New Mexico

New Mexico, state in the southwest region of the United States; bordered by Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico. Northwestern New Mexico is one of the “Four Corners”: the only place in the United States where 4 states—Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona—meet at right angles.

Land and climate

New Mexico has 4 main land regions. The Colorado Plateau, in the northeast, is an area of deep canyons, wide plains and valleys, and flat-topped hills called mesas. The Rocky Mountains, which extend from Colorado into north-central New Mexico, constitute the highest and most rugged part of the state. The Great Plains, covering the eastern third of the state, are part of the great Interior Plain that extends from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The Basin and Range Region, in central and southwestern New Mexico, consists of scattered mountain ranges separated by low-lying desert basins. The state has no natural lakes of consequence, but a number of rivers, the main ones being the Rio Grande and the Pecos. Dams and reservoirs provide irrigation water. Forests cover about one-fourth of the state. Its climate is warm and dry. Principal cities are Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces.

Economy

Service industries employ the greatest percentage of New Mexico's workers. The federal government funds major nuclear and engineering research centers in the state. Mining is a leading economic activity; minerals include natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, uranium, and potash. Chief manufactured products are refined petroleum, electrical machinery, processed foods, apparel, lumber, printed materials, and transportation equipment. Ranching is the most important agricultural activity; chief agricultural products are beef cattle, hay, milk, wheat, sorghum grain, and corn. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy.

Government

New Mexico's constitution was adopted in 1911. The governor serves a 4-year term. The state legislature consists of 42 senators serving 4-year terms and 70 representatives serving 2-year terms. In the U.S. Congress, New Mexico is represented by 2 senators and 3 representatives.

History

New Mexico's original inhabitants were Native Americans, who lived in the area as long as 20,000 years ago. In 1528, gold-seeking Spaniards were the first Europeans to visit and claim the area. Conflicts between Spanish missionaries and Native Americans led to a 1680 Pueblo revolt and years of scattered fighting. U.S. trappers and traders were flowing into the area by 1821, when Mexico took control of the area. The United States annexed New Mexico in 1848, after the Mexican War; in 1850, New Mexico became an official U.S. territory that was expanded by the 1853 Gadsden Purchase. Settlers poured in along the Santa Fe Trail. During the 1860s, fierce conflicts between Native Americans and settlers erupted, and New Mexico was briefly occupied by Confederate forces. After the Civil War, expansion of railroads helped development of the mining industry. New Mexico was the scene of a 1916 border conflict with Mexico. During World War II, the first atomic bomb was developed at Los Alamos; after the war, the U.S. government continued nuclear research and development in the state. Today, New Mexico remains a leading area for research and tourism. It reflects a rich mixture of Anglo-American, Spanish, and Native American cultures.