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State Facts for Students

New Mexico Flag New Mexico

Population
  2000 2008
Population 1,819,046 1,984,356
State Rank 36 36
Median Age 34.6 35.8
Total 8 year-olds 28,762 26,708
Boys 14,605 13,560
Girls 14,157 13,148
Total 9 year-olds 29,648 26,206
Boys 14,999 13,331
Girls 14,649 12,875
Total 10 year-olds 29,724 25,692
Boys 15,146 13,078
Girls 14,578 12,614
Total 11 year-olds 29,155 25,632
Boys 14,809 13,002
Girls 14,346 12,630
Total 12 year-olds 29,190 26,362
Boys 14,941 13,356
Girls 14,249 13,006
 
How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone 76% 77%
Car Pool 15% 13%
Public Transportation 1% 1%

Geography
Capital Santa Fe
Largest City Albuquerque
Second Largest City Las Cruces
Persons per square mile 15

Business
  2000 2007
Dentist Offices 570 620
Amusement Parks 3 4
FastFood Restaurants 1,336 1,589
Toy Stores 59 50
Video/Disc Rental Stores 119 114
Zoos & Botanical Gardens 1 3
Candy & Nut Stores 16 20
Pet & Pet Supply Stores 58 56
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers 3 0

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

  • Date of Statehood: January 6, 1912
  • Population 1920: 360,350
  • Population 1950: 681,187

I never knew that! *

  • Nickname: The Land of Enchantment
  • Flower: Yucca
  • Tree: Piņon
  • Bird: Roadrunner
  • Insect: Tarantula Hawk Wasp
  • Gem: Turquoise
  • Question: Red or Green?

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.

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