New Mexico
Land of Enchantment · Capital: Santa Fe · West (Southwest)
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Bordering states: Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas.
About New Mexico
New Mexico is a western state bordered by Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Four physiographic provinces meet inside it: the Southern Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau, the Basin and Range and the Great Plains. The Rio Grande runs the length of the state along the Rio Grande Rift, where the crust is being stretched apart. Elevations climb from 2,842 feet at Red Bluff Reservoir to 13,167 feet on Wheeler Peak, and the mean of about 5,700 feet is the fourth highest of the fifty states. Thin, dry air brings wide swings: the record high and record low are 172 degrees apart.
Between roughly 850 and 1150, Chaco Canyon held the largest buildings north of Mexico. Spanish colonization began in 1598 under Juan de Oñate, and Santa Fe was laid out in 1610. In 1680 the Pueblo towns, coordinated by Po'pay, drove Spanish rule out for twelve years. Mexico inherited the province in 1821; Stephen Watts Kearny took Santa Fe without a shot in 1846, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transferred it in 1848. After sixty-two years as a territory, New Mexico became the 47th state on 6 January 1912. On 16 July 1945 the first atomic bomb, assembled at Los Alamos, was detonated in the Jornada del Muerto.
The 2020 census counted 2,117,522 residents, up 2.8% from 2010, at 17.5 people per square mile. Albuquerque is the largest city, and Santa Fe, at 7,199 feet, is the highest state capital in the country. Nineteen self-governing Pueblos remain, and drilling in the Permian Basin has made the state second only to Texas in crude oil output. Its official state question, adopted in 1996, is "Red or green?", a question about chile sauce. Harrison Schmitt, born in Santa Rita in 1935, became the only scientist to walk on the moon, on Apollo 17 in 1972.
4 fun facts about New Mexico
- Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the US (founded 1610) and the highest in elevation (7,199 ft).
- The laboratory that designed the first atomic bombs, part of the Manhattan Project, was at Los Alamos.
- Roswell is famous for the 1947 UFO incident, still debated today.
- New Mexico's official state question is "red or green?", referring to chile pepper sauce.
More about New Mexico
New Mexico geography and climate
More fun facts about New Mexico
Frequently asked questions about New Mexico
Is New Mexico a US state?
Yes, New Mexico is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1912, making it the 47th state. Its capital is Santa Fe and its largest city is Albuquerque.
What is the capital of New Mexico?
The capital of New Mexico is Santa Fe. Note that the largest city in New Mexico is Albuquerque, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did New Mexico become a state?
New Mexico became a US state in 1912. It is the 47th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for New Mexico?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for New Mexico is NM.
How big is New Mexico?
New Mexico ranks #5 of 50 US states by area. With 17.5 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 45th most densely populated state.
What is the population of New Mexico?
New Mexico had 2,117,522 residents at the 2020 census, the 36th largest population of the 50 states, up 2.8% since 2010. That count gives it 3 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is New Mexico in?
New Mexico is in the West region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is New Mexico in?
New Mexico observes Mountain Time.
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How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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