Zia Rising: The 47th State

President Taft proclaimed New Mexico the 47th state of the Union on January 6, 1912. When our territorial governor got the big news, his 16-year-old daughter promptly raised a brand-new 47-star flag over the State Capitol in Santa Fe—and church bells rang out in celebration.

We were one of the very last states to join the contiguous United States. Twenty western territories achieved statehood during the 66 long years New Mexico waited! In that pivotal time, New Mexico learned how to govern itself, and set out to prove itself to the world.

Achieving statehood is still a watershed moment in New Mexican history. Our people worked hard to get here—proving their worth and accomplishing so much along the way.

By 1912 New Mexico was a bustling, well-developed region with law and order, major mining, timber, and sheep industries, and public schools and universities…with more improvements on the way. Good roads were linking farm communities to cities, and irrigation projects were laying the groundwork for grand agricultural efforts. Thanks to improved communication and vigorous efforts to sell New Mexico’s resources, people started coming to visit. Some even built new lives here.

While statehood was a huge milestone, it couldn’t solve all of our problems. But what we are today is rooted firmly in that time—we’re still a mostly rural, agricultural state where tradition and innovation coexist and run deep.

So, let’s join Felipe Maximiliano Chacón, the New Mexican Bard, and shout: “Long live the state of New Mexico!”

Image: Governor William C. McDonald making Inaugural Address on the steps of the Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 15, 1912. New Mexico Palace of the Governors Photo Archives. Negative Number: 008116.