Fun Fact 2: The state flag is yellow depicting a red emblem which is centrally placed. The colors are symbolic; they represent the colors of the Spanish explorer's flag from the 1540s. The red emblem represents an ancient sun symbol called Zia; relating to the regional indigenous tribe. The sun symbol shows four "rays" that spread towards each of the cardinal directions, four is considered a sacred number for the Zia. The rays also represent, the four seasons, four stages of life, four phases of a day and four obligations that the Zia tribe were encouraged to develop; strong body, clear mind, pure spirit, compassion for others. The flag was adopted as on an official state symbol in 1920
Fun Fact 3: The Capital city of New Mexico is Santa Fe. The name Santa Fe is Spanish - translated it means “holy faith”
Fun Fact 4: The area of the State covers 315,194 square kilometers or 121,589 square miles
Fun Fact 5: There are five states that border New Mexico they are; Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
Fun Fact 6: The state nickname is "The Land of Enchantment" it was adopted as the official State Nickname on April 8, 1999
Fun Fact 7: There are 33 counties in the State of New Mexico
Fun Fact 8: The official State Song is called "O, Fair New Mexico" it was written by Elizabeth Garrett approved as the official state song on March 14, 1917
Fun Fact 9: The three largest cities in New Mexico are Albuquerque, Las Cruces & Santa Fe
Fun Fact 10: The State Motto is "Crescit eundo" the State Motto translates to "It grows as it goes"
Fun Fact 11: A brief history of New Mexico - First explored by the Spanish between 1540 - 1542. Settlements were established, Santa Fe became acknowledged as the Capital in 1610. Governed as a province of Mexico, the region was ceded to the United States under treaty after the Mexican War between 1846-1853. New Mexico became the 47th State to be admitted to the Constitution, on January 6, 1912
Fun Fact 12: The abbreviation letters for the state of New Mexico are - N.M. The Postal Code abbreviation is - NM
Fun Fact 13: NM state symbols include; NM animal symbol - the Black Bear. NM state bird symbol - the Chaparral Bird or Roadrunner. NM state flower symbol - the Yucca Flower. NM state insect emblem - the Tarantula Hawk Wasp. NM state reptile emblem - New Mexico Whiptail Lizard. NM State tree - the Nut Pine or Pinon Tree
Fun Fact 14: Mountains, plains and desert are found throughout the state and the climate is typically dry. The annual temperatures for the state generally average between 64°F (18°C) in the south-east to below 40 °F (4°C) in the northern mountain regions. The highest temperature recorded in the state was set at Lakewood on 27 July 1994, when the temperature reached 122°F (50°C)
Fun Fact 15: The US Department of Commerce Census Bureau states that the Population of New Mexico in 2012 was an estimated 2,085,538. This compares to a population of 195,310 filed on census from the year 1900 |
