History of New Mexico in Timeline
New Mexico, a state in the Southwestern U.S., is part of the Mountain States and the Four Corners region. It borders Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma, and shares an international border with Mexico. Albuquerque is its largest city, while Santa Fe is the state capital and the oldest in the U.S., founded in 1610. Santa Fe is also the highest state capital at 6,998 feet.
1906: El Morro Designated a National Monument
In 1906, El Morro was created as a national monument.
1907: Gila Cliff Dwellings Proclaimed National Monument
In 1907, Gila Cliff Dwellings was proclaimed a national monument.
1907: Gila Cliff Dwellings Proclaimed
In 1907, the Gila Cliff Dwellings were proclaimed as a national monument.
1911: Original State Constitution
In 1911, New Mexico's original state constitution required all laws to be published in both English and Spanish for twenty years after ratification.
1911: New Mexico Constitution Adopted
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, playing a central role in U.S. westward expansion.
1912: Delayed Admission into the Union
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: Statehood for New Mexico
Before statehood in 1912, the name "New Mexico" loosely applied to various configurations of territories in the same general area.
1912: New Mexico Achieves Statehood
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.
1912: Land Grant Permanent Fund Established
The Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF) was established upon statehood in 1912.
1914: Rail transportation system at its height
In 1914, New Mexico's rail transportation system reached its height in terms of length following admission as a state 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, New Mexico launched the nation's first state publication, New Mexico Magazine, 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 Designated
In 1924, Gila Wilderness was designated the world's first wilderness area.
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.
1928: Major Oil Discovery near Hobbs
In 1928, a major oil discovery near Hobbs, New Mexico, brought greater wealth to the state.
1931: Renewal of Language Requirement
In 1931, the requirement for publishing laws in both English and Spanish was renewed.
1935: Spanish Permitted in Legislature
Until 1935, Spanish was permitted in the legislature.
1937: Creamland brand founded
In 1937, the Creamland brand was founded to expand a cooperative dairy venture known as the Albuquerque Dairy Association.
1940: Roughly Half the Population Was Nonwhite
As early as 1940, roughly half the population of New Mexico was estimated to be nonwhite.
1940: Population Growth Begins
Starting in 1940, New Mexico saw its population nearly double from roughly 532,000.
1943: Renewal of Bilingual Law Publication
In 1943, the requirement for publishing laws in both English and Spanish was again renewed.
1947: Roswell Incident
Following the 1947 Roswell incident, New Mexico became a center for unidentified flying objects.
1948: First Rocket to Reach Space
In 1948, the first rocket to reach space flew from White Sands Missile Range.
1948: Native Americans Win Right to Vote
In 1948, veteran Miguel Trujillo Sr. challenged New Mexico's voting restrictions, leading to a court decision that Native Americans who did not pay taxes could not be denied the right to vote.
1953: End of Bilingual Mandate (alleged)
Some sources state that New Mexico was officially bilingual until 1953.
May 22, 1957: Accidental Nuclear Bomb Drop 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 Reaches Over 954,000
By 1960, New Mexico's population reached over 954,000.
January 13, 1963: Lowest Temperature Recorded
On January 13, 1963, the lowest recorded temperature in New Mexico was −57 °F (−49 °C) at Ciniza (near Jamestown).
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson won New Mexico
Lyndon B. Johnson won New Mexico in 1964.
1969: New Mexico Passed Trigger Law
In 2021, the state repealed a 1969 "trigger law" that had banned most abortion procedures, which would have come into effect following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
1969: MITS Founded in Albuquerque
Personal computer company MITS was founded in Albuquerque in 1969.
1970: One of Our 50 Is Missing Feature Started
Since 1970, New Mexico Magazine has had a standing feature, One of Our 50 Is Missing.
May 1, 1971: Amtrak Begins Operations
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: Severance Tax Permanent Fund Created
The Severance Tax Permanent Fund (STPF) was created in 1973 during the oil boom.
1975: Microsoft Founded
Two MITS employees, Paul Allen and Bill Gates, later founded Microsoft in Albuquerque in 1975.
1976: New Mexico deviates from the national popular vote winner
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: New Mexico Passes Legislation Allowing Medical Use of Marijuana
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 Began
Multinational technology company Intel has had operations in Rio Rancho since 1980.
1983: Inauguration of the Gathering of Nations
In 1983, the annual Gathering of Nations began. It has been described as the largest pow wow in the U.S., drawing hundreds of native tribes from across North America.
1985: U.S. 66 Replaced
In 1985, U.S. Route 66 was replaced by Interstate 40 in northern New Mexico.
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: Adoption of English Plus Resolution
In 1989, New Mexico became the first of only four states to officially adopt the English Plus resolution, which supports acceptance of non-English languages.
1992: Bill Clinton Elected President
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
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 Becomes Governor
Gary Johnson was governor from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican.
1995: Adoption of Official Bilingual Song
In 1995, the state adopted an official bilingual song, "New Mexico – Mi Lindo Nuevo México".
1996: Lottery Scholarship Instated
In 1996, New Mexico first instated the lottery scholarship, 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: Al Gore Carried New Mexico
2000: New Mexico Highways
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 Growth Continues
Between 2000 and 2020, New Mexico added over 400,000 residents.
2000: 2000 Census
By comparison, between 2000 and 2010, New Mexico's population increased by 11.7% from 1,819,046.
2000: New Mexico Had Highest Concentration of PhD Holders
Due to its relatively low population and numerous federally funded research facilities, New Mexico had the highest concentration of PhD holders of any state in 2000.
2000: Increased Poverty
From 2000 to 2010, the number of persons in poverty increased to 400,779, or approximately one-fifth of the population.
2000: Value of Oil and Gas Produced
In 2000 the value of oil and gas produced was $8.2 billion.
2000: Highway traffic fatality rate
In 2000, the highway traffic fatality rate was 1.9 per million miles traveled in New Mexico, the 13th highest rate among U.S. states.
2000: Railroad Route Miles
In the year 2000, there were 2,354 route miles of railroads in New Mexico.
2001: Structurally deficient highways
As of 2001, 703 highway bridges, or one percent, were declared "structurally deficient" or "structurally obsolete".
2003: End of Gary Johnson's Term as Governor
Gary Johnson was governor from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican.
2003: U.S. 666 Renamed
In 2003, U.S. Route 666 was renamed U.S. Route 491.
2004: George W. Bush won New Mexico
George W. Bush won New Mexico in 2004 by less than 6,000 votes.
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 millage for residential property
In the 2005 tax year, the average millage was about 26.47 for residential property, and 29.80 for non-residential property.
2006: Percentage of National 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: Rail Runner Extension to Santa Fe
In 2006, the route miles of railroads increased with the opening of the Rail Runner's extension to Santa Fe.
2006: New Mexico Rail Runner Express Service Begins
In 2006, the state-owned, privately run commuter railway, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, began serving the Albuquerque metropolitan area, connecting the city proper with Santa Fe and other communities.
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, the world's first operational and purpose-built commercial spaceport.
2007: Wild Hogs Filmed in Madrid
In 2007, the movie Wild Hogs was filmed in Madrid, New Mexico.
2007: Per Capita Personal Income
In 2007, the per capita personal income was $31,474.
2007: Medicinal Marijuana Fully Legalized
Medicinal marijuana was fully legalized in 2007, making New Mexico the 12th state to do so, and the fourth via legislative action.
2008: Law Enforcement Statistics in New Mexico
Based on 2008 data, New Mexico had 146 law enforcement agencies across the state, county, and municipal levels, with over 5,000 sworn police officers.
2008: Adoption of Navajo Textbook
In 2008, New Mexico was the first state to officially adopt a Navajo textbook for use in public schools.
2008: Rail Runner System Expansion
In 2008, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express system expanded with the adding of the BNSF Railway's line from Belen to a few miles south of Lamy.
2008: Obama Elected President
In 2008, the election of Barack Obama marked New Mexico's transition into a Democratic stronghold.
July 2009: Alcohol-related crash rates
According to the Los Angeles Times, by July 2009, New Mexico ranked 25th in the nation for alcohol-related crash rates, improving from having the highest rates previously.
2009: New Mexico Abolishes Death Penalty
In 2009, New Mexico became the 15th state to abolish capital punishment.
2010: Largest Denominations
According to Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), the largest denominations in 2010 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 Data on Language
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: Increased Poverty
From 2000 to 2010, the number of persons in poverty increased to 400,779, or approximately one-fifth of the population.
2010: State GDP
In 2010, New Mexico's gross domestic product was roughly $80 billion.
2011: Spaceport America Officially Opens
In 2011, Spaceport America, located in Upham, near Truth or Consequences, officially opened.
2012: Gary Johnson Presidential Run
In 2012 and 2016 Gary Johnson 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 Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
In December 2013, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling directing all county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, thereby making New Mexico the 17th state to recognize same-sex marriage statewide.
2013: Opening of BioScience Center
In 2013, a BioScience Center was opened in Albuquerque, the state's first private incubator for biotechnology startups.
2015: Automotive deaths in New Mexico
Between 2015 and 2019, close to 1,900 people were killed in automotive crashes in New Mexico.
2015: Gold King Mine Waste Water 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: Hillary Clinton Won New Mexico
Hillary Clinton won New Mexico in 2016.
2016: Gary Johnson Presidential Run
In 2012 and 2016 Gary Johnson ran for president from the Libertarian Party.
2017: Pew Research Center Survey on Religiosity
According to a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center, New Mexico ranked 18th among the 50 U.S. states in religiosity.
2017: New Mexico Ranked First in 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.
2017: New Mexico S&P Global Rating AA+
As of 2017, New Mexico had an S&P Global Rating of AA+, denoting a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments alongside a very low credit risk.
2017: Establishment of Bioscience Authority
In 2017, New Mexico established the Bioscience Authority to foster local industry development.
2017: Lottery Scholarship Decreased
In 2017, New Mexico's lottery scholarship decreased to covering 60% of tuition.
2017: Discovery of Ancient Footprints
In 2017, footprints discovered in New Mexico suggested human presence in the region as far back as 21,000–23,000 BC.
2017: Low Student Debt Burdens
In 2017, graduates of four-year colleges in New Mexico owed an average of $21,237, compared to the national average of $28,650.
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: Steady Rise in Annual Visitors
Since 2017, the state has seen a steady rise in the number of annual visitors.
2018: Increased Crude Oil Production
By 2018, the boom in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling since the mid-2010s led to a large increase in the production of crude oil from the Permian Basin and other U.S. sources.
2018: Netflix Selects New Mexico for Production Hub
In 2018, Netflix chose New Mexico for its first U.S. production hub, pledging to spend over $1 billion over the next decade.
2018: New Mexico Ranks as Top Retirement Destination
In 2018, New Mexico ranked as the most popular retirement destination, with an estimated 42% of new residents being retired.
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 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".
2018: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study
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: Lottery Scholarship Value Increased
In 2018, the value of New Mexico's lottery scholarship slightly increased, and new legislation was passed.
2018: Michelle Lujan Grisham Elected Governor
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: Michelle Lujan Grisham Succeeds Susana Martinez
On January 1, 2019, Michelle Lujan Grisham succeeded two-term Republican governor Susana Martinez.
April 2019: Court Order for Education System Improvement
In April 2019, a court ordered New Mexico's governor and legislature to provide an adequate education system for at-risk students.
September 2019: Plan to Make Tuition Free Announced
In September 2019, New Mexico announced a plan to make tuition at its public colleges and universities free for all state residents.
2019: Law increased tax rate
A 2019 law increased the top marginal rate for personal income tax in 2021.
2019: Program Enacted
A program enacted in 2019 provides 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: Los Alamos National Laboratory Impact
As of 2019, Los Alamos National Laboratory accounts for 24,000 direct and indirect jobs and over $3 billion in annual federal investment.
2019: Automotive deaths in New Mexico
Between 2015 and 2019, close to 1,900 people were killed in automotive crashes in New Mexico.
2019: Subpar 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 Inaugural Season
In 2019, New Mexico United began playing in the second tier USL Championship.
2019: New Mexico Decriminalizes Drug Paraphernalia
In 2019, New Mexico was the first U.S. state to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia.
March 11, 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Reaches New Mexico
On March 11, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached New Mexico.
December 23, 2020: COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Rise
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: New Mexico Ranked 20th Hardest State to Vote In
A 2020 study ranked New Mexico as the 20th hardest state for citizens to vote in, due mostly to the inaccessibility of polling stations among many isolated communities.
2020: Hispanic and Latino Population
According to the 2020 census, Hispanic and Latino Americans account for nearly half the state's population, at 47.7%.
2020: Land Grant and Severance Tax Permanent Fund Value
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: Continued Population Growth
Between 2000 and 2020, New Mexico added over 400,000 residents.
2020: Start of Fiscal Year Period
During fiscal years 2020–2023, the total direct economic impact from the film tax credit was $2.36 million.
2020: Herrell Retakes Seat
In 2020, Republican Herrell retook her seat in New Mexico's Second Congressional District.
2020: Christian Population Study
In 2020, a study by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) determined 67% of the population were Christian, with Roman Catholics constituting the largest denominational group.
2020: Multiracial Population Identified
In 2020, census data found that 19.9% of the population in New Mexico identifies as multiracial/mixed-race.
2020: Native American Population Statistics
In 2020, the Native American population in New Mexico comprised roughly one-tenth of all residents, maintaining a stable proportion of the population for over a century.
2020: Number of Doctorate Recipients in New Mexico
In 2020, the number of doctorate recipients in New Mexico was 300, placing the state 34th in the nation.
2020: 2020 Census Results
The 2020 census recorded a population of 2,117,522 in New Mexico, an increase of 2.8% from the 2010 census.
2020: Slightly Reduced Poverty Rate
The 2020 census recorded a slightly reduced poverty rate of 18.2%.
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 a minimum wage of $12.32.
April 2021: New Mexico Legalizes Recreational Cannabis
In April 2021, New Mexico became the 18th state to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
May 22, 2021: Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity Launched
On May 22, 2021, Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity launched from Spaceport America, making New Mexico the third U.S. state to launch humans into space.
June 2021: Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate for June 2021 is 7.9% in New Mexico, tied with Connecticut as the highest in the country.
July 2021: Population Decrease Begins
From July 2021 to July 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated a slight decrease in population.
July 2021: Overtaking North Dakota in Oil Production
In July 2021, New Mexico overtook North Dakota in oil production.
August 2021: Santa Fe Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
In August 2021, Santa Fe announced a one-year pilot program providing a $400 monthly "stability stipend" 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 was the site of the first successfully tested vacuum-sealed "suborbital accelerator", conducted by SpinLaunch.
2021: Business Tax Climate Ranking
A 2021 analysis placed New Mexico 23rd in business tax climate; its property taxes were found to be the least burdensome in the U.S.
2021: Report on Slow Population Growth
A report commissioned in 2021 attributed the state's slow population growth to a negative net migration rate.
2021: State GDP and Per Capita 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: Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) Rate
As of 2021, the combined Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) rate in New Mexico ranged from 5.125% to 9.063%.
2021: Immigrant Origins
As of 2021, the vast majority of immigrants in New Mexico came from Mexico (67.6%), followed by the Philippines (3.1%) and Germany (2.4%).
2021: NBCUniversal Opens Television Film Studio
In 2021, NBCUniversal opened its own television film studio in the city, committing to spend $500 million in direct production.
2021: New Mexico Chile Sales
In 2021, New Mexico chile sold close to $40 million, while dry beans accounted for $7.6 million.
2021: New Mexico Repeals Abortion 'Trigger Law'
In 2021, New Mexico repealed a 1969 "trigger law" that had banned most abortion procedures.
2021: Record-Breaking Number of Tourists
In 2021, New Mexico saw a record-breaking 39.2 million tourists, which had a total economic income of $10 billion.
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: Top marginal tax rate change
In 2021, the top marginal rate for personal income tax was increased from 4.9%.
January 1, 2022: Minimum wage increase
On January 1, 2022, the state's minimum wage is set to increase to $11.50.
January 2022: National Guardsmen Recruited 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.
March 1, 2022: Governor 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.
March 2022: Free College Tuition Bill Passed
In March 2022, New Mexico became the first state to offer free college tuition for all residents, after the legislature passed a bipartisan bill.
June 2022: Permissive Abortion Laws in New Mexico
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, covering tuition and fees at all 29 public colleges, universities, community colleges, and tribal colleges for all residents.
July 2022: Population Decreases
From July 2021 to July 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated a slight decrease in population.
November 2022: State Investment Council Commits to America's Frontier Fund
In November 2022, the New Mexico State Investment Council announced a $100 million commitment to America's Frontier Fund (AFF), a venture capital firm focused on advanced technologies.
2022: Poor roads impact on fatalities
A 2022 report cited poor roads as a major factor in New Mexico's continually high traffic fatalities.
2022: Homeless Population Count
According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 2,560 homeless people in New Mexico.
2022: American Community Survey Results
According to the 2022 American Community Survey, information was gathered about the most commonly claimed ancestry groups in New Mexico.
2022: Film and Television Expenditures Peak
According to the New Mexico Film Office, in 2022, film and television expenditures reached the highest recorded level at over $855 million.
2022: Estimate of Unaffiliated Population
Among the population in 2022, 31% were unaffiliated with any religion.
2022: Immigrant Population Statistics
As of 2022, a little over 9% of New Mexican residents are foreign-born, and an additional 6.0% of U.S.-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent.
2022: Vasquez Defeats Herrell
In 2022, Democrat Gabe Vasquez defeated Republican Herrell in New Mexico's Second Congressional District.
2022: Social Mobility Index Ranking
In 2022, New Mexico ranked 13th in the Social Mobility Index (SMI).
2022: Curia Announces 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 in New Mexico were Christian.
January 1, 2023: Minimum wage increase
On January 1, 2023, the state's minimum wage is set to increase to $12.00.
January 2023: New Mexico Ranks Sixth in 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: Agriculture contribution to economy
As of 2023, agriculture contributes $40 billion to New Mexico's economy, employs nearly 260,000 people, and the state exports $275 million in agricultural goods.
2023: End of Fiscal Year Period
During fiscal years 2020–2023, the total direct economic impact from the film tax credit was $2.36 million.
2023: New Mexico's GDP Exceeds $105 Billion
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 Opens Fab 9 Factory
In January 2024, Intel opened its Fab 9 factory in Rio Rancho.
2024: Albuquerque Placed 2nd
In 2024, Albuquerque placed second, after Toronto.
2024: New Mexico deviates from the national popular vote winner
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.
