History / Economics / Culture

New Mexico is a state of about 1.8 million spread out across a state measuring 121,598 square miles. The fifth-largest state by landmass, New Mexico’s population is a diverse blend of predominately Hispanic, Anglo, and Native American populations and cultures, with a healthy integration of many other races and communities as well. Taken as a whole, Native Americans occupy four major reservations and nineteen Pueblo communities throughout the state, while close to thirty percent of the state’s total population resides in its largest city, Albuquerque, and its capital city, Santa Fe.

The History of New Mexico

New Mexico has an ancient history dating back to what we now call "Folsom Man," a 20,000 year-old human inhabitant found near Clovis. More recently, around 1100, the Anasazi lived in New Mexico throughout the northern part of the state, and other Native American tribes can also claim locality here for nearly a thousand years.

For a more comprehensive history of New Mexico, please visit the New Mexico Department of Tourism site, here: http://www.newmexico.org/go/loc/about/page/about-history.html

The Economics of New Mexico

Economically speaking, New Mexico enjoys a rich technology infrastructure thanks to decades of investment from the military and national laboratories like Sandia and Los Alamos. Per capita, New Mexico has more PhDs than any other state, and with seven of the nation’s largest non-profit arts foundations based here in New Mexico, we enjoy a rich cultural and intellectual life that is evidenced by the droves of smart, artistic, and creative people that continue to move to our beautiful state.

For more information about bringing your business to the state of New Mexico, please visit the Department of Economic Development: http://www.edd.state.nm.us/NMBUSINESS/index.html

The Culture of New Mexico

New Mexico is rich in personality. No other state can claim our geographical or cultural diversity, or match our historical complexity. Our state has been home to successive waves of Native American hunters, farmers and herdsmen, Spanish explorers, missionaries and settlers, Yankee traders, Southern expatriates, emancipated Black Americans, Irish railroad workers, Italian stonecutters, Japanese farmers, Jewish and Lebanese merchants, hard rock miners from Eastern Europe, cowboys, soldiers, artists, scientists, and many others who have added to the unfolding tapestry of our state's evolving history.

In all of our cultures flows a rich tradition of artistic endeavors and achievements, and we are pleased to benefit from all the expressions that each has to offer, from opera to flamenco, traditional fine art to retablos, classical music to mariachi, del canto singing, ballet and ritual dancing, drumming, ceramics and southwestern style jewelry. All of these expressive traditions – and many more - are ALIVE in New Mexico, and are continuing meeting each other and re-combining into the rich cultural stew that is every New Mexican’s birthright.

Each community of New Mexico owns its own small piece of this enormously interesting story. New Mexico's cultural heritage is part of everyday life here, and we invite you to join us in celebrating the uniqueness of our people and places.

For more information about the rich blend of cultural diversity in New Mexico, please visit the Department of Cultural Affairs at http://www.newmexicoculture.org/