Changes

|date=January 6, 1912 (47th)

|date=January 6, 1912 (47th)

}}

}}

'''New Mexico''' became 47th state to join the union on January 6, 1912. It is the fifth largest of the [[United States]], with a total land area of 121,412 square miles<ref> http://www.newmexico.gov/ </ref>. New Mexico has the largest [[Hispanic]] population, and second largest [[Native American]] population, percentage-wise, of any US State. The State has a bold history and colorful culture, the official state question is "red or green?" in reference to the State's unique [[Chile (Capsicum)|chile pepper]]. Politically the State is very much as Independent swing state, that usually votes for the incumbent, and much like West Texas the state also leans [[Libertarian]] especially in Central and Western New Mexico.

'''New Mexico''' became 47th state to join the union on January 6, 1912. It is the fifth largest of the [[United States]], with a total land area of 121,412 square miles.<ref> http://www.newmexico.gov/</ref> New Mexico has the largest [[Hispanic]] population, and second largest [[Native American]] population, percentage-wise, of any US State. The State has a bold history and colorful culture, the official state question is "red or green?" in reference to the State's unique [[Chile (Capsicum)|chile pepper]]. Politically the State is very much as Independent swing state that usually votes for incumbents and, much like West Texas, the state also leans towards  [[Libertarian]] political stances especially in Central and Western New Mexico.

Despite popular opinion, New Mexico's name originates from long before it was a territory of Mexico or the United States. New Mexico was named by Spanish explorers who mistook the advanced Pueblo natives as being related to the Mexica ([[Aztecs]]). The full name of the colony, as well as the Mexican and American territories, was Santa Fe de Nuevo México (Holy Faith of New Mexico).

Despite popular opinion, New Mexico's name originates from long before it was a territory of Mexico or the United States. New Mexico was named by Spanish explorers who mistook the advanced Pueblo natives as being related to the Mexica ([[Aztecs]]). The full name of the colony, as well as the Mexican and American territories, was Santa Fe de Nuevo México (Holy Faith of New Mexico).

Diego de Vargas lead the colonists back to New Mexico in 1692, in what was called the Bloodless Reconquest. The Spanish gave clemency to the Pueblos, and the Pueblo people agreed to peace under the agreement of greater representation and better religious freedoms. The Pueblo and Spanish still had several contentions, but relations between them was much better this time around, especially since forced labor and taxes were no longer enforced. They would often together to stave off attacks from the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche. Eventually peace was also made with the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche.

Diego de Vargas lead the colonists back to New Mexico in 1692, in what was called the Bloodless Reconquest. The Spanish gave clemency to the Pueblos, and the Pueblo people agreed to peace under the agreement of greater representation and better religious freedoms. The Pueblo and Spanish still had several contentions, but relations between them was much better this time around, especially since forced labor and taxes were no longer enforced. They would often together to stave off attacks from the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche. Eventually peace was also made with the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche.

====Mexican territory (1821)====

====Mexican territory (1821)====

Mexico declared independence in 1821. Mexico's policies worsened relations with the Native Americans, and again caused the resurgence in raids. This was the beginning of the [[Wild West]], which lasted through the Mexican and American territorial phases, New Mexico was a major part of the Wild West supplying major Western icons such as the cowboy, the Sheriff, [[Billy the Kid]], old Spanish town squares, and the settings of deserts, prairies, and mountains. Troubles from the neighbors to the east also became an issue, [[Texas]] declared its own Independence from Mexico, and attempted to annex everything east of the Rio Grande. All the while, Mexico was taking land from the original settlers of New Mexico as well as American land-grantees.

Mexico declared independence in 1821. Mexico's policies worsened relations with the Native Americans, and again caused the resurgence in raids upon Spanish and Pueblo towns. This was the beginning of the Wild West, which lasted through the Mexican and American territorial phases, New Mexico was a major part of the Wild West supplying major Western icons such as the cowboy, the Sheriff, [[Billy the Kid]], old Spanish town squares, and the settings of deserts, prairies, and mountains. Troubles from the neighbors to the east also became an issue, [[Texas]] declared its own Independence from Mexico, and attempted to annex everything east of the Rio Grande. All the while, Mexico was taking land from the original settlers of New Mexico as well as American land-grantees.

====American territory (1848)====

====American territory (1848)====

The Mexican-American war resulted in New Mexico becoming an American territory. U.S. Presidents [[Zachary Taylor]] and [[Abraham Lincoln]] both called for the immediate statehood of New Mexico, since New Mexico's law had already prohibited slavery since the Pueblo Revolt, in order to side-step the impending [[Civil War]]. Unfortunately, statehood did not come to New Mexico until 1912. The New Mexico Campaign during the Civil War was an important battlefield, the Confederacy attempted to capture Albuquerque but was only temporarily successful. This instead bolstered the American soldiers, consisting mostly of descendants of New Mexican Spanish and Pueblo, to chase the Confederate soldiars to Glorieta Pass.

The Mexican-American war resulted in New Mexico becoming an American territory, mostly due to the promise of the American government again repairing relations with the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche. U.S. Presidents [[Zachary Taylor]] and [[Abraham Lincoln]] both called for the immediate statehood of New Mexico, in order to side-step the impending [[Civil War]], since New Mexico's law had already prohibited slavery since the Pueblo Revolt. Unfortunately, statehood did not come to New Mexico until 1912. The New Mexico Campaign during the Civil War was an important battlefield, the Confederacy attempted to capture Albuquerque but was only temporarily successful. This instead bolstered the American soldiers, consisting mostly of descendants of New Mexican Spanish and Pueblo, to chase the Texan Confederate soldiers to the largest Civil War battle in the American West at Glorieta Pass.

===The State of New Mexico (1912)===

===The State of New Mexico (1912)===

New Mexico became the 47th State of the Union in 1912. The Daughters of the American Revolution pushed for a State flag in 1920, and that call was answered in 1925 by Dr. Harry P. Mera. The flag consists of the Zia Pueblo sun symbol in Spanish red on a field of Spanish yellow, this design has won the North American Vexillological Association's best flag design for U.S. states, territories, or Canadian provinces numerous times.

New Mexico became the 47th State of the Union in 1912. The Daughters of the American Revolution pushed for a State flag in 1920, and that call was answered in 1925 by Dr. Harry P. Mera. The flag consists of the Zia Pueblo sun symbol in Spanish red on a field of Spanish yellow, this design has won the North American Vexillological Association's best flag design for U.S. states, territories, or Canadian provinces numerous times.

During [[World War II]], New Mexico played a pivotal role as not only the namesake of the [[New Mexico-class battleship]], but also as the birthplace of the Navajo Code Talkers who created the only uncracked code of WWII which saved countless lives in the Pacific Theatre, and more importantly as the primary place of research and technology at Los Alamos which housed some of the smartest men in the country including [[Albert Einstein]], and the White Sands Military Testing Facility for testing the Nuclear bomb.

During [[World War II]], New Mexico played a pivotal role as not only the namesake of the [[New Mexico-class battleship]], but also as the birthplace of the Navajo Code Talkers who created the only uncracked code of WWII which saved countless lives in the Pacific Theatre, and more importantly as the primary place of research and technology at Los Alamos which housed some of the smartest men in the country including [[Albert Einstein]], and the White Sands Military Testing Facility for testing the Nuclear bomb.

New Mexico has continued to at the forefront of science, including Sandia Labs and the Los Alamos Laboratories. Technology by Ed Roberts' MITS with their Altair computer kits, which attracted both [[Paul Allen]] and [[Bill Gates]] to start [[Microsoft]] in [[Albuquerque]]. [[Intel]] continues to have a fabricating facility in Rio Rancho, near Albuquerque.

New Mexico has continued to at the forefront of science, including Sandia Labs and the Los Alamos Laboratories. Technology by Ed Roberts' MITS, with their Altair computer kits, attracted both [[Paul Allen]] and [[Bill Gates]] to start [[Microsoft]] in [[Albuquerque]]. [[Intel]] has continued this trend by having a fabricating facility in Rio Rancho, near Albuquerque.

==Elected Officials==

==Elected Officials==

== Geography ==

== Geography ==

The land includes areas of dry [[desert]] and [[forest]], and has many [[mountain]]ous regions, including the [[Sangre de Cristo]] mountain range, and the [[Jemez Mountains]]. <ref> http://www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/jemez_mountains/ </ref>

The land was most prominently featured in Wild West films; [[desert]]s, [[prairie]]s, [[forest]], and several [[mountain]]ous regions, being at the southern-most end of the [[Rocky Mountains]] including the [[Sangre de Cristo]] mountain range, the [[Jemez Mountains]],<ref>http://www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/jemez_mountains/</ref> and the Sandia Mountains. One of the most prominent rivers west of the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]], the [[Rio Grande]], runs through the center of the State from north to south.

The highest point in New Mexico is [[Wheeler Peak]] at 13,161 feet above sea level, and the lowest point is at [[Red Bluff Reservoir]], 2,842 feet above sea level. <ref> http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/nm_geography.htm </ref>

The highest point in New Mexico is [[Wheeler Peak]] at 13,161 feet above sea level, and the lowest point is at [[Red Bluff Reservoir]], 2,842 feet above sea level. <ref> http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/nm_geography.htm </ref>

*[[Ralph Bunche]] (Nobel Peace Prize winner)

*[[Ralph Bunche]] (Nobel Peace Prize winner)

*[[John Denver]] (singer)  

*[[John Denver]] (singer)  

*[[Demi Moore]] (actress)

*[[Demi Moore]] (actress)

*[[Georgia O'Keeffe]] (painter)

*[[Georgia O'Keeffe]] (painter)

*[[Mario J. Lucero]] and [[Isabel Ruiz Lucero]] (co-founders of [[Heaven Sent Gaming]])

*[[Mario J. Lucero]] and [[Isabel Ruiz Lucero]] (co-founders of [[Heaven Sent Gaming]])

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>