NEW MEXICO
IN A NUTSHELL
New Mexico, also known as the "Land of Enchantment", became the 47th State of the Union in 1912, and thus ended the last Territory. It is rich in history, going back to 1500 BCE when the Anazasi Indians lived here in cliff dwellings.
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Blessed with a varied landscape of lush forests, arid deserts, rolling plains and soaring mountain ranges, New Mexico enjoys a scenic diversity unmatched in most states. No less diverse is the state's culture, a mosaic of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo traditions that intermingle but never blend, much like the land around them. From ancient ruins of the Anazasi to the atomic testing ranges at White Sands, New Mexico is as distinctive as its rich cultural heritage.
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New Mexico is still sparsely populated with the majority of the population living along the Rio Grande corridor, which includes Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Las Cruces. The rural areas of New Mexico are still mainly agricultural, with cattle and sheep ranches scattered throughout, and farming in the more fertile Pecos and Rio Grande valleys. The topography is immensely diversified, varying from desert country to high mountains in the north as well as south-central New Mexico. The semi-arid climate is mild, but varied because of the varying altitudes and topography. Wildlife is plentiful and include elk, bear, deer, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, jack-rabbits, eagles, hawks and many more. The State attracts many out-of-State hunters. New Mexicans are friendly and down-to-earth people with long-standing traditions. |
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