New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment. CultureGrams. 47th State. Climate. Geography. States Edition. Established 1912

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1 States Edition 2017 The Land of Enchantment Established th State Smokey Bear, the U.S. Forest Service mascot, came from. More people are killed by lightning in than in any other state. At 7,000 feet (2,134 m) above sea level, Santa Fe is the highest capital city in the United States. Founded in 1610, it is also the oldest capital city in the United States. The world s largest international hot air balloon festival takes place in Albuquerque. One out of three families in speaks Spanish at home. has far more sheep and cattle than people. Since s climate is so dry, three-fourths of the roads are left unpaved. These roads don t wash away. The largest chamber of Carlsbad Caverns is more than 10 football fields long and about 22 stories high. Truth or Consequences is the name of a town in. Originally called Hot Springs, the place was renamed after a popular 1950s radio show. Roswell is home to the UFO Museum and Research Center and is a popular tourist spot for people interested in aliens. Climate The climate in is generally sunny, dry, and mild. Most areas in the state receive around 10 to 20 inches (20 50 centimeters) of rain or snow each year. The average July temperature is 74 F (23 C) and the average January temperature is 34 F (1 C). But temperatures and precipitation change greatly depending on the season and elevation. The thermometer can often climb above 100 F (38 C) on summer days in southern. Mountain areas are generally colder and wetter than the rest of the state. Average Seasonal High and Low Temperatures Spring: 72/41 F Summer: 90/62 F Fall: 71/43 F Winter: 52/25 F Geography is the fifth-largest state, with an area of 121,598 square miles (314,937 square kilometers). The state has four main regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau (high, flat area), the Basin and Range Province, and the Great Plains. The Rocky Mountains extend from Alaska clear down into northern. A part of the Rockies, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the highest mountain range in the state. In northwestern lies the Colorado Plateau. This region is made up of layers of sandstone, limestone, and shale (thin, splintery rock deposits). Wind and 1

2 water have carved through the rock to create high cliffs, flat highlands, and deep canyons. The Basin and Range Province, which includes mountains and desert valleys, stretches across the central and southern parts of the state. This is where most New Mexicans live. The Great Plains are in eastern. Much of the landscape in this region is flat and perfect for raising cattle. The state s main river is the Rio Grande, which flows southward across the state. Resources and Economy A large percentage of New Mexicans are employed in service jobs. They may work in the military, study nuclear energy, or protect the environment. Many work for the U.S. government. Mining is also important to the state s economy because of s mineral resources. Oil, coal, natural gas, and copper are found in the state. Despite the dry climate, farmers raise chili peppers, onions, grapes, apples, pistachios, and pecans. But farmers struggle with droughts (dry periods), which can have a major effect on crops. Beef cattle are s most important farming product. Albuquerque is a leading manufacturing center. Computer parts, electronic equipment, and food products are just some of the items produced in the state. Also, an international balloon festival, Native American sites, art galleries, and beautiful scenery help draw tourists to New Mexico. Time Line Native American tribes inhabit what is now thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers and settlers AD 1500 AD 1540 Coronado looks for the Seven Cities of Cibola 1598 Juan de O ate establishes the first European colony Santa Fe is founded 1680 The Pueblo Revolt takes place Mexico gains independence from Spain, so becomes part of Mexico; the Santa Fe Trail opens The Mexican-American War occurs 1848 becomes part of the United States 1853 The Gadsden Purchase increases s size 2

3 1862 The Battle of Glorieta Pass takes place 1878 Ranchers and others are involved in the Lincoln County War 1886 The Apache War ends with Geronimo s surrender becomes the 47th state 1930 Carlsbad Caverns National Park opens 1945 The first atomic bomb is exploded near Alamogordo 1948 Native Americans gain the right to vote in state elections 1950 Uranium is discovered in 1969 voters reject a proposed new state constitution 1970 The federal government gives back Blue Lake and other land that it took from the Taos Pueblo in A radioactive waste storage facility opens near Carlsbad The Valles Caldera National Preserve is established 3

4 2006 A string of fires burn more than half a million acres of grassland across, Texas, and Oklahoma 2009 outlaws the death penalty PRESENT Ancestral Pueblo The Ancestral Pueblo people were one of the first groups to settle in the southwest. They built homes of dried mud and stone in places like Chaco Canyon and Taos. These homes were like apartment buildings, with multiple levels and rooms. Thousands of people might have lived in a single settlement. The Ancestral Pueblo grew corn and beans and made pottery, rugs, and jewelry. Today's Pueblo are descendants of these early peoples. Pueblo Revolt In the 1500s, Spanish soldiers came north from Mexico to look for gold. They claimed the area for Spain, calling it. Later, missionaries were sent to the region to seek converts among the Pueblo. However, the efforts of these missionaries often harmed the Native Americans instead of helping them. The Spanish outlawed the religions of the Pueblo, forced them to pay taxes, and made them work on Spanish farms. On 10 August 1680, the Pueblo revolted, killing more than four hundred Spaniards and chasing the rest out of the area. Although Spain later returned to conquer, Pueblo culture and religion continued to survive. Santa Fe Trail When Spain controlled, it didn t allow New Mexicans to trade with the United States because it thought that U.S. influence might become too strong. But in 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain, and was then governed by Mexico. New Mexicans were given the freedom to trade with their northern neighbors. A U.S. explorer named William Bucknell saw an opportunity to do business by opening a trade route in 1821 from Missouri to. The route became known as the Santa Fe Trail. now had easier access to such things as medicine, cloth, pans, books, and paint. Settlers also came to the area via the Santa Fe Trail. Civil War in The U.S. Civil War began in 1861 as a result of conflicts over slavery and states rights. In July of 1861, Confederate soldiers from Texas captured much of territory and later gained control of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The Confederates wanted to use gold and silver from the West to help pay for the war. But in 1862, with the help of Union forces from Colorado, the Texans were defeated at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. By August of that year, the fighting in had ended. 4

5 Lincoln County Wars In 1876, conflict erupted between cattle ranchers, sheepherders, and lawmen in Lincoln County. Competition for grazing land and cattle markets was intense, and sometimes the competition resulted in theft or violence. Some of the ranchers hired gunslingers (highly skilled gunfighters) to threaten others and to protect them. Billy the Kid (William H. Bonney) was one of the gunmen hired by the ranchers. The ongoing feuds between ranchers and others lasted until Billy the Kid, later a famous outlaw, was shot by Pat Garrett in The town of Lincoln is now a historic site, and the main street was once known as the most dangerous street in America. Atomic Bomb In 1943, the U.S. government created a nuclear research laboratory in Los Alamos near Santa Fe. Scientists there secretly worked to develop an atomic bomb as a possible weapon in World War II. This bomb was first tested in the desert near Alamogordo on 10 July The explosion, followed by a flash of light and a huge fireball, created a mushroom-shaped cloud that spread 40,000 feet (12,192 meters). Later, two of these atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, forcing the Japanese to surrender and bringing an end to World War II. Population has a population that combines Hispanic, Native American, and Anglo cultures. Until the 1940s, Hispanics were in the majority in, and the state still has one of the largest Hispanic populations in the country. It also has a large population of Native Americans, including the Navajo, Apache, Ute, and Pueblo. Many Native Americans live on reservations or in pueblos (towns). s population is very spread out. 5

6 Government Capital: Santa Fe State Abbreviation: NM Governor: Susana Martinez (Republican) U.S. Senators: 2 Martin Heinrich (Democrat) Tom Udall (Democrat) U.S. Representatives: 3 Democrats: 2 Republicans: 1 State Senators: 42 State Representatives: 70 Counties: 33 All laws passed by the state legislature (lawmaking body) must be published in both English and Spanish. Each Native American tribe in elects a tribal council. The tribal councils govern in tribal matters and negotiate with federal and state governments. Famous People Nancy Lopez Joseph Montoya Jeff Bezos Founder and CEO of Amazon.com Kit Carson Soldier and explorer John Denver Musician Tom Ford Fashion designer Neil Patrick Harris Actor Conrad Hilton Founder of Hilton Hotels Corporation Peter Hurd Artist Nancy Lopez Golfer Demi Lovato Singer and actress Joseph Montoya Latino politician Demi Moore Actress Popé Native American leader Georgia O Keeffe Painter Kim Stanley Actress Billy the Kid Outlaw Al Unser Race-car driver Bobby Unser Race-car driver Pablita Velarde Painter Georgia O Keeffe 6

7 Al Unser Native America The Pueblo lived and farmed in what is now long before European explorers arrived. The Pueblo built apartment-like homes out of a kind of clay called adobe. When the fierce Apache and Navajo tribes arrived in the 1400s, they attacked the peaceful Pueblo, raiding their villages. The three groups fought for many years. When Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived, they often enslaved the native peoples. The Spanish forced the natives to work for them and accept their religion. Eventually, the Pueblo revolted. With the help of the Apache, they drove the Spanish from their land. The Spanish later returned in greater numbers and forced the native tribes to accept their presence and sign peace treaties with them. When the United States later gained control of, the natives were forced to fight again for their land. The United States army simply had more people than the tribes, so most of the natives were eventually forced onto reservations. Today, most Native Americans in live on one of the six reservations or in one of the 19 pueblos (towns) in the state. The Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo are the three largest groups. The Apache include the Jicarilla and Mescalero peoples. The Jicarilla live in the north and the Mescalero in the south. The Navajo live mostly in the northwest, where the Navajo Nation reservation stretches across, Utah, and Arizona, making it the largest reservation in the country. The Pueblo are located mostly in central and northern, along the Rio Grande. Their villages are still built around the original adobe buildings their ancestors constructed centuries ago. Each tribe has its own police force, education system, and government. tribes work in all sorts of industries. Many of them farm or make and sell traditional crafts and artwork. Others are employed by the government or work in the mining and lumber industries. Artistic Heritage has a rich artistic heritage. The state has not only fine art, such as the Santa Fe Opera or the Symphony Orchestra, but traditional art as well. Native American art, for example, comes in a variety of forms. The Pueblo make pottery. The Navajo weave rugs and create jewelry from silver and turquoise. Also, some popular Hispanic art forms include wood carving and tile painting. The New Mexico landscape has provided inspiration to artists from a variety of cultures, including visual artists Georgia O Keeffe and Ansel Adams, as well as writers Leslie Marmon Silko and Willa Cather. Museums such as the International Museum of Folk Art in Santa Fe and those in other cities provide showplaces for many artists. 7

8 Fiestas Many New Mexicans enjoy putting on fiestas (celebrations) to show respect for and celebrate important events in their history or to highlight elements of their culture. The Fiestas de Santa Fe has been held every September in Santa Fe for three hundred years. The event celebrates Spanish colonists regaining control of the city in To kick off the festivities, they burn the Zozobra (meaning Old Man Gloom ) a 50-foot-tall figurine representing the worries and problems of the people of Santa Fe. Once he is gone, the people are free to celebrate for the next three days. Activities include mariachi (traditional Mexican musical group) performances, the Children s Pet Parade, and a mass at the local cathedral. Another popular fiesta is the Whole Enchilada Fiesta held each October in Las Cruces. The event celebrates the food and culture of and centers on the making and eating of a giant enchilada. A team of cooks creates the enormous meal using 750 pounds of ground corn, 175 gallons of vegetable oil, 75 gallons of red chili sauce, 75 pounds of cheese, and 50 pounds of chopped onions. More than 70,000 people attend the three-day festival, and everyone gets a piece of the enchilada! State Symbols State Bird Roadrunner This member of the cuckoo family lives in the desert and is a better runner than flier. State Tree Piñon Pine nuts, the seeds of the piñon tree, are used in New Mexican cooking. State Flower Yucca s state flower is sometimes called Spanish bayonet for its long, sharp leaves. State Animal Black bear The black bear was chosen as the state animal in Other Symbols 8

9 Cookie: Bizcochito Colors: Red and yellow of Old Spain Fish: Rio Grande cutthroat trout Fossil: Coelophysis bauri Gemstone: Turquoise Grass: Blue grama grass Insect: Tarantula hawk wasp Song: O Fair Song in Spanish Language: Asi Es Nuevo Mejico Vegetables: Chile and frijol (pinto beans) State Motto Crescit Enudo This Latin phrase means It Grows as It Goes. Major League Sports Teams There are currently no professional sports teams in. For More Information See or contact the Tourism Department, 491 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501; phone (800) SEE-NEWM; web site ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by any means without strict written permission from ProQuest. 9 ProQuest 789 East Eisenhower Parkway Ann Arbor, Michigan USA Toll Free: Fax:

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