33 Interesting Facts About New Mexico

1. Home of Capulin Volcano: you can view portions of five different states (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Colorado) when you are at the top of this extinct volcano. The volcano was once used as a landscape marker for the Santa Fe Trail.

2. The first atomic bomb was dropped in Jornada del Muerto in New Mexico on July 16, 1945. The same design was dropped in Nagasaki Japan only a few weeks later.[1]

3. Among the youngest American states: New Mexico was not an American state until 1912. This is because the state is dominated by the Hispanic community and catholic, which kept it from being admitted as a state.

4. Santa Fe holds the distinction of being the oldest state capital in the U.S. as well as New Mexico’s oldest city.[26]

5. It’s illegal to dance while wearing your Sombrero: don’t even think about dancing while wearing your sombrero because this can land you in jail. Stick to hats if you have to wear one while dancing.[2]

6. It’s illegal for women to appear in public unshaven

Do you love walking unshaven and declaring you are a natural woman? Then don’t do this is New Mexico as it is illegal. Always shave while in public.[3]

7. Home of the Shovel Race Championship

The world shovel race championship is usually held in Angel Fire, N.M. The race is held every year, and thousands of people come from around the US to be part of it.[4]

8. It is the hot air ballooning capital of the world: the city of Albuquerque sees more than 700 local hot air balloons glide over its landscape for two weeks every fall. The city’s International Balloon Fiesta draws both balloonists and gawkers from all over the world.[24]

9. The self-guided bullet is a product of new Mexico: the state is home to a lot of research facilities and laboratories. The self-guided bullet is designed in Sandia labs which is in New Mexico. Sandia researchers Red Jones and Brian Kast and their colleagues have invented the dart-like self-guided bullet.[5]

10. An event that happened in New Mexico inspired the invention of the polaroid: the Polaroid or instant photos are a great deal, especially when you are on vacation. The next time you think of taking a Polaroid to remember the inventor by the name Edwin H. Land. He was inspired to develop the technology because her daughter wanted to take instant photos.[6]

11. It holds the world record for the largest Navajo Taco: the state produces more than 30 pounds of green chili. This is used in making of a taco. The state holds a world record for the largest taco ever made.[7]

12. Home to one of the oldest towns in the USA: Santa Fe is one of the oldest towns in the USA. It was founded in 1607 thirteen years before the Pilgrims came to the country. It was initially called La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis and later changed in 1610.

13. Home to Bandera Ice Cave: the Bandera ice cave dates back to the 1100 B.C. This makes it one of the oldest caves in the area.[8]

14. A third of the residents speak Spanish: this state is predominated by the Hispanic community. Most of the residents speak in Spanish when they are at home and use English for formal communications.[22]

15. Has the oldest government building: Santa Fe’s governors’ palace is considered to be the oldest colonial government building in the United States. The building has a lot of history and is a landmark in the state.[12]

16. It was once the uranium capital of the world: Grants, N.M produced a lot of uranium in the 20th century than any other place in the US. This led to the area to be referred to as the uranium capital of the world.[13]

17. Doc Holliday is from New Mexico: before Doc Holliday gained his fame at the tombstone, he was previously a dentist from Las Vegas. He worked his way up to become famous. He was part of the legendary shootout at the O.K. Corral.[14]

18. Have a large number of UFO reports

The state is known for the many reports about UFO’S. In a recent event, the pilots of at least three separate aircraft encountered an unidentified flying object high above southern Arizona and New Mexico on 24th February 2018.

19. Taos Pueblo is over 900 years old: the Taos Pueblo building is over 900 years which makes it one of the oldest inhabited building. These structures are in excellent condition, and they look like a story building.[15]

20. Interestingly, the founder of another American giant Amazon.com–Jeff Bezos–was born (January 12, 1964) in Albuquerque.

21. Home to the largest camping facility: Philmont scout ranch is the Boy Scouts of America’s largest National High Adventure Base. The ranch operates 35 staffed camps and 55 trail camps that range in elevation from 6,500 to 12,441 feet.[16]

22. Did you know that Microsoft was founded in a small Albuquerque garage? The company’s founders Bill Gates and his friend Paul Allen wrote their first software here.[25]

23. Home to white sands monument: the white sands national monument is a white gypsum crystal structure. It is a major tourist attraction in the land. The gypsum dune field is the largest of its kind on Earth. The white sands are situated in southern New Mexico. The whited sands stretch over 275 square miles of great white dunes. Some of the dunes tower to a height of 60 feet. Additionally, the park offers additional activities to ensure that you enjoy spending time there. They have craft-making programs for kids, stargazing parties, and sunset strolls.[23]

24. The state ranks first in alcohol-related deaths: there is a downside to being the state that produces fine wine. New Mexico is the leading state with alcohol-related deaths. New Mexico’s total alcohol-related death rate has ranked first, second, or third in the US since 1981. Nationally, one in ten deaths among working age adults (age 20-64) is attributable to alcohol. In New Mexico, this ratio is one in six deaths.[17]

25. The only point in the United States where the boundaries of four states (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico) meet is termed as the Four Corners. Thus, one can practically stand in four states at the same time.[28]

26. New Mexico is the country’s top producer of perlite, a type of glass used in insulation and gardening.[29]

27. Santa Fe is the country’s highest state capital: Santa Fe is filled with great art scenes, and the cuisines here are amazing. This place has an excellent visual vibe that can’t be found anywhere in the world. It is at 7199 feet above the sea level.[18]

28. Chili peppers are grown in this state more than any other states: if you love spicy foods, then you need to know that the chili peppers are primarily grown in this area more than any other state in the country.[19]

29. The breakfast burrito is rumored to have been invented in Santa Fe: Tia Sophia claims that they were the first to invent the breakfast burrito. They have claims on their menu, which dates back to 1975.[20]

30. Elizabethtown was the first town in New Mexico: although this has become a ghost town, it was the first town to be established in the area. The town is found in Colfax County, and it is now deserted as people moved to look for better opportunities.[21]

31. 75% of the roads are not paved: this may seem like a concern, but in New Mexico, it is practically a regular thing. Most of the roads here are not paved. This is because they are not used frequently and the area doesn’t have enough moisture to make the road disappear.[11]

32. Has the highest temperature ranges than most states: New Mexico has the highest number of temperature ranges with the highest record being 122 F (Lakewood, southeastern New Mexico, 7/27/1994) and the lowest being -50 F (Gavilan, northwestern New Mexico, 2/1/1951). This makes the state have the highest temperature range than most states.[10]

33. Neil Patrick is from Albuquerque: this famous actor is from Albuquerque. Yes, this place has got some talent.[9]