30 New Mexico Trivia Quiz Questions and Answers

New Mexico is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is the 5th largest state in terms of land area but ranks 36th in population.

Here’s an overview of some key aspects of New Mexico:
Capital: Santa Fe
Largest City: Albuquerque
Nickname: “The Land of Enchantment”
State Motto: “Crescit eundo” (Latin for “It grows as it goes”)
Population: As of my last update in September 2021, New Mexico had a population of approximately 2.1 million people.
Geography: New Mexico is known for its diverse geography, including vast deserts, high plains, mesas, mountains, and deep canyons. It shares borders with Texas to the east, Oklahoma to the northeast, Colorado to the north, Arizona to the west, and Mexico to the south.
Culture: New Mexico has a rich cultural heritage, heavily influenced by Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo traditions. It is known for its vibrant art, music, and dance, as well as its unique cuisine and traditional festivals.
Economy: New Mexico’s economy is driven by various sectors, including oil and gas production, agriculture, mining, and tourism. The state is also home to research facilities, including Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

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Part 1: 30 New Mexico trivia quiz questions & answers

1. What is the capital of New Mexico?
a) Albuquerque
b) Santa Fe
c) Las Cruces
d) Taos
Answer: b) Santa Fe

2. Which river flows through the city of Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico?
a) Rio Grande
b) Colorado River
c) Mississippi River
d) Potomac River
Answer: a) Rio Grande

3. What is the official state flower of New Mexico?
a) Rose
b) Lily
c) Sunflower
d) Yucca
Answer: d) Yucca

4. Which Native American tribe is famous for their intricate pottery and adobe pueblos in New Mexico?
a) Navajo
b) Hopi
c) Pueblo
d) Apache
Answer: c) Pueblo

5. The “White Sands National Park” in New Mexico is famous for its unique:
a) Sand dunes
b) Rock formations
c) Hot springs
d) Caves
Answer: a) Sand dunes

6. What is the nickname of New Mexico?
a) The Lone Star State
b) The Sunshine State
c) The Land of Enchantment
d) The Peach State
Answer: c) The Land of Enchantment

7. The “Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta” is a popular annual event featuring hundreds of colorful hot air balloons. In what month does it take place?
a) June
b) September
c) October
d) November
Answer: c) October

8. Which famous artist had a studio in Abiquiú, New Mexico, and drew inspiration from the state’s landscapes?
a) Vincent van Gogh
b) Georgia O’Keeffe
c) Pablo Picasso
d) Leonardo da Vinci
Answer: b) Georgia O’Keeffe

9. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is known for its stunning underground caverns. In which county is it located?
a) Eddy County
b) Santa Fe County
c) Taos County
d) Bernalillo County
Answer: a) Eddy County

10. Which U.S. state borders New Mexico to the east?
a) Texas
b) Arizona
c) Colorado
d) Utah
Answer: a) Texas

11. “Chile” is an essential ingredient in New Mexican cuisine. What type of chili pepper is commonly used in traditional New Mexican dishes?
a) Jalapeño
b) Habanero
c) Anaheim
d) Hatch
Answer: d) Hatch

12. The “Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument” preserves the remains of cliff dwellings once inhabited by which Native American group?
a) Hopi
b) Pueblo
c) Apache
d) Navajo
Answer: c) Apache

13. Which city in New Mexico is famous for its annual “Indian Market,” one of the largest Native American arts and crafts markets in the world?
a) Santa Fe
b) Albuquerque
c) Taos
d) Las Cruces
Answer: a) Santa Fe

14. The city of Las Vegas, New Mexico, was once a popular stop on the Santa Fe Trail. In which county is it located?
a) San Miguel County
b) Rio Arriba County
c) Colfax County
d) Valencia County
Answer: a) San Miguel County

15. What is the official state bird of New Mexico?
a) Bald Eagle
b) Roadrunner
c) Robin
d) Blue Jay
Answer: b) Roadrunner

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16. Which New Mexican city is home to the University of New Mexico and the Sandia National Laboratories?
a) Santa Fe
b) Albuquerque
c) Las Cruces
d) Taos
Answer: b) Albuquerque

17. The “Valles Caldera National Preserve” is a large volcanic caldera located in which mountain range in New Mexico?
a) The Rockies
b) The Sierra Nevada
c) The Appalachian Mountains
d) The Jemez Mountains
Answer: d) The Jemez Mountains

18. “Roswell” gained worldwide fame due to an alleged UFO incident in 1947. In which New Mexico county is Roswell located?
a) Lea County
b) Chaves County
c) Lincoln County
d) Otero County
Answer: b) Chaves County

19. What is the official state cookie of New Mexico, often made with pine nuts and anise seeds?
a) Chocolate Chip Cookie
b) Snickerdoodle
c) Biscochito
d) Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Answer: c) Biscochito

20. “Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument” is known for its cone-shaped tent rock formations. In which county is it located?
a) Sandoval County
b) Santa Fe County
c) Bernalillo County
d) Taos County
Answer: a) Sandoval County

21. Which river forms part of New Mexico’s border with Mexico to the south?
a) Colorado River
b) Rio Grande
c) Mississippi River
d) Arkansas River
Answer: b) Rio Grande

22. Which famous outlaw, associated with the Wild West, was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico?
a) Jesse James
b) Billy the Kid
c) Butch Cassidy
d) Wyatt Earp
Answer: b) Billy the Kid

23. “Bandelier National Monument” preserves the homes and artifacts of the ancestral Pueblo people. In which mountain range is it located?
a) The Sangre de Cristo Mountains
b) The Organ Mountains
c) The Sandia Mountains
d) The San Juan Mountains
Answer: a) The Sangre de Cristo Mountains

24. The “International UFO Museum and Research Center” is a popular attraction in New Mexico, located in which city?
a) Santa Fe
b) Roswell
c) Las Cruces
d) Taos
Answer: b) Roswell

25. “Taos Pueblo” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. In which county is it located?
a) Taos County
b) Rio Arriba County
c) Santa Fe County
d) Los Alamos County
Answer: a) Taos County

26. New Mexico is known for its high proportion of residents with which ethnic heritage?
a) Native American
b) Hispanic
c) African American
d) Asian American
Answer: b) Hispanic

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27. The “Very Large Array” (VLA) is a famous radio astronomy observatory located in New Mexico. In which county is it situated?
a) Socorro County
b) Dona Ana County
c) Luna County
d) Lincoln County
Answer: a) Socorro County

28. The “Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness” is a unique geological area in New Mexico famous for its otherworldly rock formations. In which county is it located?
a) San Juan County
b) Cibola County
c) McKinley County
d) Torrance County
Answer: c) McKinley County

29. “Shiprock” is a prominent volcanic rock formation that is sacred to the Navajo people. In which county is it located?
a) San Juan County
b) Rio Arriba County
c) Bernalillo County
d) McKinley County
Answer: a) San Juan County

30. What is the official state tree of New Mexico, known for its distinctive appearance?
a) Oak
b) Pine
c) Joshua Tree
d) Ponderosa Pine
Answer: d) Ponderosa Pine

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