where did the name new mexico come from
New Mexico Contrary to popular belief, New Mexico was not named for the present-day nation of Mexico. The region received its name long before the present-day nation of Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. Spanish explorers recorded this region as Nuevo MÃ©xico (New Mexico) in 1563, and again in 1581, hoping to find there wealthy Mexican Indian cultures similar to those of the Aztec (Mexica) Empire of the Valley of Mexico. The indigenous cultures of New Mexico, however, proved to be unrelated to the Aztecs and were not wealthy.[9][10][11] Before statehood, the name "New Mexico" was applied to various configurations of the U.S. Territory, to a Mexican state, and to a province of New Spain, all in the same general area but of varying extensions.