| The population of New Mexico, which is almost 2 | | | | the crash project to develop nuclear weapons. |
| million, is concentrated in the Rio Grande Corridor, | | | | There are currently 3 air force bases Kirtland, |
| which is a rift valley that cuts the state in two | | | | Holloman and Cannon, in New Mexico, and major |
| from the North to the South. Down the rift | | | | national laboratories, Sandia and Los Alamos, which |
| travels the nation's second longest river, the Rio | | | | account for a large amount of the economy of |
| Grande. Around this valley are the major cities of | | | | the state. These facilities work in nuclear |
| the state. Albuquerque is the largest, with 800,000 | | | | weapons, nuclear energy, and the space program. |
| people in its metropolitan area. Santa Fe, 7,000 | | | | White Sands Space Harbor, near Las Cruces, is a |
| feet above sea level, is the capital, and is the third | | | | training center for Shuttle astronauts. |
| largest city. La Cruces, in the south central area is | | | | Albuquerque is also the home of the University of |
| near the agricultural area of Mesilla Valley, also the | | | | New Mexico. Rio Rancho, outside Albuquerque, is |
| home of much chile pepper production. It is home | | | | the fastest growing city in the state, and is home |
| to the New Mexico State University, and is the | | | | of a new $2 billion Intel semiconductor facility. |
| second largest city in the state with 82,000 | | | | Private investment funds are investing in New |
| people. Taos in the northern part of the state is | | | | Mexico jobs, together with major state support. |
| known for its artist colony and Indian artifacts and | | | | A recent large investment was given to Eclipse |
| crafts production. Taos also has a white-river | | | | Aviation, near Albuquerque - a company that |
| recreational area nearby and fishing, plus skiing in | | | | combines the passion for aviation of its founder, |
| the wintertime. There's plenty more places for | | | | with a NASA initiative to develop efficient |
| your New Mexico Incorporation. | | | | lightweight engines, and now produces small planes |
| New Mexico has a fascinating history of advanced | | | | for private flights. Virgin Galactic, a company |
| Indian cultures responsible for cliff dwellings and | | | | which plans to offer sub-orbital, and later orbital, |
| multi storied stone buildings from the 13th century. | | | | spaceflights to the paying public will locate near |
| Beginning in the 17th century, the area of New | | | | Upham in southern New Mexico, and will establish |
| Mexico was part of Spanish America, as artifacts, | | | | its worldwide headquarters in New Mexico. |
| and mission buildings and state names recall. In | | | | The federal government hires one out of every |
| modern times, New Mexico was critical for the | | | | four New Mexico workers - this includes the U.S. |
| development of aerospace in the United States. It | | | | Military, National Parks Service and National |
| was an area that encouraged new thinking. | | | | Forests. Agriculture and livestock breeding are also |
| Robert Goddard, later known as the father of | | | | a large part of the state's economy, as is |
| rocketry, set up shop in New Mexico for his | | | | extensive mining, and tourism. There is no sales |
| experiment in the 1930s, which were attacked | | | | tax, but a gross receipt tax. The top personal |
| and ridiculed until they were shown to be critical | | | | income tax rate is 5.80%, and the top corporate |
| breakthroughs. In recent history, New Mexico was | | | | income tax rate is 7.60%. There is no estate or |
| the site of the World War II Manhattan Project - | | | | inheritance tax. |