Top 5 in Top 10 widest states in the United States.
Area: 314,915 square kilometers or 121,589 square miles. New Mexico (transliteration: New Mexico, Spanish: Nuevo México [ˈnweβo ˈmexiko]; Navajo: Yootó Hahoodzo [jò:txó hahò:tsò]) or New Mexico is a state located in the region. Southwest United States. New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912. It is often referred to as a Mountain state. New Mexico has the fifth largest area, the 36th largest population, and the sixth lowest population density of the 50 US states. Inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, New Mexico became part of the Spanish Empire's New Spain colony in 1598. It was later part of Mexico. independence before becoming a U.S. territory and eventually a U.S. state as a result of the Mexican-American War. Of the states, New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics, including descendants of Spanish colonists who have lived here for more than 400 years. It also has the second-highest percentage of indigenous peoples after Alaska, and the fourth-highest total native population after California, Oklahoma, and Arizona. The majority of the indigenous people belong to the Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache peoples. State culture is shaped by these Hispano and Indigenous influences and is reflected in the state flag. The red and gold colors are taken from the Spanish crown, with the ancient Zia sun symbol.