to the federal government, settling a lengthy boundary dispute. Under the compromise, the American government established the New Mexico Territory on September 9, 1850. The territory, which included all of Arizona Arizona

Arizona is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southwestern United States [i]. ... 

, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado Colorado

Colorado is a state [i] in the western United States [i].... 

, officially established its capital at Santa Fe Santa Fe, New Mexico

official_name = Santa Fe, New Mexico
... 

 in 1851.

The United States acquired the southwestern boot heel of the state and southern Arizona Arizona

Arizona is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southwestern United States [i]. ... 

 below the Gila river in the mostly desert Gadsden Purchase Gadsden Purchase

The Gadsden Purchase is a 29,640 mi [i] region of what is today southern Arizona [i] and New Mexico [i] ... 

 of 1853. This purchase was desired when it was found that a much easier route for a proposed transcontinental railroad was located slightly south of the Gila river. The Southern Pacific built the second transcontinental railroad though this purchased land in 1881.

During the American Civil War American Civil War

The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America [i] between the federal ... 

, Confederate troops from Texas briefly occupied southern New Mexico. Union troops re-captured the territory in early 1862. Arizona Arizona

Arizona is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southwestern United States [i]. ... 

 was split off as a separate territory in 1863.


The railway encouraged the great cattle boom of the 1880s and the development of accompanying cow towns. The cattle barons could not keep out sheepherders, and eventually homesteaders and squatters overwhelmed the cattlemen by fencing in and plowing under the "sea of grass" on which the cattle fed. Conflicting land claims led to bitter quarrels among the original Spanish inhabitants, cattle ranchers, and newer homesteaders. Despite destructive overgrazing, ranching survived and remains a mainstay of the New Mexican economy.

Centuries of continued conflict with the Apache Apache

Apache is the collective name for several culturally [i] related groups of Native Americans [i] ... 

 and the Navajo Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation is a sovereign [i] Native American [i] ... 

 plagued the territory. The Long Walk of the Navajo Long Walk of the Navajo

The Long Walk of the Navajo, also called the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo, was a 20 day or more foo... 

, also called the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo in 1864 harshly repressed the Navajo but did put an end to their raiding. The Navajo returned to most of their lands in 1868. Sporadic Apache raiding continued until Apache chief Geronimo Geronimo

Geronimo, was a prominent Native American [i] leader of the Chiricahua [i] ... 

 finally surrendered in 1886.

Albuquerque, on the upper Rio Grande, was incorporated in 1889.

Statehood

Congress admitted New Mexico as the 47th state in the Union on January 6, 1912. The admission of the neighboring State of Arizona Arizona

Arizona is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southwestern United States [i]. ... 

 on February 14, 1912 completed the contiguous 48 states.

The United States government built the Los Alamos Research Center Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy [i] national laboratory [i] ... 

 in 1943 amid the Second World War World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

. Top-secret personnel there developed the atomic bomb Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

, first detonated at Trinity site Trinity test

The "Trinity" test was the first test of a nuclear weapon [i], conducted by the United States [i] ... 

 in the desert on the White Sands Proving Grounds White Sands Missile Range

White Sands Missile Range, formerly known as the White Sands Proving Grounds, is located in Otero County, New Mexico [i] ... 

 between Socorro Socorro, New Mexico

Socorro is a city in Socorro County [i], New Mexico [i] in the Rio Grande Val ... 

 and Alamogordo Alamogordo, New Mexico

Alamogordo is a city in Otero County [i], New Mexico [i], United States of America [i] ... 

 on July 16, 1945.

Albuquerque expanded rapidly after the war. High-altitude experiments near Roswell Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell is a city in Chaves County [i] in the southeastern quarter of the stat ... 

 in 1947 reputedly led to persistent claims by a few that the government captured and concealed extraterrestrial corpses and equipment. The state quickly emerged as a leader in nuclear, solar, and geothermal energy research and development. The Sandia National Laboratories Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories, which is managed and operated by the Sandia Corporation, is a major United States [i] ... 

, founded in 1949, carried out nuclear research and special weapons development at Kirtland Air Force Base south of Albuquerque and at Livermore, California Livermore, California

Livermore is a city in Alameda County [i], California [i], United States [i]. ... 

.

Located in the remote Chihuahuan Desert the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP, is the world's first underground repository [i] licensed ... 

  is located 26 miles southeast of Carlsbad Carlsbad, New Mexico

Carlsbad is the county seat of Eddy County [i], New Mexico [i] in the United States [i] ... 

. Here nuclear wastes are buried deep in carved out salt formation disposal rooms mined 2,150 feet underground in a 2,000-foot thick salt formation that has been stable for more than 200 million years. WIPP began operations on March 26, 1999.

Demographics


Historical populations
Census
year
Population

1850 61,547
1860 87,034
1870 91,874
1880 119,565
1890 160,282
1900 195,310
1910 327,301
1920 360,350
1930 423,317
1940 531,818
1950 681,187
1960 951,023
1970 1,016,000
1980 1,302,894
1990 1,515,069
2000 United States Census, 2000

# French [i] or French Creole [i]
... 

 
1,819,046


As of 2005, New Mexico has an estimated population of 1,928,384, which is an increase of 25,378, or 1.3%, from the prior year and an increase of 109,338, or 6.0%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 74,397 people and an increase due to net migration of 37,501 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 27,974 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 9,527 people.

As of 2004, 10% of the residents of the state were foreign-born, and more than 2% of state residents were undocumented.
New Mexico has the highest percentage of people of Hispanic Hispanic

Hispanic is a term denoting a derivation from Spain [i], its people [i] and culture [i] ... 

 ancestry of any state, some recent immigrants and others descendants of Spanish Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire [i].... 

 colonist Colony

In politics [i] and in history [i], a colony is a territory [i] under the immediate political control of ... 

s and Indians. The state also has a large U.S. Amerindian Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

 population. A few Hispanos of colonial ancestry, thoroughly mixed with recent Mexican immigrants, are present in most of the state, especially northern, central, and northeastern New Mexico. Mexican immigrants, legal or illegal, are prominent in southern parts of the state. The northwestern corner of the state is primarily occupied by American Indians, of which Navajos and Pueblos are the largest tribes. As a result, the demographics and culture of the state are unique for their strong American, Colonial Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. Amerindian cultural influences.

According to the Census the five largest ancestry groups in New Mexico are: Spanish Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i].... 

 , Mexican Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

 , German German American

German Americans are citizens of the United States [i] of German [i] ancestry. ... 

 , Native American Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

 , and English . Many are mixtures of all of these groups and more. Note: The accuracy of these figures is disputed. for further information.

7.2% of New Mexico's population was reported as under 5, 28% under 18, and 11.7% were 65 or older. Females make up approximately 50.8% of the population.

Languages

New Mexico is commonly thought to have Spanish Spanish language

Spanish or Castilian is an Iberian Romance language [i]. ... 

 as an official language alongside English English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England [i] but is now the primary language ... 

, due to the widespread usage of Spanish in the state. Although the original state constitution of 1912 provided for a temporarily bilingual government, New Mexico has no official language. Nevertheless, the state government publishes election ballots and a driver's manual in both languages, and in 1995 New Mexico adopted a "State Bilingual Song", titled "New Mexico-Mi Lindo Nuevo México".

Religion

New Mexico has the highest percentage of Roman Catholics of any Western state Western United States

The Western United States, also referred to as the American West or simply The West, traditi... 

. Like many other states in the region, New Mexico has a higher-than-average percentage of people who claim no religion in comparison to other U.S. state U.S. state

A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to as a state [i] ... 

s.
  • Christian Christianity

    Christianity is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] centered on Jesus of Nazareth [i] ... 

     – 81%
    • Roman Catholic – 41%
    • Protestant – 35%
      • Baptist Baptist

        A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church or a person who believes in the practice of baptism by immersi... 

         – 10%
      • Presbyterian Presbyterianism

        Presbyterianism is a form of Protestant [i] Christianity, primarily in the Reformed branch of Christendo... 

         – 4%
      • Pentecostal – 3%
      • Other Protestant or general Protestant – 18%
    • LDS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

      The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the LDS Church or the Mormon C... 

       – 4%
    • Other Christian – 1%
  • Other Religions – 1%
  • Non-Religious – 19%


Within the Catholic church, New Mexico belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Santa Fe. New Mexico has three diocese Diocese

In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit administrated by a bishop [i] ... 

s, one of which is an archdiocese Diocese

In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit administrated by a bishop [i] ... 

:
  • Archdiocese of Santa Fe
  • Diocese of Gallup
  • Diocese of Las Cruces

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that New Mexico's total state product in 2003 was $57 billion. Per capital personal income in 2003 was $24,995, 48th in the nation.

New Mexico Industries by 2004 Taxable Gross Receipts
Retail Trade 12,287,061
Construction 5,039,555
Other Services 4,939,187
Professional, Scientific and Technology Services 3,708,527
Accommodation and Food Services 2,438,460
Wholesale Trade 2,146,066
Health Care and Social Assistance 1,897,471
Utilities 1,654,483
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction 1,238,211
Manufacturing 926,372
Information and Cultural Industries 849,902
Unclassified Establishments 725,405
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 544,739
Finance and Insurance 254,223
Transportation and Warehousing 221,457
Public Administration 159,013
Educational Services 125,649
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 124,017
Admin & Support, Waste Management & Remediation 73,062
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 71,853
Management of Companies and Enterprises 48,714

Totals 39,473,429
Source: State of New Mexico Department of Labor


  • Cattle and dairy products top the list of major animal products of New Mexico. Cattle, sheep, and other livestock graze most of the arable land of the state throughout the year.


  • Limited but scientifically controlled dryland farming prospers alongside cattle ranching. Major crops include hay, nursery stock, pecans, and chile pepper Chili pepper

    The chili pepper, chile pepper, or chilli pepper, or simply chilli, 'chili or ... 

    s. Hay and sorghum Sorghum

    Sorghum is a genus of about 30 species of grasses [i] raised for grain, native to tropical and s ... 

     top the list of major dryland crops. Farmers also produce onions, potatoes, and dairy products. New Mexico specialty crops include piñon nut Pine nut

    Pine nuts are the edible seed [i]s of pine [i] tree [i]s. ... 

    s, pinto bean Common bean

    The common bean, Phaseolus [i] vulgaris, indigenous to the Americas [i], is an herb [i]aceous annual plant [i]... 

    s, and chiles.


  • The Carlsbad and Fort Sumner reclamation projects on the Pecos River Pecos River

    The Pecos River or Rio Pecos, as it is known in New Mexico [i], rises near Santa Fe, New Mexico [i], United States [i] ... 

     and the nearby Tucumcari project provide adequate water for limited irrigation in those areas of the desert and semiarid portions of the state where scant rainfall evaporates rapidly, generally leaving insufficient water supplies for large-scale irrigation.. Located upstream of Las Cruces, the Elephant Butte Reservoir provides a major irrigation source for the extensive farming along the Rio Grande Rio Grande

    Known as the Rio Grande in the United States [i] and as the Ro Bravo in Mexico [i], the river [i] ... 

    . Other irrigation projects use the Colorado River Colorado River

    The Colorado River is a river in the southwestern United States [i] and northwestern Mexico [i], approxi ... 

     basin and the San Juan River.


  • Lumber mills in