The City of Albuquerque - An Update

The Founding of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico is over 300 years old. Before the Spanish explorers arrived, Pueblo Indians chose the fertile spot on the bank of the Rio Grande to grow their crops. With the arrival of the Europeans, the small trading post grew. Eventually spanning both banks of the Rio Grande (the Nile of New Mexico) Albuquerque became an important stop on the Camino Real, and is today, the state’s largest city with over half a million people.

Early Years
In its early years the city expanded north and south along El Camino Real, Old Route 66, and east-west as the route got realigned along Central Avenue. Old Town, built in traditional Spanish style around a plaza is a good starting point for a visit to Albuquerque.

Arrival of the Railroad
The arrival of the railroads led to another growth spurt which helped define and shape the city in ways that are still evident long after the heyday of the railroads. Someone familiar with railway towns overheard my comment about the seemingly odd configuration of clusters of commercial and manufacturing areas across the city and gave me the simple and obvious explanation – business followed the path of the railroad.

New Growth
The city is currently in another rapid growth phase; this time mainly across the river towards the west. Go West in Albuquerque. The northeastern side of the city already developed up to the foothills of the Sandia Mountains leaves room only for infilling of areas bypassed in periods of previous development.

The Northeast
Of the four quadrants into which the city is divided, the northeast is the oldest, most developed and most populous. Well established over a number of years, this part of town is where you will find Old Town, Sandia Laboratories, the University of New Mexico, and ABQ Uptown with its new upscale office buildings, shops, and restaurants. Many of the most expensive homes in the city are also found in this part of the town. As available land becomes developed, lots and home prices have increased.

The Northwest
The northwest quadrant is undergoing rapid development Bulldozers and earth movers seem to be everywhere as large tracts of previously undeveloped lands give way to new housing,. Single family homes, and an increasing number of commercial and industrial sites wrap around the Petroglyph National Monument and skirt the edge of the high mesa where the five sleeping sisters .(small extinct volcano cones that outline the area) have remained undisturbed for thousands of years.

The influx of new residents and subsequent explosion in residential and commercial development across the city led to a spate of road and highway construction to keep pace with the needs of the growing population. The “Big I” connector of the Northeast finally has company in the new Coors/I-40 Overpass in the Northwest, with another expected at I-25 and Jefferson.

Southeast Development
The development of the northeast section of the city progressed naturally into the southeast. Thus the southeast quadrant is home to both older elegant and no-so-elegant neighborhoods that border on long-established Sunport National Airport and Kirtland Air Force Base, both of which cover extensive tracts of land that prohibit out further expansion of the city towards the southeast, except for the most recently found Mesa del Sol lands now under development just south of the airport. Mesa del Sol is a master-planned mixed-use, sustainable development of 13,000 acres within the city limits.

The Southwest
Large parts of the southwest, such as the South Valley, have been largely agricultural land that border on pueblo lands (Isleta) farther south. More recently, as is happening all across the city, the areas of the south west are seeing the gradual introduction of small residential developments, and long-time dwellers of the area are learning to cope with these and accompanying commercial infrastructure, anchored by “big boxes.”

Quality of life
The attraction of the city lies in its charm, its people, the high desert climate, an inspirational landscape and the quality of life it allows. Biking, running, and hiking trails and paths along the Rio Grande and through the Sandia Mountains encourage outdoor activities and attract sports enthusiasts from around the world. You can step out your door and walk straight up into the mountains, or you can leave your downtown office and in less than half an hour, be on the cable car for a fifteen minute ride to the top of Sandia Peak for an afternoon of skiing, then return to an evening on the town in the city without concerns about snow or inclement weather. Golf courses are well maintained and accessible to all.

The west side offers gorgeous views of peachy-red dawns, a flourishing bosque fringing the river, and Sandia Mountain views as opposed to the nearby, in-your-face foothill views of the northeast. Few sights are more glorious than the Westside view of the sun rising behind the Sandia Mountains.

City Attractions
Throughout Albuquerque, great restaurants abound. Food has been inexpensive and people eat out a lot. In-town venues like the historic Kimo, the Hispanic Cultural Center, the Pueblo Cultural Center, the University of New Mexico, and museums and galleries offer a rich cultural feast of theatrical and musical performances, art and craft shows, and exhibitions. Nineteen pueblos offer shows, feast-day celebrations, casino entertainment and gaming throughout the year. The annual, two-week-long balloon fiesta is of international proportions, http://www.balloonfiesta.com/.

Surrounding Areas
If these attractions turned out to be insufficient, Albuquerque, at the center of Bernalillo County in the middle of the state, is easily accessible to a wide variety of attractions in surrounding cities and counties. Jemez, Santa Fe (the capital city), Taos, Angel Fire, Chaco Canyon, Acoma, Bosque del Apache, and White Sands, are only a few of the beautiful places with marvelous attractions only a day trip or less away from the city.

Reasons to Live in Duke City
Duke City, our favorite name for Albuquerque, named for the Duke of Albuquerque, is a special place. If you get the chance to visit, you should. At least fifty percent of the people who live here say it was love at first sight. They came to visit and stayed or returned to live. The charms of the area are no longer a well-kept secret. They have been discovered and publicized. The city is the recipient of many accolades. Among other things, it is the best place to raise a family, start a new business, work, and play. It is a top-ranked southwestern city. Visit Albuquerque. You, too, will want to stay and we will welcome you. The city is a great introduction to the state of New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment.