100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
New Mexico (NM) lies in the American Southwest, a state with a rich history shaped by Native peoples and Spanish settlers. New Mexico’s economy relies on oil and natural gas production as well as tourism. The state capital is Santa Fe, while the largest city is Albuquerque. Top tourist attractions in New Mexico include Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name New Mexico Abbreviation NM Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque (Population: 560 274) Current time 8:02 Time zone MST (UTC-7), the state observes summer time MDT (UTC-6) Population 2,117,525 (#36 most populous US state) Area 121,589 sqmi (#5 largest US state) Admitted to the Union January 6, 1912 (#47 state to join) ⭐ Capital of New Mexico
The capital of the state of New Mexico is Santa Fe. In 1610 it was founded by the governor of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, Pedro de Peralta, and it immediately became the capital of the province of Nuevo México. Santa Fe became the capital of the state of New Mexico after its admission to the Union on January 6, 1912.
🏙️ Largest City in New Mexico
The largest city in New Mexico is Albuquerque, which had 560,274 residents in 2023. The second largest is Las Cruces with a population of 114,892, and in third place is the city of Rio Rancho with 110,660 residents.
🕒 Time in New Mexico
The current time in New Mexico is 8:02. The state observes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7), with Daylight Saving Time, MDT (UTC-6), from March through November. Some areas of the Navajo Nation may have their own rules for the DST change.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of New Mexico
According to 2023 data, New Mexico had a total of 2,117,525 residents, which made it the 36th most populous state in the United States.
📍 Area of New Mexico
The total area of New Mexico is 121,589 sqmi, of which 121,298 sqmi is land and only 292 sqmi is water. New Mexico is the 5th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About New Mexico
🧩 Which States Border New Mexico
New Mexico borders four U.S. states. To the west is Arizona, to the north Colorado, and to the east it borders Oklahoma and Texas. It also shares a southern border with Mexico.
📅 Date of New Mexico Statehood
New Mexico was admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912 as the 47th state, succeeding the New Mexico Territory.
📛 New Mexico State Nickname
New Mexico is nicknamed “The Land of Enchantment,” a claim it proudly displays on its license plates. The name points to the state’s natural beauty, which often carries a touch of mystery. According to preserved records, the nickname first appeared in 1926 in state promotional materials.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in New Mexico
The highest mountain in New Mexico is Wheeler Peak at 13,167 ft, located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the northern part of the state. The peak was named in honor of cartographer and explorer George Montague Wheeler, who led expeditions across New Mexico and other states for ten years to gather geological, biological, topographic, and other data.
🏞️ Rivers in New Mexico
The longest river in New Mexico is the Rio Grande with a total length of 1,885 mi. It is followed by the Pecos River (926 mi), the Canadian River (906 mi), the Cimarron River (698 mi), and the Gila River (652 mi).
🎓 Universities in New Mexico
The largest university in the state is the University of New Mexico, headquartered in Albuquerque and operating since 1889, with around 31,000 students today. In second place is New Mexico State University, whose main campus is in Las Cruces, with about 19,000 students. The third largest is Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, which enrolls roughly 9,000 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in New Mexico
New Mexico is assigned ZIP code ranges 870xx–871xx, 873xx–875xx, and 877xx–884xx. You can look up the ZIP code for a specific address on the USPS website, and the article ZIP Codes in the USA explains how the system works.
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Weather in New Mexico
The best times to visit New Mexico are late spring and early fall, when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is minimal. This period offers the best conditions for road trips and hiking.
Spring in New Mexico is dry and warm, with temperatures climbing from March averages of 43 °F to 54 °F up to May averages of 61 °F to 72 °F. Rain showers are rare.
Summer in New Mexico is hot, especially in the southern regions where temperatures often exceed 95 °F. Temperatures in the north and in the mountains tend to be a few degrees lower. July and August bring short yet intense storms that can cause flash flooding.
Fall in New Mexico brings comfortable weather with temperatures between 54 °F and 64 °F. Rainfall is minimal, which makes fall ideal for outdoor activities.
Winter in New Mexico is mild, with temperatures usually hovering just above freezing, around 32 °F to 41 °F. Freezing conditions occur mainly at night or in the mountains, where snow showers can appear. Winters are dry across most of the state.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in New Mexico
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What to See in New Mexico
1️⃣ Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is renowned for its vast limestone caves, some of the largest in the world. A total of 119 caves have been discovered in the park so far, with the Big Room as the best known.
Visitors can explore the caverns on their own or join one of the guided tours. Seventeen different bat species live in the caves, and their numbers during the summer months are estimated at 200,000 to 500,000. One fun detail is that the temperature inside the caves holds steady at 55 °F.
2️⃣ Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, which earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The community of Indigenous people known as the Pueblo is more than 1,000 years old, and their dwellings are traditionally built of adobe bricks recognized by their ochre color.
Visitors can glimpse traditional Pueblo life or attend dances, religious ceremonies, and other cultural events. Photography is prohibited in some areas.
3️⃣ White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park spreads across the southern part of the state on 227.8 sqmi, a landscape that truly stands alone. The park consists of massive gypsum dunes that reach up to 30 ft in some places, which makes sledding and sandboarding a favorite activity for kids and adults alike.
Several hiking trails crisscross the park and provide great views of the photogenic dunes. Summer heat can be intense, so bring plenty of water.
4️⃣ Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres & Toltec is a historic railroad that offers a unique train ride along one of the most beautiful routes in the United States. The line, opened in 1880, connects the towns of Chama in New Mexico and Antonito in Colorado.
Steam locomotives and period coaches travel through gorgeous scenery with views of mountains, forests, and rivers. The full experience takes about six hours and includes lunch and photo stops.
5️⃣ Bandelier National Monument
The protected cliff dwellings of Bandelier lie west of Santa Fe and offer visitors a window into ancient homes carved into canyon walls. The Anasazi built these dwellings between 1383 and 1466, dates that were found on some of the wooden beams.
Bandelier features roughly 70.0 mi of hiking trails that lead through canyons, past cave dwellings, and their remains. Summer heat in the area can be extreme, so tours are best taken early in the morning or toward evening.
6️⃣ Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge ranks among the highest bridges in the United States and sits northwest of Taos. The highway bridge, opened in 1965, spans 600.0 ft above the Rio Grande and offers sweeping views of the namesake gorge, which makes it a favorite stop for photographers. Viewing platforms are accessible on both sides of the bridge.
7️⃣ Roswell
Roswell lies in southeastern New Mexico and became famous for conspiracy theories claiming that a UFO crashed there in 1947. Locals leaned into the legend, and Roswell is now home to the International UFO Museum and Research Center, which is open to the public. The city hosts an annual UFO festival that draws enthusiasts from around the world.
8️⃣ Petroglyph National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument on the edge of Albuquerque protects one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in North America. Pueblo peoples and the first Spanish settlers carved more than 24,000 images into the rocks, depicting animals, spiritual motifs, and various other symbols. Several hiking trails run along the petroglyph cliffs, with interpretive signs that explain their meanings.
9️⃣ Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza is the historic heart of New Mexico’s capital. It is surrounded by museums, galleries, and other buildings made from the characteristic material known as “adobe.” In Spanish the word refers to adobe, meaning sun-dried clay. Buildings around the square are ochre in color with rounded edges and are mostly one story tall.
Santa Fe Plaza has always served as the city’s main commercial and social center, hosting markets, concerts, festivals, and other cultural events.
🔟 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
The Albuquerque hot air balloon festival is one of the largest in the world. Every October it attracts thousands of visitors and hundreds of balloons, and the mass launch at sunrise is the top attraction. Visitors can take a ride in a hot air balloon and view the entire event from a bird’s eye perspective. The festival also features concerts, competitions, and plenty of food stalls.
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Largest Cities in New Mexico
The table lists the ten largest cities in the state of New Mexico in 2023. The data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary mission is to conduct the national census.
City County Population 1 Albuquerque Bernalillo 560,274 Map of Albuquerque 2 Las Cruces Doña Ana 114,892 Map of Las Cruces 3 Rio Rancho Sandoval, Bernalillo 110,660 Map of Rio Rancho 4 Santa Fe Santa Fe 89,167 Map of Santa Fe 5 Roswell Chaves 47,109 Map of Roswell 6 Farmington San Juan 46,237 Map of Farmington 7 Hobbs Lea 39,386 Map of Hobbs 8 Clovis Curry 37,612 Map of Clovis 9 Carlsbad Eddy 31,499 Map of Carlsbad 10 Alamogordo Otero 31,284 Map of Alamogordo -
Sports Teams in New Mexico
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
There is no NHL team from New Mexico.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
New Mexico has no team playing in the NFL.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
New Mexico has no representation in the NBA.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
There is no MLB team from New Mexico.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
No team from New Mexico plays in MLS.
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New Mexico State Symbols
All official symbols of New Mexico were approved by the state’s General Assembly and signed into law by the governor. Below are only some of the symbols.
Flag of New Mexico
The current flag of New Mexico has been in use since March 15, 1925, and in design it is among the simplest of all U.S. state flags. It features the red sacred sun symbol of the Zia people on a field of gold. The emblem represents the sacred number four, that is, the four directions, the four seasons, the four parts of the day, and the four stages of life. The yellow and red refer to the state’s history linked to Spain.
In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association named New Mexico’s flag the most beautiful of all U.S. state flags.
Great Seal of New Mexico
The Great Seal in its current form has been used since 1913 – the year after New Mexico became a member of the Union. The seal shows a large bald eagle protecting a smaller Mexican eagle, symbolizing the United States’ protection of former Mexican territory. The emblem is accompanied by the state’s official motto, “Crescit eundo.”
State Song
The official state song since March 14, 1917 is O Fair New Mexico, composed and written by New Mexico native Elizabeth Garrett.
State Flower
New Mexico’s state flower since March 14, 1927 is the yucca, which is widespread in the state’s desert and arid regions. The plant is characterized by long, sword-like leaves and white blossoms. Around 40 yucca species grow in the state, with yucca elata the most common.
State Tree
In 1949 the state designated the piñon pine (Pinus edulis) as its state tree, a species that naturally occurs across the American Southwest. The pine is notable for its edible seeds, known as pine nuts. Harvesting them is a traditional fall activity in New Mexico.
State Amphibian
In 2003 the list of state symbols expanded to include the New Mexico spadefoot toad (Spea multiplicata), a toad that grows up to 6 cm and is usually active at night.
State Animal
New Mexico’s official state animal since 1963 is the American black bear, which lives in the state’s forested and mountainous regions. The black bear symbolizes the state’s strength and wild beauty and also appears as Smokey Bear in wildfire prevention campaigns. Fun fact, the campaign was built around a real bear cub rescued during a forest fire in New Mexico.
State Bird
The state bird, designated in 1949, is the greater roadrunner, which is common in New Mexico’s desert and semi-desert areas. It is a strong runner, often seen dashing across roads and open ground. The roadrunner can run up to 20 mph and is also famous as a character from the Looney Tunes cartoons, where it escapes from a coyote.
State Question
In 1999 New Mexico enacted its official state question, “Red or green?” It is a very common query in local restaurants, where staff ask whether guests want their dishes prepared with red or green chile.
State Aroma
In 2023 New Mexico adopted a unique law defining its official state aroma. The symbol is the smell of roasting green chile, a staple of local cuisine.
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