Nothing is better than a set of cold, hard, facts. A list like these New Mexico state facts is the perfect way to familiarize yourself with this state. In keeping with that spirit, let’s take a look at some amazing facts about this place!
1. Sante Fe is the highest elevated capital in the U.S. at 7,000 feet above sea level.
2. The city of Albuquerque hosts the world’s largest international hot air balloon fiesta each year in October.
3. The first weekend in October is also the “Whole Enchilada Fiesta” where Las Cruces makes the world’s largest enchilada.
4. The longest river in the state is the Rio Grande which runs across the entire length of New Mexico.
5. The first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945 at the White Sands Testing Range near Alamogordo. There is a placard north of the site that marks it as the Trinity Site.
6. The White Sands National Monument is a desert made entirely of white gypsum crystals.
7. The city of Hatch is the Green Chile capital of the world.
8. Grants was once known as the Carrot capital of the country, but later it became the Uranium Capital of the World when it produced a majority of the nation’s uranium during the post-world war II and Cold War era.
9. New Mexico is one of the four corner states, bordering Colorado, Utah, and Arizona respectively.
10. New Mexico has an international border with Mexico.
11. The state flower, the Yucca, has leaves that are used to make rope, baskets, and sandals.
12. A fire in May of 2000 started as a controlled burn and went out of control, becoming the largest fire in the state’s history. Over 25,000 people were forced to evacuate.
13. Smokey the Bear was inspired by a real cub that was rescued in 1950 when his home was destroyed in a fire. In 1963 the black bear was name the state animal in honor of him.
14. The state constitution labels New Mexico as a bilingual state because 1 out of every 3 families speak both Spanish and English in their homes.
15. Some of the more remote villages in New Mexico contain descendants of the Spanish Conquistadors who still speak a 16th century dialect of Spanish that isn’t used anywhere else in the world.
16. The oldest Government Building in the United States is the Palace of Governors in Santa Fe.
17. Normally silver is mined using traditional methods, but miners discovered a vein in Lake Valley that has silver so pure that it can be sawed off in blocks.
18. Modern rockets are tested at White Sands Missile Range where the first atomic bomb was detonated.
19. There are only 12 people per square mile in New Mexico. There are far more sheep and cattle here than actual people.
20. Deming is a town best known for its annual duck races.
Truly New Mexico is an interesting place with a rich history and culture. While this list of New Mexico state facts is finished, the discussion is not over.