History of New Mexico in Timeline

New Mexico is a state located in the Southwestern region of the United States, bordering states like Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma, as well as the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Albuquerque is its largest city, while Santa Fe serves as the state capital. Santa Fe holds the distinction of being the oldest state capital in the U.S., established in 1610, and also the highest, situated at 6,998 feet.

1906: Proclamation of El Morro National Monument

In 1906, El Morro National Monument was proclaimed, preserving the state's ancient indigenous heritage.

1906: El Morro National Monument Creation

In 1906, El Morro, the second oldest monument, was created in New Mexico.

1907: Proclamation of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

In 1907, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument was proclaimed, preserving the state's ancient indigenous heritage.

1907: Gila Cliff Dwellings Proclaimed

In 1907, Gila Cliff Dwellings was proclaimed a national monument in New Mexico.

1911: Original State Constitution

In 1911, New Mexico's original state constitution required all laws be published in both English and Spanish for twenty years after ratification.

1911: Adoption of the Constitution of New Mexico

In 1911, the Constitution of New Mexico was adopted by popular referendum, establishing a republican form of government.

January 6, 1912: New Mexico Admitted to the Union

On January 6, 1912, New Mexico was admitted to the Union as the 47th state, marking a central role in U.S. westward expansion.

1912: Statehood Delay

Before becoming a state in 1912, New Mexico was among the few U.S. territories that was predominately nonwhite, which contributed to its delayed admission into the Union.

1912: Configurations of territories

Before statehood in 1912, the name "New Mexico" loosely applied to various configurations of territories in the same general area, which evolved throughout the Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. periods.

1912: Establishment of the Land Grant Permanent Fund

In 1912, upon statehood, New Mexico established the Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF). This fund derives revenue from oil, gas, and mining operations, with the majority of its distributions earmarked for public schools.

1912: New Mexico Presidential Election Record

Since achieving statehood in 1912, New Mexico has been carried by the national popular vote winner in every presidential election except in 1976 and 2024.

1914: Peak of Railroad Transportation System

In 1914, following admission as a state, New Mexico's rail transportation system reached its height in terms of length, with eleven railroads operating 3124 route miles.

1922: Soledad Chávez Chacón Elected Secretary of State

In 1922, Soledad Chávez Chacón was the first woman elected secretary of state of New Mexico, and the first Hispanic woman elected to statewide office in the United States.

1923: New Mexico Magazine Launched

In 1923, the New Mexico government launched New Mexico Magazine, the nation's first state publication, to promote tourism.

1924: Native Americans Granted U.S. Citizenship

In 1924, Congress passed a law granting all Native Americans U.S. citizenship and the right to vote in federal and state elections.

1924: Gila Wilderness Designation

In 1924, Gila Wilderness was designated the world's first wilderness area in New Mexico.

1926: U.S. Routes Built

In 1926, most of New Mexico's U.S. routes were built by the state government.

1927: KiMo Theater Built

In 1927, the KiMo Theater was built in Albuquerque in the Pueblo Revival Style architecture. The KiMo presents live theater and concerts as well as movies and simulcast operas.

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1928: Major Oil Discovery near Hobbs

In 1928, a major oil discovery near the town of Hobbs brought greater wealth to New Mexico, especially in surrounding Lea County.

1931: Renewal of Law Publication Requirement

In 1931, the requirement for publishing all laws in both English and Spanish was renewed.

1935: Spanish Permitted in Legislature

Spanish was permitted in the legislature until 1935.

1937: Creamland Brand Founded

In 1937, Dean Foods founded the Creamland brand in New Mexico to expand a cooperative dairy venture known as the Albuquerque Dairy Association.

1940: Nonwhite Population

As early as 1940, roughly half the population of New Mexico was estimated to be nonwhite.

1940: Population Increase

In 1940, New Mexico saw its population nearly double from roughly 532,000.

December 1941: US Entry into WWII

In December of 1941, the U.S. entry into the Second World War greatly transformed New Mexico, spurring economic development and positioning the state as a leading supplier of strategic resources.

1943: Law Publication Requirement Renewal

In 1943, the requirement for publishing all laws in both English and Spanish was renewed.

1947: Roswell Incident

Following the 1947 Roswell incident, New Mexico became a center for unidentified flying objects.

1948: Native American Voting Rights

In 1948, a three-judge panel overturned as unconstitutional New Mexico's provisions that Native Americans who did not pay taxes (and could not document if they had paid taxes) could not vote, after veteran Miguel Trujillo Sr. filed suit.

1948: First Rocket to Reach Space

In 1948, the first rocket to reach space flew from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

1953: End of Bilingual State Status

Some sources state that New Mexico was officially bilingual until 1953, after which the constitution did not declare any language "official".

May 22, 1957: Nuclear Bomb Accident near Kirtland Air Force Base

On May 22, 1957, a B-36 accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb 4.5 miles from the control tower while landing at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque; only its conventional "trigger" detonated.

1960: Population increase

By 1960, New Mexico's population increased to over 954,000.

January 13, 1963: Lowest Recorded Temperature in New Mexico

On January 13, 1963, the lowest recorded temperature in New Mexico was −57 °F (−49 °C) at Ciniza (near Jamestown).

1964: Lyndon B. Johnson Election

In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson won New Mexico; it was the first time New Mexico was won by a Democrat since then when Bill Clinton was elected in 1992.

1969: Trigger Law

In 1969, a trigger law was introduced, banning most abortion procedures; however, in 2021, the state repealed it.

1970: "One of Our 50 Is Missing" Feature in New Mexico Magazine

Since 1970, New Mexico Magazine has had a standing feature, "One of Our 50 Is Missing", which relates humorous anecdotes about people mistaking New Mexico for a foreign country.

1970: Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway Joint Ownership

Since 1970, New Mexico jointly owns and operates the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway, a heritage narrow-gauge steam railroad, with the state of Colorado.

May 1, 1971: Amtrak Operations Begin

On May 1, 1971, Amtrak, also known as the National Passenger Railroad Corporation, began operating the two extant long-distance routes in New Mexico.

1973: Creation of the Severance Tax Permanent Fund

During the oil boom in 1973, New Mexico created the Severance Tax Permanent Fund (STPF). This fund, similar to the LGPF, derives revenue from oil, gas, and mining operations, with all distributions allocated to the LGPF.

1975: Microsoft Founded

Two MITS employees, Paul Allen and Bill Gates, later founded Microsoft in the city in 1975.

1976: Presidential Election Exception

Since achieving statehood in 1912, New Mexico has been carried by the national popular vote winner in every presidential election except in 1976 and 2024.

1978: Medical Use of Marijuana Legislation

In 1978, New Mexico was the first state to pass legislation allowing the medical use of marijuana in some form, albeit restricted to a federal research program.

1980: Intel Operations in Rio Rancho

Multinational technology company Intel has had operations in Rio Rancho since 1980.

1983: First Gathering of Nations Pow Wow

In 1983, the annual Gathering of Nations began, described as the largest pow wow in the U.S., drawing hundreds of native tribes from across North America.

1985: U.S. 66 replaced by I-40

In 1985, U.S. Route 66 in northern New Mexico, connecting Albuquerque and Gallup, was replaced by Interstate 40.

1987: Amendment to U.S. Mineral Leasing Act

Since the last amendment to the U.S. Mineral Leasing Act in 1987, New Mexico had by far the lowest percent of land sold for the minimum statutory amount of $2 per acre, at just 3%.

1989: English Plus Resolution

In 1989, New Mexico became the first of only four states to officially adopt the English Plus resolution, supporting acceptance of non-English languages.

1992: Bill Clinton Election

The 1992 election of Bill Clinton marked the first time New Mexico was won by a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

June 27, 1994: Highest Temperature Recorded in New Mexico

On June 27, 1994, the highest temperature recorded in New Mexico was 122 °F (50 °C) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Loving.

1995: Gary Johnson as governor

Gary Johnson was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican.

1995: Official Bilingual Song Adoption

In 1995, the state adopted an official bilingual song, "New Mexico – Mi Lindo Nuevo México".

1996: Inauguration of College Scholarship Lottery Funding

In 1996, New Mexico instated a college scholarship funded through the state lottery, initially covering 100% of tuition.

1999: Gary Johnson Endorses Drug Legalization

In 1999, Republican Governor Gary Johnson became the highest-ranking elected official in the U.S. to publicly endorse drug legalization.

2000: Highway Statistics

As of 2000, New Mexico had 59,927 route miles of highway, with 7,037 receiving federal aid, and 1,003 miles of freeways.

2000: Population Count

Between 2000 and 2010, New Mexico's population increased by 11.7% from 1,819,046.

2000: Increase in Persons in Poverty

From 2000 to 2010, the number of persons in poverty increased to 400,779 in New Mexico.

2000: Al Gore Carries New Mexico

In 2000, Al Gore narrowly carried New Mexico by 366 votes.

2000: New Mexico's High Concentration of PhD Holders

In 2000, New Mexico had the highest concentration of PhD holders of any state due to its low population and numerous federally funded research facilities. Los Alamos County led the state with 38.7% of residents holding post-secondary degrees.

2000: Highway Traffic Fatality Rate

In 2000, New Mexico's highway traffic fatality rate was 1.9 per million miles traveled, the 13th highest in the U.S.

2000: Value of Oil and Gas Produced

In 2000, the value of oil and gas produced was $8.2 billion.

2000: Railroad Route Miles

In the year 2000, there were 2,354 route miles of railroads in New Mexico.

2001: Structurally Deficient Bridges

As of 2001, 703 highway bridges in New Mexico were declared "structurally deficient" or "structurally obsolete".

2003: Gary Johnson as governor

Gary Johnson was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican.

2003: U.S. 666 Renamed U.S. Route 491

In 2003, U.S. Route 666, also known as the "Devil's Highway", was renamed U.S. Route 491 due to the controversial number 666.

2004: George W. Bush Wins New Mexico

In 2004, George W. Bush won New Mexico by less than 6,000 votes.

2004: Establishment of Front Range Commuter Rail

In 2004, the Colorado-based nonprofit Front Range Commuter Rail was established with the goal of connecting Wyoming and New Mexico with high-speed rail.

2005: Military Spending Impact on Employment

A 2005 study by New Mexico State University estimated that 11.7% of the state's total employment arises directly or indirectly from military spending.

2005: Poverty Level

In 2005, the percentage of persons below the poverty level was 18.4%.

2005: Average Property Tax Millage

In the 2005 tax year, the average property tax millage in New Mexico was about 26.47 for residential property and 29.80 for non-residential property.

2006: New Mexico's Share of Oil and Gas Production

In 2006, New Mexico accounted for 3.4% of the crude oil, 8.5% of the dry natural gas, and 10.2% of the natural gas liquids produced in the United States.

2006: New Mexico Rail Runner Express service began

In 2006, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, a state-owned, privately run commuter railway, began serving the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

2006: Rail Runner Extension

In 2006, the Rail Runner's extension to Santa Fe was opened, which increased the total route miles of railroads by a few miles.

2006: Suborbital flights launched from Spaceport America

Since 2006, over 300 suborbital flights have been successfully launched from Spaceport America.

April 2007: Rocket launches begin at Spaceport America

Rocket launches began in April 2007 at Spaceport America, located in Upham, New Mexico.

2007: Madrid as Filming Location for Wild Hogs

In 2007, Madrid, New Mexico, gained national fame as the filming location for the movie Wild Hogs.

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2007: Medicinal Marijuana Legalized

In 2007, Medicinal marijuana was fully legalized in New Mexico, making it the 12th state to do so, and the fourth via legislative action.

2007: Per Capita Personal Income

In 2007, the per capita personal income was $31,474.

2007: Financial Crisis

New Mexico was affected by the 2007-2008 financial crisis, which led to high unemployment in 2010.

2008: Law Enforcement Data

Based on 2008 data, New Mexico had 146 law enforcement agencies and over 5,000 sworn police officers.

2008: Navajo Textbook Adoption

In 2008, New Mexico was the first state to officially adopt a Navajo textbook for use in public schools.

2008: Rail Runner system expanded

In 2008, the Rail Runner system expanded with the addition of the BNSF Railway's line from Belen to a few miles south of Lamy.

2008: Financial Crisis

New Mexico was affected by the 2007-2008 financial crisis, which led to high unemployment in 2010.

2008: Transition to Democratic Stronghold

The election of Barack Obama in 2008 marked New Mexico's transition into a Democratic stronghold.

July 2009: Alcohol-Related Crash Rates Decline

According to the Los Angeles Times, by July 2009, New Mexico's alcohol-related crash rates ranked 25th in the nation.

2009: Abolishment of Capital Punishment

New Mexico became the 15th state to abolish capital punishment in 2009.

October 2010: Peak Unemployment Rate

The peak unemployment rate was 8.0% for June - October 2010, following the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

2010: Largest Denominations in New Mexico

According to Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), in 2010 the largest denominations in New Mexico were the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the United Methodist Church.

2010: U.S. Census Language Data

According to the 2010 U.S. census, 28.5% of the population age 5 and older speak Spanish at home, while 3.5% speak Navajo.

2010: Population Count

According to the 2010 census, New Mexico's population was 2,059,179.

2010: Increase in Persons in Poverty

From 2000 to 2010, the number of persons in poverty increased to 400,779 in New Mexico.

2010: Gross Domestic Product in 2010

In 2010, New Mexico's gross domestic product was roughly $80 billion.

2011: Spaceport America Officially Opens

In 2011, Spaceport America officially opened in Upham, New Mexico.

2011: Front Range Commuter Rail Inactive

In 2011, the Colorado-based nonprofit Front Range Commuter Rail became inactive.

2012: Obama Wins New Mexico Again

In 2012, Barack Obama won New Mexico again.

2012: Gary Johnson Runs for President

In 2012, Gary Johnson, who was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003, ran for president from the Libertarian Party.

2012: Decline in Immigrant Population

In 2012, New Mexico was the only state to see a decline in its immigrant population.

December 2013: New Mexico Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

In December 2013, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that all county clerks must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, making New Mexico the 17th state to recognize same-sex marriage statewide.

2013: BioScience Center Opening

In 2013, the BioScience Center opened in Albuquerque, the state's first private incubator for biotechnology startups.

2015: Traffic Fatalities

Between 2015 and 2019, close to 1,900 people were killed in automotive crashes in the state.

2015: Gold King Mine Spill

In January 2016, New Mexico sued the United States Environmental Protection Agency over negligence after the 2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill.

January 2016: New Mexico Sues EPA over Gold King Mine Spill

In January 2016, New Mexico sued the United States Environmental Protection Agency over negligence after the 2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill.

2016: Gary Johnson Runs for President

In 2016, Gary Johnson, who was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003, ran for president from the Libertarian Party.

2016: Hillary Clinton Wins New Mexico

In 2016, Hillary Clinton won New Mexico.

2017: Pew Research Center Survey

According to a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center, New Mexico ranks 18th among the 50 U.S. states in religiosity, with 63% believing in God with certainty.

2017: New Mexico Chile Pepper Acreage

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, New Mexico ranked first in the nation for chile pepper acreage, with Doña Ana and Luna counties placing first and second among U.S. counties in this regard.

2017: State Credit Rating

As of 2017, New Mexico had an S&P Global Rating of AA+, denoting a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments.

2017: Student Debt Burdens in New Mexico

Graduates of four-year colleges in New Mexico had an average student debt of $21,237 in 2017, compared to a national average of $28,650.

2017: Bioscience Authority Establishment

In 2017, New Mexico established the Bioscience Authority to foster local industry development.

2017: Discovery of Footprints

In 2017, footprints were discovered in New Mexico suggesting that humans may have been present in the region as long ago as 21,000–23,000 BC.

2017: Child Poverty Rate in New Mexico

In 2017, nearly 30% of New Mexico's children were in poverty, which is 40% higher than the national average.

2017: Reduction of Scholarship Coverage

In 2017, the New Mexico college scholarship funded by the state lottery decreased to covering 60% of tuition.

2017: Increase in Annual Visitors

Since 2017, the state has seen a steady rise in the number of annual visitors.

2018: Crude Oil Production

By 2018, the United States had become the world's largest producer of crude oil.

2018: Herrell Loses to Torres Small

In 2018, Republican Herrell narrowly lost to Democrat Xochitl Torres Small in New Mexico's Second Congressional District.

2018: Landmark Ruling on Education Rights in New Mexico

In 2018, a state judge ruled that "New Mexico is violating the constitutional rights of at-risk students by failing to provide them with sufficient education", especially for indigenous, non-English-speaking, and low-income students.

2018: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Oil and Gas Industry

In 2018, a study showed that New Mexico's oil and gas industry generated 60 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.

2018: Top countries of origin for immigrants

In 2018, the top countries of origin for New Mexico's immigrants were Mexico, the Philippines, India, Germany and Cuba.

2018: Slight Increase in Scholarship Coverage and New Legislation

In 2018, the value of the New Mexico college scholarship slightly increased, and new legislation was passed to outline available funds per type of institution.

2018: Popular Retirement Destination

New Mexico ranked as the most popular retirement destination in 2018, with an estimated 42% of new residents being retired.

2018: New Mexico Leadership

Since 2018, New Mexico has been led by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, both of the Democratic Party.

January 1, 2019: Lujan Grisham Succeeds Martinez

On January 1, 2019, Lujan Grisham succeeded two-term Republican governor Susana Martinez.

April 2019: Response to Education Ruling

In April 2019, in response to a court order, New Mexico increased teacher salaries, funded an extended school year, expanded prekindergarten childhood education programs, and developed a budget formula to deliver more funding to schools serving at-risk and low-income students.

September 2019: New Mexico Announces Free College Tuition Plan

In September 2019, New Mexico announced a plan to make tuition at its public colleges and universities free for all state residents, regardless of family income.

2019: Los Alamos National Laboratory Impact

As of 2019, the Los Alamos National Laboratory accounts for 24,000 direct and indirect jobs and over $3 billion in annual federal investment.

2019: Traffic Fatalities

Between 2015 and 2019, close to 1,900 people were killed in automotive crashes in the state.

2019: Poor Road Conditions

Data from 2019 found 207 bridges and more than 3,822 miles of highway in less than subpar condition in New Mexico.

2019: New Mexico United Joins USL Championship

In 2019, New Mexico United began playing in the second tier USL Championship soccer league, and the associated New Mexico United U23 began to play in the fourth tier USL League Two.

2019: Film Production Incentive Program

In 2019, New Mexico enacted a program providing benefits to media companies that commit to investing in the state for at least a decade and that use local talent, crew, and businesses.

2019: Decriminalization of Drug Paraphernalia

In 2019, New Mexico was the first U.S. state to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia.

2019: Law increasing tax

In 2019, a law was passed to increase the top marginal rate in 2021.

2019: Peak State GDP

State GDP peaked in 2019 at nearly $99 billion but declined in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 11, 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Reaches New Mexico

On March 11, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the U.S. state of New Mexico.

December 23, 2020: COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in New Mexico

On December 23, 2020, the New Mexico Department of Health reported 1,174 new COVID-19 cases and 40 deaths, bringing the cumulative statewide totals to 133,242 cases and 2,243 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

2020: Christian Population

A 2020 study by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) determined 67% of the population were Christian, with Roman Catholics constituting the largest denominational group.

2020: Largest Ethnic Group

According to the 2020 census, Hispanic and Latino Americans account for nearly half the state's population, at 47.7% in New Mexico.

2020: Valuation of the Land Grant and Severance Tax Permanent Funds

As of 2020, the Land Grant Permanent Fund was valued at $21.6 billion, while the Severance Tax Permanent Fund was worth $5.8 billion.

2020: Population Increase

By 2020, New Mexico added over 400,000 residents from 2000.

2020: Native American Population Statistics

Census data shows that in 2020, Native Americans made up 9.4% of New Mexico's population, almost the same percentage as in 1890.

2020: Direct Economic Impact from Film Tax Credit

During fiscal years 2020–2023, the total direct economic impact from the film tax credit was $2.36 million.

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2020: Joe Biden Wins New Mexico

In 2020, Joe Biden won New Mexico.

2020: Doctorate Recipients in New Mexico

In 2020, New Mexico had 300 doctorate recipients, ranking 34th in the nation.

2020: Herrell Retakes Seat

In 2020, Republican Herrell retook her seat in New Mexico's Second Congressional District.

2020: Voting Accessibility Ranking

In 2020, a study ranked New Mexico as the 20th hardest state for citizens to vote due to the inaccessibility of polling stations among many isolated communities.

January 2021: Minimum Wage Increase

In January 2021, New Mexico approved a minimum wage increase to $10.50 per hour.

March 1, 2021: Santa Fe County Living Wage Ordinance

On March 1, 2021, Santa Fe County enacted a "Living Wage Ordinance" mandating $12.32 per hour.

April 2021: Cannabis Legalization

In April 2021, New Mexico became the 18th state to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

May 2021: Medicaid Enrollment in New Mexico

As of May 2021, around 44% of residents in New Mexico were enrolled in Medicaid, a federal healthcare program for the poor.

May 22, 2021: Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity Flight

On May 22, 2021, Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity flight made New Mexico the third U.S. state to launch humans into space.

June 2021: Unemployment Rate in New Mexico

The unemployment rate for June 2021 in New Mexico was 7.9%, tied with Connecticut as the highest in the country.

July 2021: Population Count

From July 2021 to July 2022, U.S. Census Bureau estimated a slight decrease in population.

August 2021: Santa Fe Stability Stipend Pilot Program

In August 2021, Santa Fe announced a one-year pilot program providing a "stability stipend" of $400 monthly to 100 parents under 30 attending Santa Fe Community College.

October 22, 2021: First Vacuum-Sealed Suborbital Accelerator Tested

On October 22, 2021, Spaceport America hosted the first successfully tested vacuum-sealed "suborbital accelerator" by SpinLaunch.

2021: New Mexico's Business Tax Climate Ranking

A 2021 analysis by the Tax Foundation ranked New Mexico 23rd in business tax climate.

2021: Report on New Mexico Slow Growth

A report commissioned in 2021 by the New Mexico Legislature attributed the state's slow growth to a negative net migration rate, particularly among those 18 or younger, and to a 19% decline in the birth rate.

2021: Gross Receipts Tax Rate Range

As of 2021, New Mexico's combined Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) rate ranged from 5.125% to 9.063%.

2021: Gross Domestic Product and Personal Income

As of 2021, New Mexico's gross domestic product was over $95 billion and the per capita personal income was slightly over $45,800.

2021: Origin of Immigrants

As of 2021, the vast majority of immigrants in the state came from Mexico (67.6%), followed by the Philippines (3.1%) and Germany (2.4%).

2021: New Mexico Chile Sales

In 2021, New Mexico chile sold close to $40 million, while dry beans accounted for $7.6 million that year.

2021: Record-Breaking Tourism

In 2021, New Mexico had a record-breaking 39.2 million tourists, which had a total economic income of $10 billion.

2021: Record-Breaking Tourism in New Mexico

In 2021, New Mexico welcomed a record-breaking 39.2 million tourists.

2021: Top Marginal Tax Rate Increase

In 2021, New Mexico's top marginal personal income tax rate was increased from 4.9% per a 2019 law.

2021: Federal Spending in New Mexico

In 2021, the federal government spent $2.48 on New Mexico for every dollar of tax revenue collected from the state.

2021: Repeal of Trigger Law

In 2021, the state repealed a 1969 "trigger law" that had banned most abortion procedures.

2021: NBCUniversal Film Studio Opening

NBCUniversal followed suit in 2021 with the opening of its own television film studio in the city, committing to spend $500 million.

January 1, 2022: Minimum Wage Increase

On January 1, 2022, New Mexico's minimum wage is set to increase to $11.50.

January 2022: New Mexico Recruits National Guardsmen as Substitute Teachers

In January 2022, New Mexico became the first state in the U.S. to recruit national guardsmen and state workers to serve as substitute teachers due to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19.

March 1, 2022: Governor Grisham Signs Bills to Increase Teacher Salaries

On March 1, 2022, Governor Grisham signed into law four bills to increase the salaries and benefits of teachers and other school staff, particularly in entry-level positions, partly in response to pandemic-related shortages.

March 2022: New Mexico Passes Bill for Free College Tuition

In March 2022, New Mexico became the first state to offer free college tuition for all residents, with the legislature allocating almost 1 percent of the state budget to cover tuition and fees at all 29 public colleges, universities, community colleges, and tribal colleges.

June 2022: Permissive Abortion Laws

As of June 2022, New Mexico has one of the nation's most permissive abortion laws: Elective abortion care is legal at all stages of pregnancy, without restrictions.

July 1, 2022: Free College Tuition Program Takes Effect

On July 1, 2022, New Mexico's free college tuition program took effect, offering free tuition to all residents regardless of income, work status, or legal status.

July 2022: Population Decrease

From July 2021 to July 2022, New Mexico had 3,333 fewer people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

November 2022: New Mexico Invests in America's Frontier Fund

In November 2022, the New Mexico State Investment Council committed $100 million to America's Frontier Fund (AFF), a venture capital firm focused on advanced technologies.

2022: Poor Road Conditions and Traffic Fatalities

A 2022 report cited poor road conditions as a major factor in New Mexico's continually high traffic fatalities.

2022: Homeless Population in New Mexico

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 2,560 homeless people in New Mexico.

2022: American Community Survey

According to the 2022 American Community Survey, ancestry groups in New Mexico were analyzed.

2022: Record-Breaking Film and Television Expenditures

According to the New Mexico Film Office, in 2022, film and television expenditures reached the highest recorded level at over $855 million, compared to $624 million the previous year.

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2022: Unaffiliated Population

Among its population in 2022, 31% were unaffiliated.

2022: Vasquez Defeats Herrell

In 2022, Democrat Gabe Vasquez defeated Republican Herrell in New Mexico's Second Congressional District.

2022: New Mexico's Ranking in the Social Mobility Index

In 2022, New Mexico ranked 13th in the Social Mobility Index (SMI), which measures access to colleges and universities with lower tuition and higher job prospects for economically disadvantaged students.

2022: Curia Expansion Plans

In 2022, pharmaceutical company Curia announced plans to invest $100 million to expand local operations.

2022: Christian Population Estimate

In 2022, the PRRI estimated 63% of the population were Christian.

January 1, 2023: Minimum Wage Increase

On January 1, 2023, New Mexico's minimum wage is set to increase to $12.00.

January 2023: Female State Legislators

As of January 2023, New Mexico ranked sixth in the number of female state legislators (43.8%), with women comprising a majority of the New Mexico House of Representatives (53%) and over a quarter of the Senate (29%).

2023: New Mexico's Agricultural Exports

As of 2023, New Mexico exports $275 million in agricultural goods, ranking first in chile pepper production, second in pecans, and fifth in onions.

2023: Direct Economic Impact from Film Tax Credit

During fiscal years 2020–2023, the total direct economic impact from the film tax credit was $2.36 million.

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2023: GDP in New Mexico

In 2023, New Mexico's total real gross domestic product (GDP) was over $105 billion, with a GDP per capita of $49,879.

January 2024: Intel Fab 9 Factory Opening

In January 2024, Intel opened its Fab 9 factory in Rio Rancho.

2024: Albuquerque's Ranking in Filmmaking

In 2024, Albuquerque placed second after Toronto, according to MovieMaker magazine.

2024: Presidential Election Exception

Since achieving statehood in 1912, New Mexico has been carried by the national popular vote winner in every presidential election except in 1976 and 2024; Kamala Harris won the state.