Why is the state of New Mexico population density low?

agricultural land (good farmland, water, grazing land) leads to farm colonization; towns form near transportation hubs; industrial capabilities lead to manufactured goods in towns; towns turn into cities, which leads to … high density population! New Mexico is a beautiful state, but it kinda lost out on the first requirement. read more

Population density is calculated as resident population divided by total land area. Resident population is from the United States Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2015 (for the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), and from the 2015 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs for the other territories. read more