new mexico

New Mexico Facts, Map and State Symbols

New Mexico was the 47^th state in the USA; it became a state on January 6, 1912 .

State Abbreviation - NM
State Capital - Santa Fe
Largest City - Albuquerque
Area - 121,593 square miles [New Mexico is the 5th biggest state in the USA]
Population - 1,819,046 (as of 2000) [New Mexico is the 36th most populous state in the USA]
Name for Residents - New Mexicans
Major Industries - mining (potash, copper, silver, uranium), oil, natural gas, tourism

Major Rivers - Rio Grande, Pecos River
Major Lakes - Elephant Butte Reservoir, Conchas Lake, Navajo Reservoir
Highest Point - Wheeler Peak - 13,161 feet (4,011 m) above sea level
Lowest Point - Red Bluff Lake - 2,817 feet (859 m) above sea level
Number of Counties - 33
Bordering States - Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
Bordering Country - Mexico

Origin of the Name New Mexico - Named by the Spanish, in reference to Mexico
State Nickname - Land of Enchantment
State Motto - "Crescit eundo" - It grows as it goes
State Song - O, Fair New Mexico
Dinosaur Fossils Found in New Mexico - Alamosaurus, Coelophysis, Kritosaurus,Nothronychus, Parasaurolophus, Pentaceratops, Revueltosaurus, Rioarribasaurus,Seismosaurus, Torosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus 

New Mexico State Symbols and Emblems:

State FlagThe official state flag of New Mexico was chosen from a flag competition in 1920 (the competition was held to replace an older New Mexico flag). The winner was Dr. Harry Mera, a doctor and archeologist from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Mera's design is an interpretation of an ancient Sun symbol called a Zia (this symbol was found on a water jar made in the late 1800's in Zia Pueblo). Since four is a sacred number for the Zia, there are four rays coming from each side of the stylized Sun. The colors red and yellow are used because they were the colors of the flag of the Spanish conquistadors who went to New Mexico in the early 1500's.

Animal Symbols:

State Bird Roadrunner

State Mammal Black bear

State FishNew Mexico cutthroat trout

State InsectTarantula hawk wasp

State Dinosaur Coelophysis A meat-eating dinosaur.

Plant Symbols:

State Flower Yucca

State TreePinon (Pinus edulis)

State GrassBlue gramma grass

State VegetablesChile and frijoles

Earth Symbols:

State GemTurquoise

State SoilPenistaja (unofficial)

Miscellaneous Symbols:

State ColorsRed and yellow

State CookieBizcochito (also called biscochito)

Related Pages:

New Mexico: Map/Quiz PrintoutAnswer geography questions about New Mexico using the map on this quiz. Answers

New Mexico: Outline Map PrintoutAn outline map of New Mexico to print.

New Mexico: US State Dot to Dot Mystery MapConnect the dots to draw the borders of a mystery state of the USA. Then use a globe or atlas to figure out which state you have drawn. You might want to give students clues, such as that it is in the southeastern USA, that its capital is Santa Fe, or that its name starts with "N." Answer: New Mexico.

New Mexico: Label Me!Label the major features of New Mexico. Answers

New Mexico's Flag Printout/QuizRead about and answer questions on the flag of New Mexico.

New Mexico's Flag: Large Coloring PrintableA large black-and-white printable of the flag of New Mexico.

Your State: Draw and WriteDraw a map of the state that you live in (in the USA) and write about it.	US State - Find Related WordsFor a US state, write eight words related to the state, then use each word in a sentence.	US State Graphic OrganizerFor one US state, write the name of the state, draw a map of the state, then write the state capital, postal abbreviation, date of statehood, state bird (draw and write), state flower (draw and write), a major body of water in the state, two bordering states, and state nickname.	US State Report Graphic Organizer Printout #1This printout helps the student do a short report on a US state, prompting the student to draw a map of the state, locate it on a US map, draw the state's flag, and write its capital city, state nickname, area, population, date of statehood, and state bird.
US State Report Graphic Organizer Printout #2This printout helps the student do a short report on a US state, prompting the student to draw a map of the state, locate it on a US map, draw the state's flag, and write its capital city, state nickname, area, population, date of statehood, state bird, state flower, climate, and major industries.	US State Printable BookA short, printable book on a US state. To complete the book, the student must research a US state, draw its map, draw its flag, and answer simple questions about the state.	USA Map: Find Your StateFind and label your state in the USA, and label other important geography. Answers	USA Map: Where I LiveWrite your country, state, and city, and then find and label your state (and a few other geographical features).
Write Ten Things About Your StateA one-page printable worksheet. Write ten things about your state (plus one thing you would like to change).	US State WheelThis 2-page print-out makes a wheel about a single US state; the student fills out the information on the wheel. It consists of a base page together with a rear wheel that spins around. After putting the wheel together, the student follows the instructions on the front wheel (coloring in the state on a US map and drawing a small map of the state) and fills out the 12 sections of the wheel with information about one state. When you spin the wheel, facts about the US State appear, including: Biggest Cities, Capital, Flag, Bodies of Water, Postal Abbreviation, State Bird, Population (rank), Area (rank), Residents Called, Bordered by, Major Industries, and Entered Union (order).	US State - Find a Related Word for Each LetterFor a US state, see if you can think of and write down a word or phrase that is related to that state for each letter of the alphabet. Think of cities, famous people from the state, bodies of water, mountains, landmarks, and other features. Find words for as many letters as you can.	The CensusA census is an official count of the number of people in a region. The survey is done by a government, usually periodically. This page explains how and why censuses are taken.
Census: Printable Read-and-Answer WorksheetA printable worksheet on the census, with a short text to read, a map to color, and questions to answer. Or go to the answers. Or go to a pdf file with the worksheet and the answers.