 Originally referred to as the Territorial Fair, it became a State Fair in 1911 in anticipation of New Mexico's upcoming statehood.The original fairgrounds, also known as Traction Park, were southwest of Old Town Plaza and were promoted as a year-round destination by the Albuquerque streetcar company in order to boost ridership on their line.In 1917, the fair was canceled and replaced with a "great patriotic demonstration" marking the recent U.S. entry into World War I.