Albuquerque

by The Linguist

 

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico with a population of 558,545 as of the 2020 census. The city is located in Bernalillo County and serves as the county seat. Albuquerque lies in the central part of New Mexico and is situated along the Rio Grande river valley.

History

Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as a Spanish colonial outpost named Ranchos de Alburquerque. The original settlement was located a few miles east of the current city center. Albuquerque was incorporated as a town in 1885 and experienced significant growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s with the arrival of the railroad. The city has continued to expand in population and economic activity throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. For more detailed information on the history of Albuquerque, visit the Albuquerque Wikipedia page.

Geography and Climate

Albuquerque lies near the center of New Mexico at an elevation of 5,312 feet (1,619 m). The city has a diverse geography including the Rio Grande valley, the Sandia Mountains to the east, and the West Mesa bluffs. Albuquerque has a mild, dry climate with an average high temperature of 67°F (19°C) and an average low of 36°F (2°C). Precipitation averages just 9 inches per year.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Albuquerque had a population of 558,545 making it the 32nd largest city in the United States. The racial makeup of the city is 69% White, 3% Black or African American, 5% Asian, 2% Native American, and 17% from other races. 48% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median household income in Albuquerque is $54,049 and the poverty rate is 17.2%.

Economy and Major Employers

Albuquerque has a diversified economy with major industries including technology, tourism, healthcare, manufacturing, and government institutions. Some of the largest employers in Albuquerque include:

  • University of New Mexico – www.unm.edu – 2301 Yale Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, (505) 277-0111
  • Sandia National Laboratories – www.sandia.gov – 1515 Eubank Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123, (505) 844-9999
  • Presbyterian Healthcare Services – www.phs.org – 1100 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, (505) 291-2111
  • City of Albuquerque – www.cabq.gov – 400 Marquette Ave NW #5, Albuquerque, NM 87102, (505) 768-3000
  • Intel Corporation – www.intel.com – 5200 Trinity Dr, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, (505) 897-5000

For additional information on the Albuquerque economy visit the Albuquerque Economic Development website.

Attractions and Landmarks

Some of the most popular attractions and landmarks in Albuquerque include:

  • Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – balloonfiesta.com – The world’s largest hot air ballooning event held annually in October
  • Old Town Albuquerque – Historic district with Native American shops, galleries, restaurants, and adobe architecture. Located at 303 Romero St NW.
  • Sandia Peak Tramway – sandiapeak.com – World’s longest aerial tram carries passengers 2.7 miles to the 10,378 ft summit of Sandia Peak
  • Petroglyph National Monument – www.nps.gov/petr – Protected area with over 20,000 ancient petroglyphs carved by Native Americans and Spanish settlers. Address: 6001 Unser Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
  • Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – indianpueblo.org – Museum and cultural center showcasing the history and culture of New Mexico’s 19 Native American pueblos. Address: 2401 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, (505) 843-7270

Museums

Albuquerque is home to many unique museums including:

  • National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – nuclearmuseum.org – Exhibits on atomic science. Address: 601 Eubank Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123, (505) 245-2137
  • Albuquerque Museum – cabq.gov/museums – Art and history exhibits. Address: 2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, (505) 243-7255
  • Explora – explora.us – Interactive science center and children’s museum. Address: 1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, (505) 224-8300
  • American International Rattlesnake Museum – rattlesnakes.com – Collection of different rattlesnake species. Address: 202 San Felipe St NW #A, Albuquerque, NM 87104, (505) 242-6569

Public Transportation

Public transportation in Albuquerque is provided by ABQ RIDE, the city’s bus system. ABQ RIDE operates a network of 38 routes serving the metro area with buses and vans. Fares are $1 for adults and 50 cents for seniors, students, and people with disabilities. Services are available 7 days a week. Visit the ABQ RIDE website or call (505) 243-7433 for schedule and route information.

Public Libraries

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System operates 18 public libraries throughout the city. The main library is the Albuquerque Central Library located at 501 Copper Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, (505) 768-5141. Visit the library system website to find a branch near you.

Sports Teams

Albuquerque is home to the following professional sports teams:

  • Albuquerque Isotopes – Minor league baseball team, affiliate of the Colorado Rockies – milb.com/albuquerque
  • New Mexico United – Professional soccer team in the USL Championship league – newmexicoutd.com
  • Duke City Gladiators – Indoor football team in the Indoor Football League – dukecitygladiators.com

Higher Education

Major colleges and universities located in Albuquerque include:

  • University of New Mexico (UNM) – unm.edu – Public research university and the largest higher education institution in New Mexico
  • Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) – cnm.edu – Community college with 6 campuses in the Albuquerque metro area

School Districts

Public education in Albuquerque falls under the Albuquerque Public Schools district (APS) which serves over 95,000 students across 142 schools. The APS district office is located at 6400 Uptown Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110 and can be reached at (505) 889-4848. For more information visit the Albuquerque Public Schools website.

There are also over 30 private and charter schools located within the Albuquerque metro area.

City Government

Albuquerque government is led by Mayor Timothy M. Keller and a nine member city council. The city government is based out of the Albuquerque City Hall located at:

400 Marquette Ave NW #5
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 768-3000

Visit the City of Albuquerque website to learn more about city departments, services, programs and local laws.

Bernalillo County

Albuquerque is located within Bernalillo County. The Bernalillo County government office is located at:

One Civic Plaza NW, 10th Floor
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 468-7000

Visit the Bernalillo County website for more information on county services and departments.

Points of Interest

Here are the GPS coordinates, street addresses, and Google map embeds for 3 notable landmarks in Albuquerque:

Sandia Peak Tramway

GPS Coordinates: 35.163°N, 106.454°W
Address: 10 Tramway Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122

Old Town Albuquerque

GPS Coordinates: 35.08902°N, 106.65191°W
Address: 303 Romero St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Park

GPS Coordinates: 35.15648°N, 106.61721°W
Address: 5500 Balloon Fiesta Parkway NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

Additional Resources

Here are some additional resources to help you learn more about Albuquerque and what it has to offer: