| In New Mexico, the Native Americans and the | | | | Industries |
| Anglo-Americans make up the small population of the | | | | Early in their history, the people settled along the river |
| state. There are still adobe villages throughout the | | | | banks. They found sufficient livelihood in farming and |
| state. People still celebrate traditional festivities | | | | ranching. When the first railroad was completed in1879 |
| reminiscent of pre-Columbian and Spanish influences. | | | | the state saw an important economic transformation. |
| Much of this influences are still visible in the architecture | | | | With the availability of freight services, cattle ranching |
| of the buildings and homes, and in the customs of the | | | | expanded to a large scale. Agriculture also saw |
| people. In 1945, New Mexico became the center for | | | | development as more people cultivated cash crops. |
| nuclear research. | | | | Mining became an important source for economic |
| Geographical Location and Demography | | | | viability. People mined silver and gold and other |
| New Mexico occupies a stretch of 314,917 sq km | | | | minerals. |
| (121,590 sq mi) and 606 sq km (234 sq mi) of inland | | | | Economic activities increased when the Los Alamos |
| water. It has therefore the distinction of being the fifth | | | | National Laboratory was set up in 1943. It was here |
| largest state in the United States. On the north are the | | | | that the first atomic bomb was developed. Military and |
| Colorado boundaries, on the west Oklahoma and | | | | Energy establishments spurred economic growth. |
| Texas. The south border is taken up by Texas and | | | | In 2005, the work force of New Mexico had 941,300 |
| Mexico. Arizona borders on the west. The New | | | | people. Some 42 percent were in the service |
| Mexican landscape is guarded by the mountain ranges | | | | industries, mostly occupations along tourism. Others did |
| that lend a formidable skyscrape. | | | | work as computer programmers or did serving in the |
| Climate | | | | many restaurants. Twenty percent was in wholesale |
| Down in New Mexico it is sunny. The climate is mild. | | | | or in the retail trade; 22 percent were working for the |
| Winters are warm. It is always cooler and wetter up in | | | | federal, state, or local government. Some were in the |
| the mountains and the nearby environs. The state also | | | | employ of the military. About 6 percent are in |
| experiences an annual average precipitation of about | | | | construction; 29 percent in real estate, finance and |
| 8 inches. Precipitation is higher in the valleys of Rio | | | | insurance. Manufacturing had an employment of 6 |
| Grande and San Juan. | | | | percent. Farming or forestry had a minimal 3 percent |
| The wettest season is on July and August. In winter | | | | even including agricultural services. The mining industry |
| snow caps the mountains and the lower elevations. | | | | had 2 percent of the total workforce. |