Fun New Mexico Facts!

1912 – New Mexico admitted to the Union as the 47^th state.

State Song – “O, Fair New Mexico” – words and music by Elizabeth Garrett (daughter of Sheriff Pat Garrett, the lawman who shot and killed Billy the Kid).

State Ballad – “Land of Enchantment” – words and music by Michael Martin Murphey, Don Cook and Chick Rains.

State Cookie – Click here for a tried and true biscochito cookie recipe.  The biscochito (bizcochito) was adopted as the official cookie by the 1989 New Mexico Legislature.  This act made New Mexico the first state to have an official state cookie.  The biscochito is a small anise-flavored cookie which was brought to New Mexico by the early Spaniards.  The cookie is used during special celebrations, wedding receptions, baptisms, Christmas season, and other holidays.  It was chosen to help maintain traditional home-baked cookery. 

State Flower – The yucca – The yucca, called “Our Lord’s candles” by the early settlers who saw the beautiful flowers of the yucca cactus gracing the plains and deserts in New Mexico, is found in abundant quantities in the state.

State Tree – The piñon – The piñon is the official State Tree.  This sturdy, slow-growing little evergreen flourishes over a vast area of the state.

State Bird – The Chaparral Bird is a species of ground cuckoo, a combination of chicken and magpie.  It is approximately two feet long and has a tail which accounts for half its length.  Also called the roadrunner, the bird has a long bill and crested head and its pheasant-like brown plumage attains a rich, greenish sheen in the sunlight.  The camouflage is ideal among the mesquite or cactus it uses for nesting.

State Animal – Smokey Bear, probably the most famous bear in the history of the United States, was a New Mexico cub found cowering in a tree after a forest fire destroyed many acres of timber in the Lincoln National Forest near Capitan.  In 1950 the U.S. Forest Service and the Advertising Council utilized Smokey as the symbol for fire prevention campaigns conducted all over the country.  This black bear received much fame, lived to a ripe old age, and was later buried at Smokey Bear State Park in Capitan.

State Vegetables – Chile and Frijoles.

State Gem – Turquoise.

State Slogan – The official state slogan for business, commerce and industry in New Mexico is:  “Everybody is somebody in New Mexico.”  It was adopted by the New Mexico Legislature on April 3, 1975.

State Nickname – Land of Enchantment.