|Population||557,169 (907,679 Metro)|
|Area (sq mi)||189.5 (9,297 Metro)|
|Population density (/sq mi)||2,959 (95 Metro)|
|Current mayor||Richard J. Berry|
Albuquerque, officially the City of Albuquerque and nicknamed the Duke City, is a city and metropolitan area in the state of New Mexico, located in the American Southwest. The city is located on the Rio Grande river, at the Southern portion of the Rocky Mountains. Albuquerque is known best for its vistas, being located between the large Sandia Mountains and its West Mesa, with a river and forest running between them, and its Spanish, Native American, and Wild West roots. The city's economy is supported by many science and technology firms, its many cultural venues, and the University of New Mexico.
The population of Albuquerque is 557,169 inhabitants, with 907,679 in its metropolitan area. The city has a large population of primarily Hispanics, and a larger than average amount of Native Americans. There is also a sizable population of Anglo, African, Asian, and multiracial individuals.
The first Spanish settlers arrived after the Pueblo Revolt, in 1706, naming the town La Villa de Alburquerque. The town was surrounded by other towns, like the towns of Barelas and Corrales, and even including several Pueblos such as the Sandia Pueblo and the Isleta Pueblo. Provincial Governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdez named the town after the Duke of Alburquerque, viceroy of New Spain from 1702 to 1710. The city continued to grow, and it eventually enveloped the town of Barales.
The city's growth has, in part, been due to its place on numerous trade/travel routes; El Camino Real, Route 66, Interstate 40 and Interstate 20, and the Albuquerque International Sunport.
The Mayor is appointed to a 4-year term of service. The City Council is comprised of nine elected members, one from each district, and is the legislative authority of the city, with the power to adopt ordinances, resolutions, and other city legislation. The current mayor is Republican Richard J. Berry.
Albuquerque is historically considered a "swing city", in that it has favored Democratic and Republican candidates in local and national elections.
Culture and Neighborhoods
Albuquerque is home to several museums, art galleries, and other cultural centers and neighborhoods. The primary architectures of the city reflects its history; Spanish Mission architecture, Pueblo Revival architecture, the Mexican and American Territorial Revival architecture, Route 66 Americana, alongside Spanish, Native American, Western, Mexican, and American decorative styles. The city is also known as an "open space city", including the large Rio Grande Bosque (forest) that runs north-to-south through the city.
Old Town Albuquerque
Old Town was the site of the 1706 founding of the city. The Old Town Plaza has the over 200 year-old still functioning Catholic San Felipe de Neri, the New Mexican cuisine restaurants of Hacienda del Rio and La Placita Restaurant, as well as numerous shops and other restaurants. Route 66's arrival in 1937 lead to the revival of the Plaza after tourists came to see authentic Spanish, Mexican, Cowboy, and Native American folk culture. Surrounding the Plaza are several museums, art galleries, and the Albuquerque BioPark.
- Albuquerque Biological Park
- Botanic Garden
- Tingley Beach
- Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
- Explora, a children's science center with numerous hands on science and technology projects
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
- Rattlesnake Museum
- Tricentennial Tiguex Park
Created in 1880 after the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway arrived to Albuquerque.
- KiMo Theatre
- Holocaust & Intolerance Museum of New Mexico
- Albuquerque Convention Center
- Main Library
- Alvarado Transportation Center (Amtrak and Rail Runner)
- 516 ARTS
A shopping district created in 1937, as Route 66 entered the city. It continues to be a shopping district, and has 1930s-1940s Americana architecture.
Surrounding the Albuquerque International Sunport are several golf courses, and access to the majority of Albuquerque's professional and collegiate sports stadiums.
- The Pit, a.k.a. The University of New Mexico Stadium & Arena
- Isotopes Park (formerly the Albuquerque Dukes)
- Kirtland Air Force Base
- Sandia National Laboratories
- New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial
Surrounding the university are numerous eateries, most famously the Frontier Restaurant.
- University of New Mexico
- Popejoy Hall
- Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
Albuquerque's Uptown has been in development since the 1970s, and its major milestone known as ABQ Uptown gave the city a high-end modern shopping and business district. The EXPO New Mexico grounds are the location of the annual New Mexico State Fair, which is held in September.
- EXPO New Mexico State Fairgrounds & Tingley Coliseum
- ABQ Uptown
- Coronado Center
Located at the bottom of the Sandia Mountains.
- National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
- Hinkle Family Fun Center
- Elena Gallegos Open Space
- Sandia Peak Aerial Tram
Balloon Fiesta Park
Albuquerque is home to the largest hot-air balloon festival in the world, it is called the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The Balloon Fiesta occurs at the beginning of October. Near the Balloon Fiesta park, in Cliff's Amusement Park, which is open during the summer, that features roller coasters, and other large rides.
- Balloon Fiesta Park
- Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
- Cliff’s Amusement Park
The North Valley is a valley situated in the northern part of the city, as the name implies, and it is near several rural areas of the city. Two key locations are Los Ranchos de Albuquerque and Corrales, which are extremely rural, they have numerous farms, ranches, wineries, breweries, and small shops. There are a few modestly-urban areas in North Valley, but they are mostly situated around the old airport, at the modern day Cottonwood Mall. Also near the Cottonwood Mall is also large suburban area. To the northwest is Rio Rancho, current home of a microprocessor fabricating unit of Intel.
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
- Unser Racing Museum
- Bosque Trails
- Casa San Ysidro
- Casa Rondeña Winery
- Cottonwood Mall
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque
South Valley and Nine Mile Hill
The South Valley was where the old town of Barales was located. The neighborhood is home to the National Hispanic Cultural Center and several mainstay New Mexican restaurants, including El Modelo. Nine Mile Hill, located near the South Valley, is a hill overlooking Albuquerque in the western part of the city, Elvis Presley would come to town down Route 66 on Nine Mile Hill in his pink Cadillac to view the "lights of Albuquerque". Nine Mile Hill features several still surviving restaurants, including Mac's La Sierra.
Albuquerque International Sunport is New Mexico's largest commercial airport. Two interstate highways intersect in Albuquerque: Interstate 25, a north-south route from Canada to Mexico and Interstate 40, running east-west. Albuquerque is accessible by Amtrak and the Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe Railroad, and also the local high-speed RailRunner trains.
- The City of Albuquerque
- Albuquerque on the New Mexico Cultural Encyclopedia, Lexicon, and News
- Neighborhood Guide by Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Weather and Climate in Albuquerque
- Albuquerque Day Trips - Abqstyle.com
- http://www.abqsunport.com/ Albuquerque International Sunport
- The City of ALbuquerque on Transit