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Ive always thought Arizona and New Mexico were true southwest states. After some research it appears New Mexico doesn't have much in common with Arizona? And I recall once an acquaintance from NM saying that Texans or the state of TX are considered NM's rivals. This statement really surprised me. Sure, eastern NM maybe more similar to west TX than Phoenix but then again Albuquerque seems to have lots in common with both Phoenix and San Antonio. Honestly I'd prefer to relocate to NM (Albq.) between the 3 states but am condensing all to make sure. Any opinions or insights?
I'm in NM. This is all subjective, mind you. Of Texas many New Mexicans like: El Paso, Austin and San Antonio. Those cities could be part of NM. Rivals? Don't know about that, but as a New Mexican, I could NEVER, EVER live in Texas. There's a peculiar sense of being New Mexican that is incompatible with living in 'Texas'. It would feel like being a traitor. This sentiment seems to be common in NM. We would gladly take EP, Austin and SA. Texas seems to treat EP like a step child. I think that the cultures of EP, Austin and SA particularly 'fit' with that of NM. Eastern NM got cut off from Texas in some weird way it seems.
Regarding 'rivalry', well, there are on-going water issues between NM and TX... Years ago, we had a bumper sticker that said, "Hey El Paso, we got the WATER, now we got the SHUTTLE". Loved it. I used to hear NM 'teasing' about Texans coming to NM to ski and chiding them 'because TX doesn't have any mountains'. LOL. Lots of Texans coming to Ruidoso, Mesilla, race tracks, casinos, etc. in NM. It's not malicious, but we all know TX is the king of boastful, self-important states. NM is small and poor and we have to get our digs in somehow. Despite those negatives, New Mexicans LOVE New Mexico. It's very special and many all over the US and beyond will attest to this.
NM and Arizona ARE true southwestern states, but they are DIFFERENT southwestern states.
NM is not like Arizona, except for maybe Tucson. NOT Phoenix. I think Phoenix, SA and ABQ are all very different. Maybe Tucson and ABQ are more similar, but I haven't been to Tucson for many years. Don't know if Phx, SA and ABQ are 'similar' due to population size? I'd have to check that, but that may be the case. IMHO, Texas is too big, Arizona is too hot and barren and NM is too beautiful.
Best to visit each city for at least a few days and check out things such as services, real estate, schools, city centers, shopping, recreational options, etc. before making any decisions. I love ABQ, plus it is close to Santa Fe. I'm prejudiced...
I'm from San Antonio, and I feel right at home in Albuquerque. It's probably the large Hispanic population in both cities.
I've barely been to Arizona, but it strikes me as a redneck, intolerant place. I'm mostly basing this opinion on the widespread support for Sheriff Arpaio of Maricopa county.
Splitting the difference makes the most sense. Western third most like Arizona, eastern half most like Texas. Colorado is more similar to NM than either Arizona or Texas, particularly the southern third of Colorado to the northern half of NM.
New Mexicans LOVE New Mexico.
I doubt of all the 50 you will find another with more state flags flying.
Culturally I can't comment much as my visits to Texas and Arizona have been pretty limited. If you have an interest in scenery I'd guess NM wins hands down. I'm not talking about limited spectacles like the Grand Canyon. I am talking variety including 50 some mountain ranges all basically in the western half of the state! I'm convinced the creator pulled every rabbit out of his hat when it came to NM. When you see coal black lava flows as far as the eye can see residing as next door neighbors to snow white gypsum dunes as far as the eye can see you just shake your head and smile. If that bores you head up toward the planet X areas in the NW.
I am a New Mexico native and spent about a decade living in Tucson, Arizona. I would say that while all three states are similar to some degree, New Mexico's economy and mix of cultures is probably more like Arizona than Texas. But as Zoidberg points out above, things make a lot more sense if you break the states up too. The Hispanic- and Puebloan-influenced culture of northern New Mexico is a lot like the San Luis Valley and other parts of southern Colorado, which indeed were first settled by New Mexicans. The Native American-influenced cultures of northwestern, north-central, and western New Mexico are a lot like northern and northeastern Arizona - unsurprising, since the Navajo, Pueblo and Apache cultures extend across both areas. The mountainous areas around Silver City and elsewhere in southwestern New Mexico are a lot like the mountains of eastern Arizona. And, of course, the eastern New Mexico plains are a lot like the plains of West Texas and the Mexican-influenced culture of the Las Cruces area and elsewhere in the southern Rio Grande valley are similar to El Paso and the Mexican-influenced Rio Grande valley of Texas. On the flip side, though, El Paso and the Texan Rio Grande Valley are probably more like New Mexico than they are the rest of Texas.
With the exception of Las Cruces, though, the population centers of New Mexico are located in areas that are more like Arizona or southern Colorado than they are like Dallas, Austin or Fort Worth. Native American culture is very important and remains very present in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and elsewhere in northern, central and western New Mexico, and while that's also true of Flagstaff, Tucson and to a lesser extent Phoenix, I get the sense that the Native American presence in Texas is very, very limited.
If you watch some of the videos produced by the tourist bureau, I don't think they come anywhere close to recalling similarities with any neighboring state. One major difference between Texas and the southwest states is its long shoreline (Gulf of Mexico).
IMO, same thing applies to New Mexico - which could just as easily have adopted a similar motto. I see no reason to make comparisons with neighboring states when New Mexico is so uniquely different in so many ways - socially, economically and geographically. After all, we're known internationally as "The Land of Enchantment!"
I've seen this map and read about the project that generated: pretty interesting, and for the most part fairly accurate. I'd probably expand "El Norte" a bit northwest to include Sandoval and Bernalillo Counties. I'd also like this map to include an "Indian Country" area in northwestern New Mexico and northeastern Arizona, maybe also including areas on and around the big reservations in the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming, or maybe a southwestern enclave of the "First Nation" he currently puts in the northwest Arctic. Those of us who've spent any time in these areas know they're distinct enough culturally to warrant their own "nation."
I agree with Cactus Hibs and Zoidberg. The only spot in Colorado I would differ would be the northeast corner of the state-pretty flat up there. IMO what makes New Mexico unique is that there are national parks and monuments scattered throughout the state. I'd have to take an inventory on that but IIRC New Mexico is in the top 5 in regards to the total count of national parks, monuments, and historical areas located in the state.
Aztec Ruins in the NW corner, Capulin mountain in the NE, Carlsbad Caverns in the SE corner. And a dozen others scattered in between. My favorite area in general? Between Santa Rosa and Tucumcari, and the Ruidoso area.
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