The capital of the state of New Mexico is Salem, which is a five-letter word. Salem is a city located in the southwestern part of the state and is the county seat of Otero County. It is the second largest city in the state and is home to the White Sands Missile Range. The city was founded in 1885 and has a population of around 10, 000 people. It is known for its historic downtown area, which includes several buildings from the late 19th century.