If you’re a fan of trivia and of the land of enchantment, read on. We’ve compiled some facts that’ll give you a new perspective on the Land of Enchantment. From stats about one-of-a-kind attractions to little known details about our state history, these fun facts about New Mexico should surprise you.
1. New Mexico has 16.68 million acres of forestland.
That’s almost the same size as the entire state of West Virginia!
2. Santa Fe is at an elevation of over 7000 feet. Residents literally look down on Denver, which is 5280 feet above sea level.
Our state capital is also far higher than the summit of Mount Mitchell
(pictured) - the tallest peak in the Appalachian Mountains.
3. Most of us know – and appreciate - that New Mexico is sparsely populated, but did you know that we have only 17 people per square mile?
And yes, there are more sheep and cattle than people living here!
4. Las Vegas (the one in New Mexico) has more than 900 buildings listed on both the State and National Register of Historic Places.
Pictured is the Charles Ilfeld Building, which dates back to 1882.
5. In Red River, it usually snows for 48.2 days a year. That amounts to an average annual snowfall of 159.5 inches per year.
If you combined the average annual snowfall for Chicago (36.7 inches), Boston (43.8 inches), and Minneapolis (54 inches), Red River would still easily come out ahead!
6. Four different flags have flown over New Mexico.
These are the Spanish, Mexican, Confederate, and U.S. flags. The Republic of Texas, which was an independent nation for a decade, claimed some of New Mexico as its territory. However, the Mexican government never ratified the Treaties of Velasco, so it’s not clear if that one counts or if a flag was ever flown here. (The yellow flag pictured is our state flag.)
7. We have the best heritage in the country. No, really, UNESCO says so. There are more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in New Mexico than in any other state in the nation.
They are: Taos Pueblo, Chaco Culture, and Carlsbad Caverns.
8. Speaking of records, the Sandia Peak Tramway is the longest working aerial tramway in North America. It is 2.7 miles long.
More than 11 million people have ridden the Sandia Peak Tramway since it opened in 1966 – that’s slightly more than the number of people currently living in Bolivia. Here is a view of La Paz taken from a Bolivian cable car.
9. We all know that the atomic age started with the Trinity test that took place on the Alamagordo Bombing Range.
However, what you may not have known was that, when the Gadget exploded, it released the same amount of energy as 21 kilotons of TNT. Yes, kilotons. It knocked over George Kistiakowsky, who was watching… from five miles away.
10. Much of New Mexico’s landscape has been shaped by volcanic activity. Our state experienced over 700 eruptions during the last 5 million years.
In the course of the next 100 years, there is about a 1% chance of a volcano erupting in New Mexico.
11. Agriculture began in New Mexico around 2500 years ago, when the Mogollon people started cultivating corn, squash, and beans.
Our state includes 43.9 million acres, or 67,187 square miles, of farmland – a similar amount of land to that occupied by the country of Uruguay!
Which is your favorite of these fun facts about New Mexico? We are so impressed by all New Mexico has to offer, and it is a leader in so many things that we've put together a list of things New Mexico is number one at for you to peruse and learn from.
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