1. In 1783, Pedro Fermín de Vargas founded the city of Albuquerque, which would become one of the largest and most prosperous cities in New Mexico.

2. In 1823, the first American trading party arrived in Santa Fe, sparking a long history of commerce and cultural exchange between the United States and New Mexico.

3. In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, leading to a brief but intense conflict in which New Mexico played a significant role. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ended the war and established the current borders between the United States and Mexico.

4. In 1880, the railroad reached Albuquerque, greatly expanding the city's economic and cultural connections to the rest of the United States.

5. In 1980, the first Earth Day was celebrated in New Mexico and around the world, drawing attention to the need for environmental protection and conservation. Today, New Mexico is a leader in renewable energy and sustainable development.