1. In 1863, Union troops engaged Confederate forces in the Battle of Valverde during the Civil War. This battle, which took place near Socorro, was a significant victory for the Confederates and marked one of their furthest advances into the territory.

2. In 1887, the University of New Mexico was founded in Albuquerque. Originally a liberal arts college, the university has since grown to become the largest public research institution in the state.

3. 1912 was a momentous year for New Mexico, as it became the 47th state to join the Union on October 5. This was the culmination of years of effort by New Mexico residents to achieve statehood and gain greater representation in the federal government.

4. In 1945, the world's first atomic bomb explosion occurred in Alamogordo as part of the Manhattan Project. The successful test, known as the Trinity Test, confirmed the viability of atomic weapons and paved the way for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki later that year.

5. In a more recent event, October 5, 2018, marked the opening of the controversial Spaceport America in Sierra County. The facility, which was built with public funds, was intended to serve as a hub for commercial spaceflight but has yet to achieve significant success in that regard.