The earliest known inhabitants of area now known as New Mexico were
members of the Clovis culture of Paleo~Indians.
Later inhabitants include members of the Anasazi and the
Mogollon cultures.
By the 1500s, at time of 1st European contact,
the region was populated by the Pueblo peoples and
groups of Navajo, Apache and Ute.
Following the Mexican~American War,
Mexico ceded this territory to the
United States of America in 1848,
in exchange for an end to hostilities.
New Mexico became the 47th state
in the Union on Jan 6, 1912.
New Mexico's population is around 2.5 million.
The state's total area is 121665 mi² (315110 km²),
with a population density of 15 per mi².
The surface water area is only about 250 mi² (650 km²).
The eastern border of New Mexico
lies along 109° W longitude with the state of Oklahoma.
The western border with Arizona
runs along the 109° 03' W longitude.
The 37° N latitude forms the northern boundary with Colorado.
On the southern border,
Texas makes up the eastern 2/3,
while the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora make up the western 1/3,
with Chihuahua making up about 90% of that.
WEATHER
Plentiful sunshine occurs in New Mexico, with 75~80% of the possible
sunshine being received.
In the winter, 70~75% of the possible sunshine is being received.
It is not uncommon for as much as 90% of the possible sunshine to occur
in November and in some of the spring months.
The average number of hours of annual sunshine ranges
from 3700 in the southwest to 2800 in the north~central portions.
Mean annual temperatures range from 64° F in the southeast
to 40° F or lower in high mountains and valleys of the north.
Elevation is a greater factor in determining the temperature
of any specific locality than its latitude.
During the summer months, individual daytime temperatures quite often
exceed 100° F at elevations below 5000 feet.
The average monthly maximum temperatures during July,
the warmest month, range from above 90° F at the
lower elevations to the upper 70’s at higher elevations.
The average range between daily high and low temperatures is 25°~35° F.
The highest temperatures on record in New Mexico is 116° F.
In January, the coldest month, average daytime temperatures range
from the mid 50s in the southern and central valleys to the
mid 30s in the higher elevations of the north.
Minimum temperatures below freezing are common in all sections of
the State during the winter, but subzero temperatures are
rare except in the mountains.
Summer rains fall almost entirely during brief, but frequently intense thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms are relatively frequent in summer,
averaging from 40 in the south to more than 70 in the northeast,
the latter area having the 2nd greatest thunderstorm frequency
in the country. There is an average of 9 tornadoes a year.
July and August are the rainiest months over most of New Mexico,
with from 30~40% of the annual rain falling at that time.
Average annual precipitation ranges from less than 10 inches over much
of the southern desert and the Rio Grande and San Juan Valleys to
more than 20 inches at higher elevations in the State.
Much of the winter precipitation falls as snow in the mountain areas,
but it may occur as either rain or snow in the valleys.
Average annual snowfall ranges from about 3 inches in
the southern and southeastern areas to
well over 100 inches in the northern mountains.
ECONOMY
The Association of Commerce & Industry of New Mexico
is the state~wide, legislative advocate of business interests.
The association serves as the state chamber of
commerce and the New Mexico representative
of the National Association of Manufacturers.
Their mission is to enrich the lives and prosperity
of New Mexico's
citizens through a vibrant business climate
built by effective advocacy and education.
New Mexico's economy has an unusually large public sector,
accounting for over 18% of total state product.
Federal government spending is a major driver of the
New Mexico economy.
The federal government spends $2.00 on
New Mexico for every $1.00 of
tax revenue collected from the state.
This rate of return is higher than any other state in the USA.
The federal government is a major employer in
New Mexico,
providing more than 25% of the state's jobs.
Many of the federal jobs relate to the military.
Major industries include manufacturing, electric equipment;
petroleum & coal products; food processing;
printing & publishing; stone, glass, & clay products.
Defense~related industries include ordnance.
Important high~technology industries include lasers,
data processing, and solar energy.
New Mexico
produces uranium,
manganese, potash, salt, perlite, copper, beryllium, tin,
natural gas, petroleum, and coal.
Major animal products include
cattle and dairy foods, sheep, and other livestock.
Livestock raising is the most extensive agricultural pursuit.
Major crops include hay, sorghum, onions, potatoes, nursery stock, pecans, and chili peppers.
Despite New Mexico's dry desert image,
heavily forested mountain wildernesses cover a significant portion
of the state.
Lumber mills in Albuquerque process pinewood, the chief commercial wood of the
rich timber economy of northern New Mexico.
Tourism continues to flourish.
The 1st space tourism company to develop commercial flights into space
has decided to put its world headquarters and mission control New Mexico.
Great careers are available all around the state for workers
who have the skills and the motivation to succeed in
today's 21st century marketplace.
The state is developing new education and training programs in many different areas.
New Mexico's economy is moving, and you can be part of it.
New Mexico does not have a sales tax.
Instead, it has a 5% gross receipts tax.
Most businesses passes the tax to the consumer,
so the gross receipts tax resembles a sales tax.
SCHOOLS
The mission of the
New Mexico Public Education Department
is to provide leadership, technical assistance and quality assurance
to improve student performance and close the achievement gap.
Their vision is to create a world~class educational system in which all
New Mexico students are prepared to
succeed in a diverse and
increasingly complex world.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department
works to encourage all state residents to pursue a college education
by making it more accessible and affordable.
In collaboration with New Mexico’s public
colleges and universities, the New Mexico Higher Education Department has created a
state~wide vision for higher education in which all state citizens:
• have the ability to achieve the highest level of education they desire.
• are ensured a seamless educational experience from pre~school through college.
• can afford to attend 1 of New Mexico’s
fine institutions.
• will succeed once enrolled.
• will be prepared to participate in New Mexico’s
high~wage workforce.
For more details please contact the
New Mexico Public Education Dept.
HOSPITALITY
From ice caves to monasteries to flying saucer landing sites,
there's something amazing to experience in every part of New Mexico.
New Mexico is well~known for its arts community.
The state's art museums feature everything from folk art to
glass to sculpture to paintings.
There really is a museum for just about every interest,
no matter what you're interested in.
from art to flying to farming to space to bull riding, New Mexico
has a museum dedicated to it.
Art isn't the only thing to experience in New Mexico.
From ice caves to monasteries to flying saucer landing sites,
there's something amazing to experience in every part of the state.
Explore the past and see the future.
New Mexico is rich in old mining, ranching and railroading towns.
Visitors can travel to these old places on the state's beautiful
scenic byways, stopping at New Mexico's national and state parks
and monuments along the way.
New Mexico is rich in prehistoric, Native American and Hispanic ruins.
Archaeologists have a variety of sites to study throughout the state.
There are dormant volcanoes, ancient lava flows, ice caves,
fossil sites, archeological digs, and unique geology, all
throughout New Mexico, just waiting to be explored.
But New Mexico isn't all about the past.
The opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation in
New Mexico are as varied as the state's terrain.
With 13 national monuments and parks, 5 national forests and 29 state parks,
New Mexico has an outdoor adventure for everybody
from weekend vistors to avid back~country explorers.
Since New Mexico's earliest days,
travelers have visited the hot springs
to relax, unwind and heal.
New Mexico
has a variety of resorts, health clubs, and
retreats dedicated to the arts of pure relaxation and pampering,
plus some world~class shopping to complement a perfect vacation.
Whether you want to stay at a resort,
just want a place to rest your head or want to sleep in nature,
there is something for you.
From room service, spa amenities, golf and casinos to a bed,
an RV hookup or sleeping under the stars;
New Mexico
has your perfect respite.
For more details please contact
New Mexico State Tourism.
NEWS
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