As the state’s capital, Santa Fe is also the second-largest city in New Mexico, with city population of almost 85,000. Because of its close proximity to the other large nearby cities, the Santa Fe metropolitan area population totals 1.17 million people and includes Albuquerque and Las Vegas.

History of Santa Fe

Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States, having been founded in 1610. It also has the highest altitude of any U.S. state capitals, which accounts to almost 7,200 feet.

It wasn’t until 1848 when Santa Fe became part of the United States through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In the first century as a U.S. state, Santa Fe was a popular destination for artists and tourists, and the base for several museums and historic research facilities.

Museums & Science

Currently, there are 9 museums in Santa Fe including:

• New Mexico Museum of Art
• Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
• New Mexico History Museum
• Site Santa Fe
• Museum of International Folk Art
• Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
• Wheelwright Museum of American Indian
• Museum of Spanish Colonial Art

In addition to its popularity with tourists and artists, Santa Fe has a strong association with science and technology. In 1943, the city served as a gateway to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Then in 1984, the Santa Fe Institute was founded to research complex systems in the physical, biological, economic, and political sciences.

Santa Fe Debt Collection Laws

For businesses in Santa Fe struggling with commercial debt, there are several laws in place to help overcome these issues. In the absence of a written contract, a judgment interest rate stands at 8.75%.

There are also a few statute of limitations laws including:

• Open accounts: 4 years
• Written contracts: 6 years
• Domestic judgments: 14 years
• Foreign judgments: 14 years

For a summary on the other commercial debt collection laws, visit our New Mexico Laws page.