New Mexico
New Mexico is officially nicknamed The Land of Enchantment for its scenic beauty, rich multicultural history and various art forms.
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Massachusetts ranks as the best state in the U.S. It has the No. 1 education system and ranks near the top for healthcare, economy and crime & corrections. (Keith Bedford/Boston Globe/Gett)
New Hampshire ranks second among the U.S. states. It ranks first for opportunity and has the least poverty, and nears the top for education and healthcare. (Jose Azel/Getty Images)
Minnesota ranks No. 3 among the U.S. states overall, with the third-best best health care and some of the best infrastructure and opportunity in the nation. (Getty Images)
North Dakota ranks fourth among the U.S. states, with the second best economy, the sixth best infrastructure and the seventh best government efficiency. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Washington ranks fifth among the U.S. states. It nears the top in multiple categories, including education, healthcare, government and infrastructure. (George Rose/Getty Images)
Iowa, which grows one-fifth of the nation's corn, ranks 6th overall and fifth for healthcare among U.S. states. It ranks highly for education and opportunity. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Utah, the youngest state, ranks seventh in the U.S. It nears the top in many categories, including economy, infrastructure, government efficiency and education. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Maryland ranks as the eighth best state in the U.S. It also ranks near the top for education and opportunity, with the highest median household income. (Matt McClain/Washington Post/Getty Images)
Colorado ranks as the 9th best state in the U.S. It has the best economy in the U.S. and is experiencing the most growth, which includes GDP and population. (Brennan Linsley/AP)
Vermont ranks tenth among the U.S. states. It ranks as the safest state and places first for crime & corrections. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
Virginia ranks 11th among the U.S. states. It places second for government efficiency and nears the top for education, crime & corrections and public safety. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Connecticut ranks as the 12th best state in the U.S. It is the 7th safest state and ranks near the top for education, with one of the most educated populations. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Nebraska ranks 13th among the U.S. states. It is one of the best states for infrastructure and education, with the second highest high school graduation rate. (Larry Mayer/Getty Images)
New Jersey ranks second among the states for education, with high test scores and high school graduation rates. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Mel Evans/AP)
South Dakota ranks 15th overall and eighth for infrastructure in the U.S. It has some of the lowest income inequality and ranks seventh for higher education. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Wisconsin ranks 16th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for government efficiency and transparency. It ranks among the best states for crime & corrections. (Getty Images)
New York ranks 17th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for crime & corrections. It has one of the best prison systems and is the fourth healthiest state. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Maine ranks 18th among the U.S. states and ranks third for opportunity. It ranks second for crime & corrections and has the lowest incarceration rate. (Charlie Archambault for USN&WR)
Oregon has the best infrastructure in the U.S., ranking high in energy and transportation. It ranks 10th for equal opportunity with high employment equality. (Getty Images)
Delaware ranks among the top U.S. states for economy and opportunity. It is one of the fastest-growing states and has the highest employment equality, by race. (Getty Images)
Rhode Island ranks third in the U.S. for crime & corrections and 10th for healthcare, with some of the best healthcare access and the best medicare quality. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Indiana ranks first for government efficiency among U.S. states. It is also one of the most affordable states and has some of the most equal opportunity. (Getty Images)
California, with the largest population, has the No. 3 economy in the U.S. and ranks first for business environment. It has one of the healthiest populations. (Getty Images)
Florida has the 7th best economy in the U.S. and is the second-fastest growing state. Its government ranks near the top, especially in terms of transparency. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
North Carolina ranks 25th among the U.S. States. It ranks fourth for government efficiency and has one of the highest college graduation rates in the nation. (Andrew Krech/News & Record/AP)
Wyoming ranks 26th among the U.S. states overall and ninth for opportunity. It has one of the lowest poverty levels and infant mortality rates in the nation. (Jeff R. Clow/Getty Images)
Hawaii ranks first for healthcare, with one of the healthiest populations, some of the best healthcare access and the lowest mortality rate in the U.S. (Getty Images)
Kansas ranks eighth among the U.S. states for affordability, with some of the lowest-cost housing. It also ranks among the best states for Medicare quality. (Getty Images)
Illinois ranks 10th for infrastructure and is among the top states for gender equality. It also has one of the best Internet speeds and lowest suicide rates. (Kiichiro Sato/AP)
Pennsylvania ranks among the best states for college readiness and as the 11th safest state in the nation. It also ranks 12th for housing affordability. (Avi Gupta for USN&WR)
Montana ranks 29th among the U.S. states and is among the top states for economic growth. It also has one of the lowest obesity and hospital readmission rates. (Ben Pierce/Bozeman Chronicle/AP)
Idaho ranks third in the U.S. for business environment and fourth for public safety. It ranks among the top states for its economy and crime & corrections. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Michigan ranks as the second most affordable state in the U.S., with one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Arizona ranks 5th for the lowest graduate debt and is also one of the best states for equality, which includes gender equality and employment equality. (Miladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)
Ohio is the most affordable state, with the best housing affordability and one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Georgia ranks 14th out of the U.S. states for its economy and 15th for government efficiency. It ranks highly for job growth, new businesses and GDP growth. (David Goldman/AP)
Missouri ranks 37th among the U.S. states. It's government ties for the best use of technology, and the state ranks 10th for its high school graduation rate. (Getty Images)
Texas ranks sixth for its economy among the U.S. states. It ranks third for economic growth, with the most GDP growth and some of the most job growth. (David J. Phillip/AP)
Tennessee ranks 39th overall among the U.S. states. It ranks as one of the best states for government efficiency, low cost of living and transportation. (Getty Images)
Nevada ranks 40th among the U.S. states. It also ranks as one of the best states for infrastructure, with the best transportation system in the nation. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
West Virginia is the 10th most affordable state in the U.S. and ranks third for equal opportunity, scoring especially high in education equality, by race. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Kentucky | Fields of canola bloom extend into the horizon in Oak Grove as a man looks under the hood of a 1949 Pontiac at his salvage yard. (David Goldman/AP)
Alaska ranks 43th among the U.S. states, but has the best healthcare quality, one of the lowest poverty rates and one of the shortest average commute times. (Getty Images)
Oklahoma ranks 44th among the U.S. states. It is one of the most affordable states and ranks 11th for commute time and 16th for government transparency. (Getty Images)
South Carolina ranks 45th among the U.S. states overall and 50th for education. It ranks the highest for its economy and has some of the most population growth. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
New Mexico ranks 46th among the U.S. states. It ranks among the best states for disability employment equality and for lowest tuition and graduate debt. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Alabama ranks 47th overall and for education among the states, but offers the fourth lowest cost of living and some of the best safeguards against corruption. (Albert Cesare/Montgomery Advert/AP)
Arkansas ranks 48th among the states, 50th for healthcare and 45th for public safety. It also ranks 12th for affordability and 14th for lowest graduate debt. (Getty Images)
Mississippi ranks 49th among the U.S. states overall, 44th for government and 50th opportunity. It ranks as one of the best states for disability equality. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Louisiana ranks 50th among the U.S. states. It has one of the most transparent governments and it's also one of the states with the lowest graduate debt. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Massachusetts ranks as the best state in the U.S. It has the No. 1 education system and ranks near the top for healthcare, economy and crime & corrections. (Keith Bedford/Boston Globe/Gett)
New Hampshire ranks second among the U.S. states. It ranks first for opportunity and has the least poverty, and nears the top for education and healthcare. (Jose Azel/Getty Images)
Minnesota ranks No. 3 among the U.S. states overall, with the third-best best health care and some of the best infrastructure and opportunity in the nation. (Getty Images)
North Dakota ranks fourth among the U.S. states, with the second best economy, the sixth best infrastructure and the seventh best government efficiency. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Washington ranks fifth among the U.S. states. It nears the top in multiple categories, including education, healthcare, government and infrastructure. (George Rose/Getty Images)
Iowa, which grows one-fifth of the nation's corn, ranks 6th overall and fifth for healthcare among U.S. states. It ranks highly for education and opportunity. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Utah, the youngest state, ranks seventh in the U.S. It nears the top in many categories, including economy, infrastructure, government efficiency and education. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Maryland ranks as the eighth best state in the U.S. It also ranks near the top for education and opportunity, with the highest median household income. (Matt McClain/Washington Post/Getty Images)
Colorado ranks as the 9th best state in the U.S. It has the best economy in the U.S. and is experiencing the most growth, which includes GDP and population. (Brennan Linsley/AP)
Vermont ranks tenth among the U.S. states. It ranks as the safest state and places first for crime & corrections. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
Virginia ranks 11th among the U.S. states. It places second for government efficiency and nears the top for education, crime & corrections and public safety. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Connecticut ranks as the 12th best state in the U.S. It is the 7th safest state and ranks near the top for education, with one of the most educated populations. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Nebraska ranks 13th among the U.S. states. It is one of the best states for infrastructure and education, with the second highest high school graduation rate. (Larry Mayer/Getty Images)
New Jersey ranks second among the states for education, with high test scores and high school graduation rates. It's also near the top for healthcare. (Mel Evans/AP)
South Dakota ranks 15th overall and eighth for infrastructure in the U.S. It has some of the lowest income inequality and ranks seventh for higher education. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Wisconsin ranks 16th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for government efficiency and transparency. It ranks among the best states for crime & corrections. (Getty Images)
New York ranks 17th among the U.S. states overall and fifth for crime & corrections. It has one of the best prison systems and is the fourth healthiest state. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Maine ranks 18th among the U.S. states and ranks third for opportunity. It ranks second for crime & corrections and has the lowest incarceration rate. (Charlie Archambault for USN&WR)
Oregon has the best infrastructure in the U.S., ranking high in energy and transportation. It ranks 10th for equal opportunity with high employment equality. (Getty Images)
Delaware ranks among the top U.S. states for economy and opportunity. It is one of the fastest-growing states and has the highest employment equality, by race. (Getty Images)
Rhode Island ranks third in the U.S. for crime & corrections and 10th for healthcare, with some of the best healthcare access and the best medicare quality. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Indiana ranks first for government efficiency among U.S. states. It is also one of the most affordable states and has some of the most equal opportunity. (Getty Images)
California, with the largest population, has the No. 3 economy in the U.S. and ranks first for business environment. It has one of the healthiest populations. (Getty Images)
Florida has the 7th best economy in the U.S. and is the second-fastest growing state. Its government ranks near the top, especially in terms of transparency. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
North Carolina ranks 25th among the U.S. States. It ranks fourth for government efficiency and has one of the highest college graduation rates in the nation. (Andrew Krech/News & Record/AP)
Wyoming ranks 26th among the U.S. states overall and ninth for opportunity. It has one of the lowest poverty levels and infant mortality rates in the nation. (Jeff R. Clow/Getty Images)
Hawaii ranks first for healthcare, with one of the healthiest populations, some of the best healthcare access and the lowest mortality rate in the U.S. (Getty Images)
Kansas ranks eighth among the U.S. states for affordability, with some of the lowest-cost housing. It also ranks among the best states for Medicare quality. (Getty Images)
Illinois ranks 10th for infrastructure and is among the top states for gender equality. It also has one of the best Internet speeds and lowest suicide rates. (Kiichiro Sato/AP)
Pennsylvania ranks among the best states for college readiness and as the 11th safest state in the nation. It also ranks 12th for housing affordability. (Avi Gupta for USN&WR)
Montana ranks 29th among the U.S. states and is among the top states for economic growth. It also has one of the lowest obesity and hospital readmission rates. (Ben Pierce/Bozeman Chronicle/AP)
Idaho ranks third in the U.S. for business environment and fourth for public safety. It ranks among the top states for its economy and crime & corrections. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Michigan ranks as the second most affordable state in the U.S., with one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Arizona ranks 5th for the lowest graduate debt and is also one of the best states for equality, which includes gender equality and employment equality. (Miladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)
Ohio is the most affordable state, with the best housing affordability and one of the lowest costs of living. It also ties for the most transparent government. (Getty Images)
Georgia ranks 14th out of the U.S. states for its economy and 15th for government efficiency. It ranks highly for job growth, new businesses and GDP growth. (David Goldman/AP)
Missouri ranks 37th among the U.S. states. It's government ties for the best use of technology, and the state ranks 10th for its high school graduation rate. (Getty Images)
Texas ranks sixth for its economy among the U.S. states. It ranks third for economic growth, with the most GDP growth and some of the most job growth. (David J. Phillip/AP)
Tennessee ranks 39th overall among the U.S. states. It ranks as one of the best states for government efficiency, low cost of living and transportation. (Getty Images)
Nevada ranks 40th among the U.S. states. It also ranks as one of the best states for infrastructure, with the best transportation system in the nation. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
West Virginia is the 10th most affordable state in the U.S. and ranks third for equal opportunity, scoring especially high in education equality, by race. (Brett Ziegler for USN&WR)
Kentucky | Fields of canola bloom extend into the horizon in Oak Grove as a man looks under the hood of a 1949 Pontiac at his salvage yard. (David Goldman/AP)
Alaska ranks 43th among the U.S. states, but has the best healthcare quality, one of the lowest poverty rates and one of the shortest average commute times. (Getty Images)
Oklahoma ranks 44th among the U.S. states. It is one of the most affordable states and ranks 11th for commute time and 16th for government transparency. (Getty Images)
South Carolina ranks 45th among the U.S. states overall and 50th for education. It ranks the highest for its economy and has some of the most population growth. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
New Mexico ranks 46th among the U.S. states. It ranks among the best states for disability employment equality and for lowest tuition and graduate debt. (Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR)
Alabama ranks 47th overall and for education among the states, but offers the fourth lowest cost of living and some of the best safeguards against corruption. (Albert Cesare/Montgomery Advert/AP)
Arkansas ranks 48th among the states, 50th for healthcare and 45th for public safety. It also ranks 12th for affordability and 14th for lowest graduate debt. (Getty Images)
Mississippi ranks 49th among the U.S. states overall, 44th for government and 50th opportunity. It ranks as one of the best states for disability equality. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Louisiana ranks 50th among the U.S. states. It has one of the most transparent governments and it's also one of the states with the lowest graduate debt. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
As the fifth largest state in area, it has a relatively small population of slightly more than 2 million people.
Most people live in cities, with more than one-fourth residing in Albuquerque, the state's largest city.
The state's economic pillars are its natural resources, tourism, retail trade and federal government spending. Its wealth of natural resources makes it the seventh-largest state in energy supply to the nation. Much of the state's income is derived from oil and gas. New Mexico ranked sixth in crude oil production in 2015, contributing more than 4 percent of the country's crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Permian Basin in New Mexico has more than 25,000 oil wells, including two of the 100 largest oil fields in the nation. As of 2015, its natural gas production accounted for 4.3 percent of marketed natural gas in the United States.
Also known as The Land of Sunshine, the state has on average 320-plus days of sunshine per year. And with its expansive land, New Mexico has many solar and wind energy projects that provide electricity to neighboring states such as Texas, Arizona and California.
With many breathtaking national parks, forests and historical sites in memory of Native American and Hispanic cultures, New Mexico attracts more than 30 million tourists every year. The tourism boom also boosts retail sales, one of the keys to the state's economy. The state welcomes thousands of people during annual events such as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, an annual hot air balloon festival held in in early October that draws people from around the world and bills itself as the largest of its kind in the world.
Before Europeans arrived in New Mexico, the state was sparsely populated by Native Americans. In 1598, Juan de Oñate led a Spanish mission to colonize the state. In the following two centuries, the Pueblo people revolted but Spanish settlers re-colonized the land, and in 1789 a peace treaty was established, leading to 35-year period of peace between the Native Americans with the colonizers.
In the spring of 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain and established the Mexican Empire and Federal Republic of Mexico. The United States invaded New Mexico in 1846. The empire's independence lasted until 1848, when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War.
Since achieving statehood on Jan. 6, 1912, as the 47th state, New Mexico has ranked first among all the states in the country for its Hispanic population – 49 percent of its 2 million people. It also has the second-highest percentage of Native Americans, 10 percent, following Alaska.
The state's integration of various cultures is pictured on the state flag. Yellow and red are the colors of Spain. Rays reaching from the red circle in the middle of the flag represent an ancient sun symbol of the Zia, a Native American group. The Zia believe that a higher being gave all good to them in groups of four, and the circle stands for life and love without a beginning or end.
Catholics account for about one in three of all adults in New Mexico; Protestants comprise sightly more. Sixty percent say religion plays a very important role in their lives. The state's colleges include the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and other state campuses, as well as art schools such as the public Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and the private Sante Fe University of Art and Design.
The federal government is the state’s biggest employer. More than one-third of the land in New Mexico is protected by the federal government, employing people in agencies such as the National Park Service to protect national parks and historic sites. The U.S. government also maintains military and research institutions in the state. Three Air Force bases, White Sands Missile Range and the federal research facilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories are located in New Mexico.
The state was home to the famous mystery surrounding the Roswell UFO, which was officially declared an Air Force weather balloon by the government in mid-1947. UFO enthusiasts have continued for decades with elaborate government conspiracy theories, while insisting that an extraterrestrial spaceship had crashed there. It's also said that the balloon was not flown for weather measurement, but rather as part of Project Mogul, an expensive top-secret military project by the U.S. Army Air Forces to detect sound waves from Soviet atomic bomb tests from 1947 to early 1949.
The state's governor, Susana Martinez, a Republican first elected as the 31st governor in 2010, also was the first elected female governor of New Mexico and the nation's first Hispanic woman governor. With its large Hispanic population, the state has voted Democratic in most presidential elections since 1992.
