There were several world events which had a deep, lasting impact on New Mexico. A democratic movement in Eastern Europe that caused the fall of one communist regime after another, detente, and disarmament treaties all made their impact felt on New Mexico.
The reduction in nuclear weapons, coupled with the 1979 disaster at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, cut demand for uranium that was mined in New Mexico. Grants faced a sudden bust. The call for new weapons developed at the Los Alamos and Sandia national labs was questioned. Rumors flew about that air bases might be closed. New Mexico's over dependence on federal government projects and spending became increasingly evident.
New Mexico's reliance on its oil and gas industry was also clear. Competition with foreign oil producers and fluctuations in the world market caused economic instability in towns like Hobbs and Farmington. The state government suffered whenever oil and gas production declined. Some things haven't changed much since.
Taken from New Mexico Magazine.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
New Mexico History from 1973 - 1982
In a decade not known for national glory, New Mexico experienced a surge of creativity and achievements.
Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima (1972) is perhaps the most famous novel ever written about Hispanic culture in the Southwest. John Nicols's Milagro Beanfield War (1974) described the struggle to preserve the Hispanic lifestyle against modern development and personal greed. R.C. Gorman's paintings made him one of the most recognized young Indian artists in the country.
The Unser family have won no fewer than nine Indianapolis 500 races, including four in the 1970's alone. In 1978, three new Mexicans - Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman, became the first team to fly across the Atlantic in a gas balloon.
On the other side, the Watergate scandal rocked the nation; New Mexico Senator Joseph Montoya became nationally known as a member of the investigating committee whose scrutiny ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation. Closer to home, a scandal involving the recruitment of basketball players to the University of New Mexico led to convictions in what will forever be known as Lobogate. It would take years for UNM's basketball program to recover.
Taken from New Mexico Magazine.
Monday, March 26, 2012
New Mexico history 1963 - 1972
The 1960's can be remembered as a period of growth and conflict in the U.S. and in New Mexico.
The state grew as an integral part of what President Eisenhower called the military-industrial complex which included the space race. New communities, such as Rio Rancho, welcomed residents and hippie communes added countercultural elements to an already eclectic state.
New Mexico also experienced turmoil. Some Hispanics, frustrated by the loss of their land grants, turned to an individual, Reis Lopez Tijerina and his originally peaceful Alianza Federal de Mercedes which was founded in 1963; Lopez Tijerina resorted to increasingly violent measures that ultimately ruined his movement. Taos Pueblo residents non-violently defended their sacred Blue Lake in the Carson National Forest.
The Vietnam war divided the state: abroad New Mexicans served in the military and at home, anti-war protesters sometimes turned violent, as when they clashed with opposing factions on Albuquerque's Central Avenue and National Guard troops were sent to the University of New Mexico. Peace was restored in New Mexico only when peace was restored in the nation and in Southeast Asia.
Taken from the New Mexico Magazine.
The state grew as an integral part of what President Eisenhower called the military-industrial complex which included the space race. New communities, such as Rio Rancho, welcomed residents and hippie communes added countercultural elements to an already eclectic state.
New Mexico also experienced turmoil. Some Hispanics, frustrated by the loss of their land grants, turned to an individual, Reis Lopez Tijerina and his originally peaceful Alianza Federal de Mercedes which was founded in 1963; Lopez Tijerina resorted to increasingly violent measures that ultimately ruined his movement. Taos Pueblo residents non-violently defended their sacred Blue Lake in the Carson National Forest.
The Vietnam war divided the state: abroad New Mexicans served in the military and at home, anti-war protesters sometimes turned violent, as when they clashed with opposing factions on Albuquerque's Central Avenue and National Guard troops were sent to the University of New Mexico. Peace was restored in New Mexico only when peace was restored in the nation and in Southeast Asia.
Taken from the New Mexico Magazine.
Friday, March 16, 2012
New Time Line (1953 - 1962)
New Mexico was very involved in the Cold War which led to an ever-greater federal involvement in the state. The U.S. Government converted four WW II army air bases into Air Force bases (Cannon, Holloman, Walker, and Kirtland) that continued to train crews and test new planes and weapons. The White Sands Missile Range located in southern New Mexico consisted of 3,200 square miles which allowed for advanced testing of weapons and rockets.
The US created new nuclear weapons, including the hydrogen bomb, at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Sandia National Laboratories. Grants became known as the "uranium capital" of the nation.
The Cold War heated up into warfare with the Korean conflict of 1950 - 1952. Nearly 200 New Mexicans lost their lives in this "forgotten war."
Albuquerque's population skyrocketed when newcomers arrived to work in Cold War industries. Albuquerque's population grew from 35,449 in 1940 to 262,199 in 1960. Smaller towns, like Los Alamos, Alamogordo and Grants, experienced like growth. Modern highways, trains, and commercial airlines brought tourists to New Mexico in record numbers. Construction for homes, businesses, motels, and restaurants boomed.
Information taken from New Mexico Magazine.
The US created new nuclear weapons, including the hydrogen bomb, at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Sandia National Laboratories. Grants became known as the "uranium capital" of the nation.
The Cold War heated up into warfare with the Korean conflict of 1950 - 1952. Nearly 200 New Mexicans lost their lives in this "forgotten war."
Albuquerque's population skyrocketed when newcomers arrived to work in Cold War industries. Albuquerque's population grew from 35,449 in 1940 to 262,199 in 1960. Smaller towns, like Los Alamos, Alamogordo and Grants, experienced like growth. Modern highways, trains, and commercial airlines brought tourists to New Mexico in record numbers. Construction for homes, businesses, motels, and restaurants boomed.
Information taken from New Mexico Magazine.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
New Time Line - (1943 - 1952) New Mexico History
New Mexicans were active in the armed services during World War II, with nearly 50,000 serving and 2,256 suffering casualties; New Mexicans received seven Medals of Honor during the war. Navajo Code Talkers devised a secret military code that was used to help win battles in the Pacific. New Mexico native Bill Mauldin and Albuquerque resident Ernie Pyle won Pulitzer Prizes for their coverage of the war. On the home front, Army air bases were built in Hobbs, Carlsbad, Clovis, Roswell, Alamogordo, Albuquerque, and other towns.
The biggest contribution from New Mexico in World War II was a secret scientific community organized on the remote Pajarito Plateau which developed the world's first atomic weapons. J. Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist and General Leslie Groves, along with other scientists of the Manhattan Project worked long hours to develop a bomb that was finally tested at the Trinity Test Site, southeast of Socorro, in mid-July 1945. Other bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, which caused mass destruction and led to the surrender of Japan one month after the Trinity blast.
It is arguable that New Mexico contributed greatly to the United States' final victory in World War II. Perhaps more so than any other state of its size in the Union. After the War, both the U.S. and New Mexico entered into a boom period thanks to returning service men who sought college educations and purchased homes. Of course, New Mexico residents also contributed to the post-war baby boom.
Taken from the New Mexico Magazine.
The biggest contribution from New Mexico in World War II was a secret scientific community organized on the remote Pajarito Plateau which developed the world's first atomic weapons. J. Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist and General Leslie Groves, along with other scientists of the Manhattan Project worked long hours to develop a bomb that was finally tested at the Trinity Test Site, southeast of Socorro, in mid-July 1945. Other bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, which caused mass destruction and led to the surrender of Japan one month after the Trinity blast.
It is arguable that New Mexico contributed greatly to the United States' final victory in World War II. Perhaps more so than any other state of its size in the Union. After the War, both the U.S. and New Mexico entered into a boom period thanks to returning service men who sought college educations and purchased homes. Of course, New Mexico residents also contributed to the post-war baby boom.
Taken from the New Mexico Magazine.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
As I mentioned last month, I am posting interesting facts about New Mexico on our Facebook page in order to generate interest in New Mexico and Tucumcari Ranch Supply. Last month I talked about the period from 1923 through 1932 with facts taken from the New Mexico Magazine article. During February I want to talk about the period from 1933 through 1942.
The Great Depression didn't leave New Mexico unaffected and by 1933, the worst year of the prolonged crisis, 25% of New Mexico's skilled workers were unemployed and more than half of the unskilled workers in rural New Mexico were unemployed. Drought conditions made the situation even worse for farmers and ranchers living in the northeastern section of the state. Windstorms blew fine dust everywhere, burying crops, choking livestock and limiting tourism for the state. The above conditions inspired John Steinbeck's book, Grapes of Wrath, and caused thousands of people in New Mexico's Dust Bowl region to abandon their homes and move west.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected US President in 1932, with help from New Mexican voters. He proposed a New Deal to assist the economy. New Mexico acquired more New Deal money per capita than any other state in the union. The Works Project Administration (WPA) hired unemployed workers to build roads, schools, post offices, buildings, etc. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to conserve the state's natural resources. If New Mexico hadn't received New Deal funds, it would have taken the state decades to complete these improvements by itself.
Local New Deal construction projects included Conchas Dam, the Quay County Courthouse and several school buildings. Most of these facilities are still standing today and are currently in use.
The Great Depression didn't leave New Mexico unaffected and by 1933, the worst year of the prolonged crisis, 25% of New Mexico's skilled workers were unemployed and more than half of the unskilled workers in rural New Mexico were unemployed. Drought conditions made the situation even worse for farmers and ranchers living in the northeastern section of the state. Windstorms blew fine dust everywhere, burying crops, choking livestock and limiting tourism for the state. The above conditions inspired John Steinbeck's book, Grapes of Wrath, and caused thousands of people in New Mexico's Dust Bowl region to abandon their homes and move west.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected US President in 1932, with help from New Mexican voters. He proposed a New Deal to assist the economy. New Mexico acquired more New Deal money per capita than any other state in the union. The Works Project Administration (WPA) hired unemployed workers to build roads, schools, post offices, buildings, etc. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to conserve the state's natural resources. If New Mexico hadn't received New Deal funds, it would have taken the state decades to complete these improvements by itself.
Local New Deal construction projects included Conchas Dam, the Quay County Courthouse and several school buildings. Most of these facilities are still standing today and are currently in use.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
New Mexico History:
New Mexico entered the 1920's with lots of energy. New Mexico granted women the right to vote in an amendment in 1920 and we were all enjoying prosperity.
Railroads brought tourists in great numbers and the Southwestern Indian Detours transported tourists by car to pueblos and other natural wonders, such as Carlsbad Caverns.
Artists and writers also discovered New Mexico and began to develop groups which flourished in the New Mexico culture.
The discovery of oil in the Permian basin of southeastern New Mexico in 1924 created a very lucrative industry. Oil field workers came in and created boomtowns, one of which was Hobbs located in the southeast part of the state. Autos now challenged the railroads as the nation's primary means of transportation. Modern highways sprang up criss-crossing the nation. One of these was the modern Route 66 which was authorized in 1926.
Although many increased their wealth, great numbers of rural farmers and ranchers barely survived. Most New Mexicans were so poor that they barely noticed when the Great Depression began in 1929.
(Information taken from New Mexican magazine).
New Mexico entered the 1920's with lots of energy. New Mexico granted women the right to vote in an amendment in 1920 and we were all enjoying prosperity.
Railroads brought tourists in great numbers and the Southwestern Indian Detours transported tourists by car to pueblos and other natural wonders, such as Carlsbad Caverns.
Artists and writers also discovered New Mexico and began to develop groups which flourished in the New Mexico culture.
The discovery of oil in the Permian basin of southeastern New Mexico in 1924 created a very lucrative industry. Oil field workers came in and created boomtowns, one of which was Hobbs located in the southeast part of the state. Autos now challenged the railroads as the nation's primary means of transportation. Modern highways sprang up criss-crossing the nation. One of these was the modern Route 66 which was authorized in 1926.
Although many increased their wealth, great numbers of rural farmers and ranchers barely survived. Most New Mexicans were so poor that they barely noticed when the Great Depression began in 1929.
(Information taken from New Mexican magazine).
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