New Mexico was named by 16th century Spanish explorers who hoped to find gold and wealth equal to Mexico's Aztec treasures.
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Roswell, New Mexico the states 4th largest city was founded in 1869 when a professional gambler established a lone store on the cattle trail.
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Lakes and Rivers make up only .002% of the state's total surface area. The lowest water-to-land ratio of all 50 states. Most of New Mexico's lakes are man-made reservoirs.