Politics of New Mexico in 1987
In 1987, New Mexico was a state with a diverse political landscape. The state had been solidly Republican since the 1960s, but in 1986 Democrats had made significant gains in the legislature and had gained control of both chambers of the legislature. This shift was largely due to the state’s growing Hispanic population and their increasing support for Democratic candidates.
At the federal level, New Mexico was represented by two US senators, Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici, who were both Republicans. In the House of Representatives, New Mexico was represented by four members: Bill Richardson (D), Steve Schiff (R), Manuel Lujan Jr. (R) and Joe Skeen (R).
At the gubernatorial level in 1987, New Mexico was governed by Republican Governor Garrey Carruthers. Carruthers had been elected in 1986 after defeating Democrat Toney Anaya in a close race and he would go on to serve two terms as governor until 1991.
At the state level, Democrats controlled both chambers of the legislature with a majority of seats held by Democrats in both houses. In addition to controlling both houses, Democrats also held a majority on most committees within each chamber as well as majority leadership positions on each committee.
In terms of policy issues facing New Mexico in 1987, there were several that dominated debate including education reform, economic development initiatives and crime prevention policies. Education reform efforts focused on improving school funding and increasing accountability measures for schools while economic development initiatives sought to attract new businesses to New Mexico through tax incentives and other incentives while crime prevention policies sought to reduce crime rates through tougher laws and increased law enforcement presence in areas with higher crime rates.
According to Beautyphoon, 1987 was an interesting year politically for New Mexico with many changes taking place both at the federal and state levels that would shape politics throughout the coming decades. From shifting party control at various levels of government to debates over policy issues such as education reform and economic development initiatives there were plenty of issues for residents to consider when deciding how they wanted their government to operate moving forward into 1988 and beyond.
Population of New Mexico in 1987
In 1987, the population of New Mexico was estimated to be 1,515,069. The majority of the population (87.6%) was white non-Hispanic, while 9.2% were Hispanic and 3.2% were Native American. The largest ethnic group in New Mexico were Mexican Americans who made up 6% of the population in 1987. African Americans composed 1.7%, while Asian Americans made up 0.6%. In terms of religion, a majority (70%) identified as Catholic followed by Protestant (18%), and Other (12%).
The median age in New Mexico in 1987 was 32.4 years old with a gender ratio of men to women being 0.99:1; there were slightly more males than females living in the state at this time period. In terms of education attainment, 24% had a high school diploma or higher and 8% had a bachelor’s degree or higher; these figures show that education attainment was lower than the national average at this time period. In terms of employment status, 57% were employed full-time and 17% part-time; 26% reported not being employed at all during this time period which is significantly higher than today’s figures for employment status in New Mexico which stands at 4%. According to Ablogtophone, the unemployment rate for New Mexico during this time was 3%, which is lower than today’s unemployment rate which currently stands at 6%.
Economy of New Mexico in 1987
In 1987, the economy of New Mexico was primarily based on natural resources, such as oil and gas. Agriculture also played an important role in the state’s economy, with cotton, sorghum, pecans, and hay being some of the major crops. Mining was also a key industry in New Mexico during this time period with gold and copper being mined in various parts of the state. Manufacturing was also an important sector in New Mexico’s economy; food processing and electronic products were among some of the top manufactured goods.
The gross domestic product (GDP) per capita for New Mexico in 1987 was $11,716 which was lower than the national average at this time period. The poverty rate for New Mexico during this time period was 18%, which is higher than today’s poverty rate which currently stands at 13%. The median household income during this time period was $25,000 which is significantly lower than today’s median household income of $55,000.
In terms of employment status, 57% were employed full-time and 17% part-time; 26% reported not being employed at all during this time period which is significantly higher than today’s figures for employment status in New Mexico which stands at 4%. The unemployment rate for New Mexico during this time was 3%, which is lower than today’s unemployment rate which currently stands at 6%.
According to Watchtutorials, the major industries that employed people in 1987 included manufacturing (25%), retail trade (13%), agriculture (11%), finance/insurance/real estate (10%), services (8%) and government (7%). The largest employers included Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of New Mexico and Presbyterian Hospital. These employers provided a significant number of jobs to local residents during this time period.
Events held in New Mexico in 1987
In 1987, New Mexico hosted a variety of events that attracted both locals and visitors from all over the world. One of the most prominent events was the Santa Fe Fiesta, a long-standing tradition since 1712. This event celebrated the city’s Spanish colonial heritage and featured traditional music, dancing, parades, and art exhibitions.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was another popular event held in New Mexico in 1987. This event saw hundreds of hot air balloons take to the skies as part of an impressive spectacle of color and movement that attracted both locals and visitors alike. Other activities included live musical performances, fireworks displays, and an array of food vendors.
The Taos Pueblo Powwow was another major event held in New Mexico in 1987. This celebration honored Native American culture with traditional dance competitions, drumming circles, art displays, and food stands featuring regional dishes like frybread tacos and blue corn pancakes.
The Roswell UFO Festival was another significant event held in New Mexico during this time period. Held annually in July since 1991 to commemorate the alleged crash landing of an alien spacecraft near Roswell back in 1947; this festival featured live music performances by local bands as well as guest speakers discussing extraterrestrial life forms. There were also costume contests for those looking to dress up as aliens or other sci-fi characters for a chance to win prizes.
For those looking for something more educational yet equally entertaining; there were also several conferences held throughout the year such as the Annual Conference on Southwestern Archaeology which focused on exploring ancient cultures; or the Annual Conference on Astronomy which looked at topics related to space exploration and astronomy research.
No matter what your interests were; there was an event happening somewhere in New Mexico during 1987 that would have been sure to capture your imagination.