1. New Mexico became a state on September 16, 1912. It was the 47th state to be admitted to the Union.
2. The Battle of Valverde took place on September 16, 1862, during the American Civil War. It was fought near the town of Valverde in southern New Mexico and resulted in a Confederate victory.
3. The International Balloon Fiesta, one of the largest hot air balloon festivals in the world, begins in Albuquerque on the first Saturday of October each year. The first Balloon Fiesta was held on September 16, 1972, with only 13 balloons participating.
4. New Mexico State University was founded on September 16, 1888, as Las Cruces College. It is the oldest public institution of higher education in the state.
5. On September 16, 1920, eight members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) were arrested in Gallup, NM for "criminal syndicalism." They were charged with advocating the overthrow of the government and sentenced to prison. The incident became known as the "Gallup Eight" and was a significant event in the history of labor unionism in the state.