New Mexico Local Business Directory

The enduring presence of Native American and Spanish influences on New Mexico can be felt in almost every aspect of life within the state. Roughly 30 percent of the population of New Mexico speaks Spanish; 3.5 percent speaks Navajo. Much of New Mexico's land area is covered by desert terrain and sandy mesas. The northern portion of the state is dominated by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande River, the fourth-longest river in the U.S. New Mexico is home to a number of protected areas that include Cibola National Forest, Carson National Forest, Gila Wilderness and the Santa Fe National Forest.

Popular attractions in New Mexico include the extensive underground cave systems of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the stunning visual appeal of the White Sands National Monument and the Aztec Ruins National Monument. Throughout the state, numerous types of wildlife can be observed in their natural habitats. Cougars, black bears, kangaroo rats, pronghorn deer, elk and plains bison are among the most commonly spotted creatures in the nature preserves located across New Mexico.

Los Alamos, New Mexico, is known as the birthplace of the atomic bomb. Designed and constructed at several secret facilities located across the U.S., these atomic weapons were tested on July 16, 1945 at the Trinity site of the White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico. Military employment continues to be a major factor in the economy of the state of New Mexico. Tourism and oil production make up much of the remaining percentage of New Mexico's gross domestic product figures.