This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the US State of New Mexico and the historical area that is now occupied by the state. __NOTOC__

2020s YearDateEvent2022November 8In the 2022 General Election, New Mexico voters elect Gabe Vasquez and re-elect Melanie Stansbury and Teresa Leger Fernandez to the United States House of Representatives. Voters re-elect Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Democrats retain control of the New Mexico Legislature.2021June 1Melanie Stansbury wins the special congressional replacement election to replace Deb Haaland as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 1st Congressional District.May 16Deb Haaland assumes office as the United States Secretary of the Interior, the first Native American to serve as a U.S. Cabinet Secretary.2020November 3In the 2020 general election, New Mexico voters elect five U.S. presidential electors for Joe Biden, elect Ben Ray Luján as new U.S. senator, re-elect Deb Haaland and elect Yvette Herrell and Teresa Leger Fernandez as U.S. representatives. Democrats retain control of the New Mexico Legislature.April 2The 2020 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later tabulated as 2,117,522, a 2.83% increase since the 2010 United States census. New Mexico remains the 36st most populous of the 50 U.S. states.March 11 Michelle Lujan Grisham signs an executive order declaring a state of public health emergency in New Mexico due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2010s YearDateEvent2019December  20U.S. President Donald Trump signs the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 which creates White Sands National Park from White Sands National Monument.January 1Michelle Lujan Grisham assumes office as the thirty-second Governor of the State of New Mexico.2015November 10The National Park Service creates the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.October 22Dianna Duran resigns as New Mexico Secretary of State amid investigations of corruption.2014May 21U.S. President Barack Obama issues an executive order creating Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument.2013May 16The City of Rio Communities is incorporated.March 25U.S. President Barack Obama issues an executive order creating Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.January 3Martin Heinrich takes office as the junior New Mexico U.S. Senator.2011January 1Susana Martinez assumes office as the thirty-first Governor of the State of New Mexico.2010April 1The 2010 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 2,059,179, an increase of 13.2% since the 2000 United States census. New Mexico remains the 36th most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

2000s YearDateEvent2009January 3Tom Udall takes office as the junior New Mexico U.S. Senator.2003January 1Bill Richardson assumes office as the thirtieth Governor of the State of New Mexico.2002December 4U.S. President George W. Bush signs An Act to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Old Spanish Trail as a National Historic Trail creating the Old Spanish National Historic Trail.2001January 17U.S. President Bill Clinton issues an executive order creating Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.2000October 13U.S. President Bill Clinton signs An Act to amend the National Trails System Act to designate El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro as a National Historic Trail, creating El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail.July 25U.S. President Bill Clinton signs An Act to authorize the acquisition of the Valles Caldera, to provide for an effective land and wildlife management program for this resource within the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes, creating the Valles Caldera National Preserve.April 1The 2000 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 1,819,046, an increase of 20.1% since the 1990 United States census. New Mexico becomes the 36th most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1990s YearDateEvent1998August 18U.S. President Bill Clinton appoints Bill Richardson the ninth United States Secretary of Energy.1997February 18U.S. President Bill Clinton appoints Bill Richardson the twenty-first United States Ambassador to the United Nations.1995January 1Gary Johnson assumes office as the twenty-ninth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1992December 14The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates Taos Pueblo as a World Heritage Site.1991July 2The National Park Service changes the name of Pecos National Monument to Pecos National Historical Park.January 1Bruce King assumes office as the twenty-eighth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1990June 27U.S. President George H. W. Bush issues a proclamation creating Petroglyph National Monument.April 1The 1990 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 1,515,069, an increase of 16.2% since the 1980 United States census. New Mexico remains the 37th most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1980s YearDateEvent1988October 28The National Park Service changes the name of Salinas National Monument to Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.1987December 31U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs An Act to establish the El Malpais National Monument and the El Malpais National Conservation Area in the State of New Mexico, to authorize the Masau Trail, and for other purposes, creating El Malpais National Monument and changing the name of Capulin Mountain National Monument to Capulin Volcano National Monument.December 11The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates the Chaco Culture World Heritage Site. The Chaco Culture World Heritage Site includes Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument, and several smaller Chaco sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management.May 8U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs An Act to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Santa Fe Trail as a National Historic Trail, creating the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.January 1Garrey Carruthers assumes office as the twenty-seventh Governor of the State of New Mexico.1983January 1Toney Anaya assumes office as the twenty-sixth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1981June 19Cibola County, the thirty-third and newest county, is created from the western part of Valencia County.1980December 19U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs An Act to designate certain National Forest System lands in the State of New Mexico for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes, that changes the name of Chaco Canyon National Monument to Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and changes the name of Gran Quivira National Monument to Salinas National Monument.April 1The 1980 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 1,302,894, an increase of 28.1% since the 1970 United States census. New Mexico remains the 37th most populous of the 50 U.S. states but gains a 3rd Congressional District.

1970s YearDateEvent1979January 1Bruce King assumes office as the twenty-fifth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1978November 10U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 creating the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.1976July 4The State of New Mexico celebrates the Bicentennial of the United States of America.1975January 1Jerry Apodaca assumes office as the twenty-fourth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1971January 1Bruce King assumes office as the twenty-third Governor of the State of New Mexico.1970April 1The 1970 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 1,017,055, an increase of 6.9% since the 1960 United States census. New Mexico remains the 37th most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1960s YearDateEvent1969March 4New Mexico creates its 2nd Congressional District to replace its At-large Congressional seat. This congressional district remains to the present.1968December 2U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs An Act to establish a national trails system, and for other purposes, creating the National Trails System.July 1U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs An Act to establish a national trails system, and for other purposes, creating the National Trails System.1967June 5Reies Tijerina leads an armed raid on the Rio Arriba County Courthouse in Tierra Amarilla.January 1David Cargo assumes office as the twenty-second Governor of the State of New Mexico.1965June 28U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson issues a proclamation creating Pecos National Monument.1963January 1Jack M. Campbell assumes office as the twenty-first Governor of the State of New Mexico.1962November 30Lieutenant Governor Tom Bolack assumes office as the twentieth Governor of the State of New Mexico upon the resignation of Governor Edwin L. Mechem.November 18Dennis Chavez, United States Senator since 1934, dies during his fifth term in the Senate.1961January 1Edwin L. Mechem assumes office as the nineteenth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1960November 8The State of New Mexico amends its Constitution changing the name of New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts to New Mexico State University.April 1The 1960 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 951,023, an increase of 39.6% since the 1950 United States census. New Mexico becomes the 37th most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1950s YearDateEvent1959January 1John Burroughs assumes office as the eighteenth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1957January 1Edwin L. Mechem assumes office as the seventeenth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1955January 1John F. Simms assumes office as the sixteenth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1954June 28U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issues a proclamation creating Fort Union National Monument.1951January 1Edwin L. Mechem assumes office as the fifteenth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1950August 28U.S. President Harry S. Truman issues a Public Land Order abolishing Mesilla National Forest.April 1The 1950 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 681,187, an increase of 28.1% since the 1940 United States census. New Mexico becomes the 39th most populous of the 48 U.S. states.

1940s YearDateEvent1947January 1Thomas J. Mabry assumes office as the fourteenth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1945September 2World War II ends as the Empire of Japan formally surrenders.July 18The U.S. Army's Manhattan Project conducts the Trinity test, the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. The test is conducted in Socorro County on the Alamogordo Bombing Range.May 8The war in Europe ends as the Greater German Empire formally surrenders.1944April 6U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues a Public Land Order creating Mesilla National Forest. (Abolished August 28, 1950.)1943January 1John J. Dempsey assumes office as the thirteenth Governor of the State of New Mexico.1941December 11The United States declares war on the German Reich and the Italian Empire.December 8The United States declares war on the Empire of Japan and enters World War II.1940April 1The 1940 United States census enumerates the population of the State of New Mexico, later determined to be 531,818, an increase of 25.6% since the 1930 United States census. New Mexico becomes the 41st most populous of the 48 U.S. states and gains a 2nd Congressional seat.

1930s