Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $80,600 million (2012 U.S. Department of Commerce)
Key Industries: Oil and gas production, mining, cattle, and tourism
How New Mexico got its name: The region was named by the first Spanish settlers in the area after the country of Mexico to the south.
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New Mexico State Symbols
State Nickname: The Land of Enchantment
State Slogan: Land of Enchantment; also on its license plate
State Motto: Crescit eundo (It grows as it goes)
State flower: Yucca flower
State bird: Roadrunner aka Greater Roadrunner
State fish: Cutthroat trout
State tree: Pinon Pine
State mammal: Black bear
State foods: Bizcochito (cookie)
Becoming a State
Date admitted: January 6, 1912
Number admitted: 47
Prior Name: New Mexico Territory
Postal Abbreviation: NM
The Geography of New Mexico
Total Size: 121,356 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)
Geographical Low Point: Red Bluff Reservoir at 2,842 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Eddy (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Geographical High Point: Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Taos (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Central Point: Located in Torrance County approx. 12 miles south-southwest of Willard (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Counties: 33 (source: National Association of Counties)
Bodies of Water: Rio Grande River, Pecos River, Canadian River, San Juan River, Elephant Butte Lake, Navajo Lake
Famous People
Jeff Bezos - Founder of Amazon.com
John Denver - Singer and songwriter
Neil Patrick Harris - Actor
Dolores Huerta - Civil rights activist
Demi Lovato - Singer and actress
Demi Moore - Actress
Georgia O'Keeffe - Artist famous for her paintings of New Mexico
Katherine D. Ortega - First Hispanic treasurer of the United States
Al Unser - NASCAR race car driver
Fun Facts
The real Smokey Bear was rescued from a New Mexico fire in 1950.
Roswell, New Mexico is home to some of the world's most famous UFO sightings.
The worlds first atomic bomb was detonated in southern New Mexico.
Carlsbad Caverns has one of the worlds longest underground chambers.
The nickname 'Land of Enchantment' was first used as the title of a book about the area by Lillian Whiting in 1906.
New Mexico is one of the four states that meet at the Four Corners. You can stand in four states at the same time! The other three states are Colorado, Utah, and Arizona,
Santa Fe is well over 1 mile above sea level at 7,000 feet. This makes it the highest altitude capital city in the United States.
The town of Deming is home to the Great American Duck Race. They race in the water and on land.
75% of the roads in New Mexico are not paved.
There are more cattle and sheep in the state than people.
Professional Sports Teams
There are no major professional sports teams in New Mexico.
