6 Weird And Wacky, Yet True, Facts About New Mexico

Since today is National New Mexico day, let's share a six - pack of odd facts and stats about Texas' neighbor to the north.

National New Mexico Day, ... yes, this is really a thing ...  has been around since 1972. As we honor the land of enchantment in 2023, we have to take a peek at its weirdness.

Here are 5 odd or, at the least, little known New Mexico fun facts.
The roads aren't all that.

3/4 of them aren't paved and are either dirt or caliche.

If you think the roadways in Texas are a mess, be thankful we at least paved most of 'em.

NM is the only state to have an official state question.

Each state has a list of "official" things like flowers, songs, a flag, etc. Texas has a number of state animals, one known for being huge, another known for being dumb.)

New Mexico's question is; red or green? (Referring to the type of chili New Mexicans want on their food..

Smokey the Bear was from the 505. The real one, not the mascot.

Mascot Smokey, (created in 1944), was 6 years older than real Smokey who was rescued from a forest fire in 1950.

Real Smokey was so popular, the amount of fan mail he received earned him his own zip code

Loads of comets..

Must be the big skies and low light pollution.

A New Mexico astronomer named Carolyn Shoemaker discovered more comets than any other astronomer, including Shoemaker-Levy 9.

Iconic cartoon characters.

The Flintsones, The Jetsons and The Smurfs, along with Tom & Jerry, were all from New Mexico.

Well, one of their "parents" was ... William Hanna of the Hanna/Barbera team was born in Melrose, NM.

Mooooo-ve over humans.

There are more cattle in New Mexico than people.

So there.