New Mexico, a territory in the south-western part of the United States, is bounded N. by Colorado, E. by Oklahoma and Texas, S. by Texas and Mexico, and W. by Arizona. The area is 122,580 sq. m.—larger than that of Great Britain and Ireland—and the pop. (1880) 119,565; (1890) 153,593. New Mexico is thus the fourth in area and the forty-third in population of the states and territories of the Union.
The surface of New Mexico belongs to the great plateau upon which rests the Rocky Mountain system. From an altitude of 6000 to 6500 feet in the north it descends gradually to about 4000 feet along the Mexican border, and sinks to 3000 or 3500 in the Llano Estacado of the south-east. Except in the east the whole region is traversed
Copyright 1891 in U.S.
by J. B. Lippincott
Company. by broken ranges of mountains having in general a north and south trend. In the northern central part the Santa Fé, Las Vegas, and Taos ranges form part of the main axis of the Rocky Mountains, with a number of peaks over 12,000 feet high. Farther south, and east of the Rio Grande, are numerous broken ranges; and west of the Rio Grande the Sierra Madre rise above the level of the mesa (plateau) in various ranges. These mountains and the intervening mesas are cut by deep cañons. In the north-west a number of chains cross the Arizona boundary, and the San Juan Mountains enter the territory from Colorado. Among the mountains, especially in the north-east, are many 'parks' noted for their beauty and fertile soils. The surface rocks belong mainly to the Cretaceous period, with belts of Triassic formation. The mountain-chains and great part of the Sierra Madre plateau are much older. There are many tracts of metamorphic rock and lava overflows, some of which appear to be of comparatively recent date.
The precious metals are found in almost all parts of the territory. Some of the most important mines are in the south-west near Silver City, Deming, and Lordsburg, others in the central region in the vicinity of Socorro, and farther north near Santa Fé. There are also valuable mines in the San Juan country. Some of these mines were rudely worked by the early Spaniards, who compelled the Pueblos to labour like slaves. In several places old shafts have been discovered which were filled by the Indians when they successfully revolted from this tyranny. Copper and iron occur in valuable deposits, and near Santa Fé are the famous turquoise mines. There are also fields of both bituminous and anthracite coal. Mineral and hot springs are numerous.
The great mountain-divide causes the drainage of New Mexico to flow south to the Gulf of Mexico, and west to the Pacific Ocean. The Rio Grande traverses the central part of the territory and receives many tributaries. The Rio Pecos which joins it in Texas drains the south-eastern part. In the north-east are streams which unite to form the Canadian River, and in the west are the headwaters of the San Juan, Little Colorado, and Gila, all affluents of the Colorado. In the river-valleys the soil is fertile and produces excellent crops; and many acres in other sections may be successfully cultivated by irrigation. The climate is healthful, and on the whole remarkably uniform, and the atmosphere is very pure and dry. The death-rate from pulmonary diseases is the lowest in the country. The rainy season occurs between the middle of July and the middle of September, lasting about a month. There are extensive forests on the mountains, and in the hilly regions of the western part of the territory, and on the pastoral plains nutritious grasses which support great numbers of cattle and sheep. The yucca and cactus are characteristic forms of vegetation, especially in the Llano Estacado. Stock-raising is one of the leading industries. The flocks and herds need no housing in the winter, but of late years more attention has been given to improvement of the breeds, and the stock, instead of roaming at will, is often confined within enclosed ranges.
Though one of the most recently settled portions of the Union, New Mexico was among the earliest regions occupied by the white man, and Santa Fé, originally an Indian pueblo, claims the title of the oldest town in the country. When the Spaniards first visited this region they found a people living in communities with substantial dwellings, and marking the decay of a civilisation which had flourished in previous centuries. In 1822 the people of New Mexico, in common with the other inhabitants of Mexico, of which it then formed a part, threw off the Spanish yoke. By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, after the war between Mexico and the United States, part of the territory was acquired by the latter nation. Additions were made by a later purchase from Mexico and by a cession from Texas. The population still includes about 100,000 Mexicans, as well as nearly 40,000 Indians. The territory when originally organised in 1850 included Arizona and parts of Colorado and California. The construction of railroads, begun in 1878, had a marked influence in its development. There are now about 1400 miles of railroad, connecting with either ocean and with all parts of the Union.
There are nineteen counties in New Mexico, and the principal cities and towns are Santa Fé (the capital), Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Fernandez de Taos, and Socorro. The public-school system was organised in 1891, public schools have been established wherever it has been expedient, and there are a number of private and denominational institutions. An act was passed in 1889 authorising a state university at Albuquerque, an agricultural college at Las Vegas, and a school of mines at Socorro.