In 1540, the Spanish conquistador Coronado
trekked through the area known today as New Mexico in search of
the fabled seven cities of gold. New Mexico, called the
"Land of Enchantment," was the 47th state, entering the
Union in 1912. Part of the "Old West," New Mexico was a
place known for cowboys and cattle drives. The influence of the
Apache Indians who live there is evident in the artwork and
culture. The Pueblo Indian presence is also very apparent, most
visibly in the tribe's buildings. The state also has a large
Hispanic population, as New Mexico was under Spanish control from
the 16th century until about 1846. The capital city of Santa Fe,
founded in 1610, has the oldest continually used seat of
government in North America. The state flower is the yucca.
State Flower: Yucca
State Motto: It grows as it goes
State Nickname: Land of Enchantment
State Bird: Roadrunner
Land area: 121,365 sq mi. - Length: 370 miles - Width: 343 miles
10 largest cities (1999 est.): Albuquerque,
420,578; Las Cruces, 75,786; Santa Fe, 69,299; Rio Rancho,
52,012; Roswell, 47,644; Farmington, 40,599; Clovis, 31,504;
Alamogordo, 28,411; Hobbs, 26,898; Carlsbad, 26,262 - Persons per square mile (1999): 14.3