New Mexico State Flag

The New Mexico State Flag is emblazoned with a red Zia Sun Symbol on a background of Spanish gold. The Zia Sun Symbol, which originated from ancient Zia pueblo, reflects the sacred number four and the spiritual beliefs of harmony among all things in the universe. The symbol consists of a circle (representing life and love, without beginning, without end) from which four straight lines radiate on four sides of the circle. The lines represent:

State Motto

"Crescit eundo" - It grows as it goes

State Slogan

"Everyone is someone in New Mexico"

Official Salute to the New Mexico Flag

"I salute the flag of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures." Adopted March, 1963
"Saludo la bandera del estado de Nuevo Mejico y simbolo Zia de amistad perfecta, entre culturas unidas." - Spanish translation adopted in March, 1973

State Songs

0, Fair New Mexico was written in 1917 by Flizabeth Garrett, the blind daughter of famed Sheriff Pat Garrett. Governor Washington F. Lindsey signed the legislation making 0, Fair New Mexico the official State Song in 1917. America's most famous march com-poser and conductor, John Philip Sousa, presented Governor A.T. Hannett an arrangement of the state song in 1928.
Así Es Nuevo Mexico, written by contemporary composer Amadeo Lucero, was sung with guitar accompaniment to the 1971 State Legislature by Lieutenant Governor Roberto Mon-dragon and promptly adopted as the Spanish-language version of the state song.

State Poem

A Nuevo Mexico was written by Luis Tafoya in 1911, a year before New Mexico became a state.
~ adopted in 1991

State Flower
The Yucca (Yucca glauca)

Is a member of the lily family, and symbolizes sturdiness and beauty. New Mexicans have long used the yucca roots for many herbal remedies.
~ adopted March, 1927

State Tree
The Piñon tree (Pinus edulis)

Is a sturdy, slow-growing little evergreen which flourishes over a vast area of the state. Piñon nuts are loved by New Mexicans. 
~ adopted March, 1949

State Grass
The Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

Is found in all areas of New Mexico, but especially in sands, barns, bottomland and mountain grasslands.

State Bird
Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

The Chaparral Bird, El Correcaminos in Spanish, was named Roadrunner by pioneers who watched it race along wagon ruts. The bird can fly in a soaring sweep, but more often skims along the ground at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
~ adopted March, 1949

State Fish
The Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (Onchorhynchus clarki virginalis)

Is so named because of the dark, red streaks under its throat and is native to northern New Mexico's streams and lakes.

State Animal
The Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

The North American black bear is the most widespread of the North American bears. It is of medium size among bears, averaging 135 to 350 pounds, although individuals over 600 pounds have been found. Adult black bears, standing slightly over three feet at the shoulders, have a predominately black coat which is smooth and short haired, compared to the brown bears.

Smokey Bear, probably the most famous Black Bear in United States history, was found cowering in a tree after a forest fire destroyed many acres of timber in the Lincoln National Forest near Capitan. Smokey continues to be a symbol of fire prevention across the country.
~ adopted February, 1963

State Insect
The Tarantula Hawk Wasp (Pepsis formosa)

Is found in New Mexico and other Southwestern states.
~ adopted in 1989.

State Reptile
New Mexico Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus)

Whiptail lizards are hyperactive and constantly in motion. Whiptails dash across the ground from shrub to shrub - often running upright on their hind legs like miniature dinosaurs. They forage ceaselessly for termites and other ground-dwelling insects and spiders, swiveling their head rapidly from side to side, sniffing the air with their slender, forked tongue, and probing under surface debris with their pointed snout.

State Amphibian
New Mexico Spadefoot Toad (Spea multiplicata)

The New Mexico Spadefoot Toad is most often found in floodplains, washes and other lowland habitats, especially where the soil is loose enough for burrowing and deep enough to avoid freezing temperatures. They may make limited use of pinyon-juniper, but mostly occur in non-forested areas. They are active at night.

State Butterfly
Sandia Hairstreak (Callophrys mcfarlandi)

Tailless. Upperside of male is brown; female is reddish brown with a narrow black border. Underside yellow-green; white postmedian line bordered with black toward the wing base.

State Vegetables
Chile and Beans

Both are a unique part of the New Mexican diet. New Mexico has two state vegetables because chile and beans are almost inseparable in that diet. - adopted in 1965.

Chile - Red or Green? New Mexico grows a variety of different types of chile peppers. The most popular is the habenaro chile pepper.
Green chile is picked before the pepper is fully matured; it is then roasted and peeled.
Red chile is a fully matured habenaro pepper, they are hung in a ristra and left to dry. The pods are later ground up into a chile powder to make red chile.

Beans - Bean are an essensial ingredient in most New Mexican food. Also known as the musical fruit.

State Cookie

The biscochito is a small anise-flavored cookie brought to New Mexico by the early Spaniards and used during special celebrations, the Christmas season and high holy days.
~ adopted in 1989.

State Gem

Turquoise is the only phosphate considered a precious stone. Turquoise set in silver is a big industry in New Mexico. Beautiful and authentic pieces may be purchased throughout the state and even farther.  
~ adopted March 23, 1967

State Fossil
Coelophysis

Reaching no more than six feet in length, a coelophysis was so lightly built that it weighed about 50 pounds. An expedition of paleontologists discovered a remarkable example of the Coelophysis near Ghost Ranch north of Santa Fe in 1947.
~ adopted March, 1981