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.
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