New Mexico is a U.S. state that is located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. It is the fifth most extensive, the 36th most populous, and the sixth least densely populated of the 50 United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. Its capital is Santa Fe, with a population of 87,505 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city.
New Mexico has been home to Indigenous peoples for centuries and has a rich history that includes being part of the Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain, Mexico, and a U.S. territory. Among U.S. states, it boasts the highest percentage of Hispanics and second-highest percentage of Native peoples in the country, following Alaska. Hispanics in the state comprise Hispanos, a unique New Mexican ethnic group from the descendants of Spanish frontiermen, and immigrants from Mexico and Latin America. The state's Native communities include primarily Navajo, Apache, and Pueblo peoples. The historical ruins of the ancestral Puebloans, structures that influenced the region’s architecture with the Hispano's Romanesque folk carpenter adaptations, continue to inspire the unique aesthetic landscape of New Mexico. This blend of Hispanic and Native American influences is also reflected in the state’s symbolism. The flag of New Mexico, featuring the ancient Zia sun symbol in red on a golden yellow background, colors that pay homage to Spain, encapsulates the state's rich cultural heritage.
In the 1950s, New Mexico made its debut in a Disney production featured in the Frontierland segments of The Wonderful World of Disney. The state was prominently showcased alongside the adventures of Western hero Elfego Baca, a Hispano lawman celebrated for his daring exploits and steadfast dedication to protecting the Mexican and Native peoples of New Mexico. This series, set in towns such as Frisco, Socorro, and Albuquerque, was filmed across several locations including Santa Fe, Española, and Albuquerque itself. Beyond that initial appearance, New Mexico has continued to appear throughout the Disney universe. For example, the state is the primary setting of High School Musical and even in The Avengers, where the Hulk is depicted landing in the Albuquerque railyards, an allusion to one of his lesser-known superpowers: instinctively retreating to New Mexico when danger looms.
New Mexico on WikipediaNew Mexico on Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
