New Mexico is known as the “Land of Enchantment” or “Tierra del Encanto” in Spanish. This name is a reference to the history and beauty of New Mexico.[1] New Mexico is the fifth-largest state in the U.S., with a total area of approximately 121,700 square miles (or 315,194 square kilometers).[2] As of 2024, the estimated population of New Mexico is around 2.11 million.[3] New Mexico never experienced a population boom, in the 18th Century, the largest decade of New Mexico population growth was 60%, far below the increase in other parts of the country.[3]
The economy of New Mexico is diverse and includes sectors such as oil and gas production, tourism, and federal government spending.[4] The state government also promotes job growth and business investment, especially in new technologies.[5] Major products of New Mexico include beef, milk, hay, pecans, corn, wheat, cotton, sorghum, peanuts, and potatoes.[6] The state is also known for its specialty crops like piñon nuts, pinto beans, and chiles.[7]
New Mexico is major destination for tourists include Bandelier National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Petroglyph National Monument, White Sands National Park, El Morro National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, and Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation AreaFort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area,
Research your ancestors on MyHeritage
History of New MexicoHistory of New Mexico
The first European explorers arrived in New Mexico in 1540, led by the Spanish adventurer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. After several decades of exploration, Juan de Oñate of New Spain made the first permanent settlements in the late 1590s. Santa Fe was established as the permanent capital in 1610.[8]
During the Mexican-American War, which began in 1846 ended with The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and resulted in the annexation of more than 525,000 square miles of land and extended the boundaries of the United States west to the Pacific Ocean. This agreement, along with the 1853 Gadsden Purchase, created the southern border of the present-day United States.[9] During the American Civil War, the New Mexico Territory, which included parts of modern-day New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada, played a significant role in the trans-Mississippi theater. The southern part of the territory sided with the Confederacy, while the northern section remained loyal to the Union.[10]
New Mexico was admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912, becoming the 47th state.[11] In the 19th century, New Mexico’s economy grew significantly. The Santa Fe Trail served as a vital commercial and military highway, linking the New Mexico Territory to the Midwest and eastern United States.[12] Agriculture, mining, and ranching were the main economic activities.[7]
In the 20th century, New Mexico underwent a social and cultural transformation. The state remained primarily rural during the 1930s, with most of its people employed in raising crops and livestock. However, the Great Depression had a particularly harsh effect on New Mexico’s agriculture sector. Most New Mexicans did not benefit from the economic upturn of the 1920s. On the eve of the stock-market crash in October 1929, the average rural family had only six acres of land under cultivation from which they typically made about $100 per year.[13] The war played a significant role in transforming the state’s economy. New Mexico and its residents played a significant role in the war, signaling a major change in the state’s economy and its recognition worldwide.[14]
Demographics of New MexicoDemographics of New Mexico
The demographic distribution of the [state] population is as follows:[15]
- White: 64.69%
- Two or more races: 12.4%
- Other race: 9.71%
- Native American: 9.37%
- Black or African American: 2.12%
- Asian: 1.63%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.08%
Most common surnames in New MexicoMost common surnames in New Mexico
The demographic distribution of New Mexico surnames is as follows:[16]
| Surname | Incidence | Frequency | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | 163,144 | 1:127 | |||
| Williams | 119,038 | 1:174 | |||
| Johnson | 103,369 | 1:200 | |||
| Rodriguez | 101,920 | 1:203 | |||
| Brown | 99,111 | 1:209 | |||
| Jones | 89,221 | 1:232 | |||
| Gonzalez | 79,617 | 1:260 | |||
| Davis | 76,799 | 1:269 | |||
| Miller | 71,708 | 1:288 | |||
| Perez | 69,521 | 1:298 |
Researching family history in New MexicoResearching family history in New Mexico
The National Archives at Denver has federal court records and government agency records for New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The National Hispanic Cultural Center has photographs, maps, manuscripts, and genealogies. The Historical Society of New Mexico's mission is to increase and disseminate knowledge of New Mexico. The Fray Angélico Chávez History Library rivals the state archives in is scope. New Mexico Genealogical Society hosts the Premeras Familias de Nuevo Mexico (First Families of New Mexico). The New Mexico State Library has the largest book collection in the state.
New Mexico county listNew Mexico county list
New Mexico has 33 counties.
| Bernalillo | Catron | Chaves | Cibola |
| Colfax | Curry | De Baca | Dona Ana |
| Eddy | Grant | Guadalupe | Harding |
| Hidalgo | Lea | Lincoln | Los Alamos |
| Luna | McKinley | Mora | Otero |
| Quay | Rio Arriba | Roosevelt | Sandoval |
| San Juan | San Miguel | Santa Fe | Sierra |
| Socorro | Taos | Torrance | Union |
| Valencia |
See alsoSee also
Explore more about New MexicoExplore more about New Mexico
MyHeritage.com has 7 useful collections of records from New Mexico that include the Western United States, Marriage Index, 1838-2016, New Mexico, Bernalillo County Marriages, and New Mexico, Doña Ana County Marriage Licenses. The rest of the record can be found in the New Mexico Collection Catalog.
References
- ↑ Why Is New Mexico Called the Land of Enchantment?
- ↑ Location, size, and extent - New Mexico
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 New Mexico Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
- ↑ New Mexico
- ↑ Economy of New Mexico Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth
- ↑ What are New Mexico's products?
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 New Mexico Tells New Mexico History | History: Growing New Mexico
- ↑ New Mexico - Spanish, Mexican, Rule | Britannica
- ↑ Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
- ↑ The American Civil War Heads West: The New Mexico Campaign
- ↑ New Mexico joins the Union | January 6, 1912
- ↑ New Mexico Tells New Mexico History | History: Tourism
- ↑ Depression Comes to New Mexico
- ↑ New Mexico Tells New Mexico History | The Great Depression and World War II
- ↑ New Mexico Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
- ↑ Most Common Surnames in Florida, With Meanings