List of New Mexico state symbols
Appearance
This is a list of the officially designated symbols of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Most such designations are found in §12.3 of the New Mexico Statutes.[1][2] The majority of the items in the list are officially recognized after a law is passed by the state legislature. New Mexico is the first state to adopt a state question: "Red or green?"
Insignia
- Flag: Flag of New Mexico (1925)[3]
- Seal: Seal of New Mexico (1913)
- Motto: Crescit eundo, It Grows as it Goes (Latin). (1887)[4][N 1]
- Nickname: Land of Enchantment; Template:Lang-es, or [Tierra Encantada] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (1999)[5][N 2]
- Slogan: "Everybody is Somebody in New Mexico" (1975)
- Question: "Red or Green?" (1999)[N 3]
- Answer: "Red and Green or Christmas." (1999)[1]
Capital
Music
- English state song: O Fair New Mexico, Template:Lang-es (1917)
- Spanish state song: Template:Lang-es, Such is New Mexico (1971)
- Bilingual state song: Spanish: New Mexico-Mi Lindo Nuevo México, New Mexico-My Lovely New Mexico (1995)
- State cowboy song: Under New Mexico Skies (2009)[6]
- March: The New Mexico March by John Philip Sousa (Unofficial)[5]
Flora
- Flower: Yucca flower (1927) [N 5]
- Tree: Two-needle piñon pine (Pinus edulis) (1949)
- Grass: Blue grama (Bouteloua gracillis) (1973)
Foods
- Cookie: Bizcochito (1989)
- Vegetables: Chiles and frijoles (pinto beans) (1965)
Fauna
- Amphibian: New Mexico spadefoot toad (Spea multiplicata) (2003)
- Animal: New Mexico black bear (1963)
- Bird: Chaparral bird (greater roadrunner) (1949)
- Butterfly: Sandia hairstreak (2003)
- Fish: Rio Grande cutthroat trout (1955)
- Insect: Tarantula wasp (Pepsis grossa) (1989)
- Reptile: New Mexico whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus) (2003)[7]
Geology
- Fossil: Coelophysis (1981)
- Gem: Turquoise (1967)
Other
Type | Symbol | Year |
---|---|---|
State historic railroad | Cumbres and Toltec scenic railroad | |
State necklace | Native American squash blossom | |
State guitar | Pimentel (New Mexico sunrise guitar)[8] | 2009 |
State ballad | Land of Enchantment, Template:Lang-es, or [Tierra Encantada] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) | 1989 |
State poem | Spanish: A Nuevo México, To New Mexico | 1991 |
State Tie | Bolo tie | 2007 |
State ship | USS New Mexico (BB-40) | 1918–1946 |
USS New Mexico (SSN-779) | 2008 | |
State aircraft | Hot air balloon, symbol of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta | 2005[5] |
Notes
- ^ Crescit eundo was added to the territorial seal in 1882. This change was officially adopted by the legislature in 1887.[4]
- ^ "Land of Enchantment" was first coined by Lillian Whiting in a book on the state in 1906. The slogan later appeared on New Mexico license plates in 1941; a trademark was obtained by the state in 1947. It was not until June 18, 1999 that the phrase was adopted as the official nickname.[5]
- ^ The official state question refers to a question commonly heard at restaurants, where waiters will ask customers "red or green?" in reference to which kind of chili pepper or "chile sauce" the customers wants served with their meal.
- ^ Santa Fe is the longest serving capital in the United States, since 1610.
- ^ No species name is listed in state statutes, however the New Mexico Centennial Blue Book from 2012 references the soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) as one of the more widespread species in New Mexico.
Further reading
- "State Symbols". Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. "State Symbols". New Mexico Centennial Blue Book 2012 (PDF). Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. pp. 138–168. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
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References
- ^ a b "New Mexico Statutes Annotated". New Mexico Compilation Commission. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
- ^ "State Symbols". New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^ Rick Wyatt; Joe McMillan; Nick Artimovich; William E. Dunning; Nathan Lamm; Sascha Zimmer (2011-06-10). "New Mexico (U.S.)". CRW Flags Inc. Store. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ a b "Great Seal of New Mexico". State of New Mexico. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ a b c d Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. "State Symbols". New Mexico Centennial Blue Book 2012 (PDF). Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. pp. 138–168. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
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|chapterurl=
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suggested) (help) (PDF) - ^ "Under New Mexico Skies Declared Official State Cowboy Song". New Mexico Music Commission, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
- ^ "State Symbols: State reptile". Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
- ^ Gallagher Roberts, Michelle. "New Mexico Sunrise". New Mexico Museum of Art. Retrieved 27 December 2013.