Quick Facts
Capital City: Santa Fe
Abbreviation: NM
Population (2019): 2,085,287; Rank: 36 of 50 | Population Quick Facts
Region: West
Admission to Statehood: January 6, 1912 (47th State)
State Motto: “Crescit eundo,” which translates as “It grows as it goes.”
State Nickname: Land of Enchantment
Origin of State Name: Named by the Spanish for lands north of the Rio Grande River
Area Codes: 505, 575
Zip Codes: New Mexico Zip Codes
State Symbols
Bird: Roadrunner | List of State Birds
Flag: The yellow field and red symbol colors are the colors of Spain. First brought to New Mexico by Spanish explorers in 1540. On New Mexico’s flag we see a red sun with rays streching out from it. There are four groups of rays with four rays in each group. This is an ancient sun symbol of a Native American people called the Zia. The Zia believed that the giver of all good gave them gifts in groups of four. These gifts are:
- The four directions – north, east, south and west.
- The four seasons – spring, summer, fall and winter.
- The day – sunrise, noon, evening and night.
- Life itself – childhood, youth, middle years and old age.
- All of these are bound by a circle of life and love, without a beginning or end.
Flower: Yucca flower (Yucca glauca) | Other State Flowers
Soil: Penistaja
Song: “O, Fair New Mexico” | Words by: Elizabeth Garrett | Music by: Elizabeth Garrett Other State Songs |Sheet Music
Tree: Piñon Tree (Pinus edulis) | Other State Trees
Quarter: State outline, Zia Sun Symbol from flagNew Mexico Quarter | List of State Quarters
Geography
Area:
- Area: 121,593 sq.mi (314,925 sq.km.), 5th
- Land: 121,359 sq.mi. (314,319 sq.km.), 5th
- Water: 234 sq.mi. (606 sq.km.), 49th
Largest Cities: Albuquerque | Las Cruces | Rio Rancho | Santa Fe | Roswell | Farmington | Alamogordo | Carlsbad | Gallup | Deming
Border States: Arizona | Colorado | Oklahoma | Texas | Utah | List of US Regions
Highest Point: Wheeler Peak ; 13,161 feet, (4,013 m.) 8th tallest
Lowest Point: New Mexico; 2,844 feet, 48th lowest
Geographic Center: Torrance, 12 miles southsouthwest of Willard
National Parks:
Location:
- Absolute Center: 34°30.1’N / 106°6.7’W
- Relative Center: Torrance, 12 miles south southwest of Willard
- Distance Between U.S. Cities
State Government
Economy
Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, hay, nursery stock, chilies.
Industry: Electric equipment, petroleum and coal products, food processing, printing and publishing, stone, glass, and clay products, tourism.
White Pages: New Mexico White Pages
Education
- Community and Technical Colleges:
- Nursing Schools:
- School Directory:
