Ignoring the complicated history of the rural areas, I periodically drive Route 66, Since the early 2000’s, the bit in New Mexico has basically been eaten by climate change. I can’t imagine how much damage the encroaching desert (badlands? What’s the word for a desert that’s drier and dustier than before?) has done to the local economies.

They weren’t doing well before, but it’s not been trending well.

Having said that, Albuquerque is nice. Props to the Navajo nation for helping out with early COVID vaccine testing.