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NEW MEXICO

The earliest known people of New Mexico, were the Anasazi Indians.  These early tribes were known as master potters and weavers and were the ancestors of the Pueblo Indians.  By the time the Spanish arrived in the area in the early 1500s, the Pueblo Indians were already living in groups of apartment-like structures, called Pueblos (which is Spanish for towns).  Spanish explorer, Vasques de Coronado explored the area in 1540. In 1598, the Spaniards settled the village of San Juan.  Large tribes of Navajo and Apache also roamed the area.  Over the next three hundred years, New Mexico became a colony, first of Spain and later of Mexico.  The Spanish settlers traveled North along the Rio Grand into New Mexico's north central region, establishing missions and ranches as they went.  In 1610, the town of Santa Fe was established, making it the oldest capital city in the United states and our second-oldest permanent settlement after St. Augustine, Florida. 

In 1680, the Pueblo Indians forced the Spanish settlers to flee to Mexico.  Spain re-captured the area in the period between 1692 and 1696.

In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain and New Mexico became a part of Mexico.  At that time William Becknell blazed what was later named the Santa Fe Trail with its terminus in Missouri.

 New Mexico became part of the United States in 1848 as a portion of those lands ceded after war with that nation.  .  In 1850, it was created into a territory and included most of what we currently identify as New Mexico plus what is now Colorado and Arizona.  The Gadsden Purchase of 1854 increased its boundaries to include the Gila Valley which lies in Catron and Grant counties.

Colorado was split off from New Mexico in 1861 and made a territory in its own right.  In 1863, Arizona broke off and became a separate territory.   Relations with the Native American tribes continued to be a problem which did not end until the final surrender of Geronimo, a fierce and feared Indian Warrior, in 1886.   New Mexico achieved statehood in 1912, when it became the 47th state in the union, however its problems with Mexico did not end until  the capture of Mexican outlaw Pancho Villa which occurred after 1916.

    Some more recent issues have placed New Mexico in the news and made it a name to remember.  In 1924, the Gila National Forest was named as the first United States Wilderness area.  In 1945, the first atomic bomb was tested at Trinity Site near Alamogordo,, in 1950, Uranium ore was discovered in the Northwestern portion of the state and in 1970, the Taos Pueblo Indians finally received title to 48,000 acres in the Carson National Forest.   One other area of import to those visiting New Mexico are the huge and unusual Carlsbad Caverns.  Although this state has much desert land and the towns are few and far between, this state is well worth visiting for its history and its landmarks.

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