Albuquerque, New Mexico
51278
226043173
2008-07-16T15:59:14Z
75.119.20.168
/* Sports */
{{redirect|Albuquerque}}
{{Infobox Settlement
|name = Albuquerque, New Mexico
|settlement_type=City
|official_name = City of Albuquerque
|settlement_type = [[City]]
|nickname = '''The Duke City'''<br>Q-City/Burque/The 505
|motto = Let's Keep Albuquerque Green!
|image_skyline = Albuquerque2008.jpg
|imagesize = 280px
|image_caption = A view of Albuquerque's Downtown at Sunset.
|image_flag = ABQFlag.png
|image_seal = CityoABQ.gif
|image_map = Bernalillo_County_New_Mexico_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Albuquerque_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location in the state of [[New Mexico]]
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in New Mexico|County]]
|subdivision_name = {{USA}}
|subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|New Mexico}}[[New Mexico]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Bernalillo County, New Mexico|Bernalillo County]]
|government_type = Mayor–City Council
|leader_title = [[Mayor of Albuquerque|Mayor]]
|leader_title1 = [[The Albuquerque City Council|City Council]]
|leader_name = [[Martin Chavez]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])<small> 3rd term
|leader_name1 = Chairman: Bradley Winter ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = 1706
|area_magnitude = 1 E9
|area_total_km2 = 469.5
|area_total_sq_mi = 181.3
|area_land_km2 = 467.9
|area_land_sq_mi = 180.6
|area_water_km2 = 1.7
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.6
|population_density_km2 = 1079.9
|population_density_sq_mi = 2796.0
|population_as_of = 2007
|population_footnotes =
<ref name="Census PopEst over 100,000 2007">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-01.csv
|title= Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2007 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (SUB-EST2007-01)
|accessdate= 2008-07-15
|date= 2008-07-10
|publisher= US Census Bureau, Population Division
}}
</ref>
<ref name="Census PopEst MSA 2007">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2007/CBSA-EST2007-01.csv
|title= Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007
|accessdate= 2008-07-15
|date= 2008-03-27
|publisher= US Census Bureau, Population Division
}}
</ref>
|population_total = 518,271
|population_metro = 835,120 ([[United States metropolitan area|MSA]])
|timezone = [[Mountain Standard Time|MST]]
|utc_offset = -7
|timezone_DST = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -6
|postal_code_type = [[Zip Code]](s)
|postal_code = 87101, 87102, 87103, 87104,<br> 87105, 87106, 87107, 87108,<br> 87109, 87110, 87111, 87112,<br> 87113, 87114, 87115, 87116,<br> 87117, 87118, 87119, 87120,<br> 87121, 87122, 87123, 87124,<br> 87125, 87131, 87144, 87151,<br> 87153, 87154, 87158, 87174,<br> 87176, 87181, 87184, 87185,<br> 87187, 87190, 87191, 87192,<br> 87193, 87194, 87195, 87196,<br> 87197, 87198, 87199
|area_code = [[Area code 505|505]], [[Area code 575|575]]
|latd = 35 |latm = 06 |lats = 39 |latNS = N
|longd = 106 |longm = 36 |longs = 36 |longEW = W
|elevation_m = 1619.1
|elevation_ft = 5312
|website = http://www.cabq.gov/
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 35-02000
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 0928679
|footnotes =
}}
'''Albuquerque''' ({{pronEng|ˈælbəkɝkiː}}, [[Spanish language|Spanish]] {{IPA2|alβuˈkeɾke}}; known as ''Bee'eldííldahsinil'' in [[Navajo language|Navajo]]) is the largest [[List of cities in the United States|city]] in the [[US state|state]] of [[New Mexico]], [[United States]]. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Bernalillo County, New Mexico|Bernalillo County]] and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the [[Rio Grande]]. The city population was 518,271 as of [[July 1]], [[2007]] [[U.S. census]] estimates <ref name="Census PopEst over 100,000 2007" /> and ranks as the [[List of United States cities by population|34th-largest]] city in the U.S. As of [[June 2007]], the city was the 5th fastest growing in America.[http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/27/real_estate/fastest_growing_cities/] With a metropolitan population of 835,120 as of [[July 1]], [[2007]],<ref name="Census PopEst MSA 2007" /> Albuquerque is the [[List of United States metropolitan areas|60th-largest]] [[United States metropolitan area]]. The [[Albuquerque metropolitan area|Albuquerque MSA]] population includes the city of [[Rio Rancho, New Mexico|Rio Rancho]], one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, and a hub for many master-planned communities that are expected to draw future businesses and residents to the area.
Albuquerque is home to the [[University of New Mexico]] (UNM) and [[Kirtland Air Force Base]] as well as the [[Sandia National Laboratories]] and [[Petroglyph National Monument]]. The [[Sandia Mountains]] run along the eastern side of Albuquerque, and the [[Rio Grande]] flows through the city, north to south.
== History ==
=== Early settlers ===
[[Image:Centralave2.jpg|thumb|left|Depiction of Central Avenue, circa early 20th century]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:MayorChavez.jpg|Mayor Martin Chavez|thumb|220px|right]] -->
The city was founded in 1706 as the [[Spain|Spanish]] colonial outpost of ''Ranchos de Alburquerque''; present-day Albuquerque retains much of the Spanish cultural and historical heritage.
Albuquerque was a farming community and strategically located military outpost along the [[El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro|Camino Real]]. The town of Alburquerque was built in the traditional Spanish village pattern: a central plaza surrounded by government buildings, homes, and a church. This central plaza area has been preserved and is open to the public as a museum, cultural area, and center of commerce. It is referred to as "Old Town Albuquerque" or simply "Old Town." "Old Town" was sometimes referred to as "La Placita" ("little plaza" in Spanish).
The village was named by the provincial governor Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdes in honour of Don [[Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, Duke of Alburquerque]], viceroy of [[New Spain]] from 1653 to 1660. The first "r" in "Alburquerque" was dropped at some point in the 19th century, supposedly by an [[English-American|Anglo-American]] railroad station-master unable to correctly pronounce the city's name. Some New Mexicans still prefer the spelling ''Alburquerque''; see for example the book by that name by [[Rudolfo Anaya]]. In the 1990s, the Central Avenue Trolley Buses were emblazoned with the name ''Alburquerque'' (with two "r"s) in honor of the city's historic name.
The Alburquerque family name dates from pre-12th century Iberia (Spain and Portugal) and is habitational in nature (de Alburquerque = from Alburquerque). The Spanish village of Alburquerque is within the Badajoz province of Spain, and located just fifteen miles from the Portuguese border. Cork trees dominate the landscape and Alburquerque is a center of the Spanish cork industry.<ref>James J. Parsons. The Cork Oak Forests and the Evolution of the Cork Industry in Southern Spain and Portugal. 1962. Clark University</ref> Over the years, this region has been alternately under both Spanish and Portuguese rule. (It is interesting to note that the Portuguese spelling has only one 'r'). Historically, the land around Alburquerque was invaded and settled by the Moors (711 AD) and the Romans (218 BC) before them. Thus, the word Alburquerque may be rooted in the Arabic (Moorish) 'Abu al-Qurq', which means "father of the cork oak", or "land of the cork oak" (the land as father - fatherland). Alternately, it may be Latin (Roman) in origin and from 'albus quercus' or "white oak" (the wood of the cork oak is white after the bark has been removed). The seal of the Spanish village of Alburquerque is comprised of a white oak tree, framed by a shield, topped by a crown.<ref>Brochure "Alburquerque: Villa Medieval" Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Alburquerque and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya. 2006</ref>
<!-- Need to have something about the 1800s to 1850s, the war against Mexico to occupy these territories. -->
During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] Albuquerque was occupied in February 1862 by [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] troops under General [[Henry Hopkins Sibley]], who soon afterwards advanced with his main body into northern New Mexico. During his retreat from [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] troops into [[Texas]] he made a stand on [[April 8]], [[1862]] at Albuquerque. A day-long engagement at long range led to few casualties against a detachment of Union soldiers commanded by Colonel [[Edward Canby|Edward R. S. Canby]].
When the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad]] arrived in 1880, it bypassed the Plaza, locating the passenger depot and railyards about <span style="white-space:nowrap">2 miles (3 km)</span> east in what quickly became known as New Albuquerque or New Town. Old Town remained a separate community until the 1920s when it was absorbed by the City of Albuquerque, which had been incorporated in 1891. [[Albuquerque High School]], the city's first public high school, was established in 1879.
=== Early 20th century ===
New Albuquerque quickly became a tidy southwestern town which by 1900 boasted a population of 8,000 inhabitants and all the modern amenities including an electric street railway connecting Old Town, New Town, and the recently established [[University of New Mexico|UNM]] campus on the East Mesa. In 1902 the famous Alvarado Hotel was built adjacent to the new passenger depot and remained a symbol of the city until it was torn down in 1970 to make room for a parking lot. In 2002, the [[Alvarado Transportation Center]] was built on the site in a manner resembling the old landmark. The large metro station functions as the downtown headquarters for the city's transit department, and serves as an intermodal hub for local buses, [[Greyhound]] buses, [[Amtrak]] passenger trains, and the [[Rail Runner]] commuter rail line.
New Mexico's dry climate brought many [[tuberculosis]] patients to the city in search of a cure during the early 1900s, and several sanitaria sprang up on the West Mesa to serve them. Presbyterian Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital, two of the largest hospitals in the Southwest, had their beginnings during this period. Influential [[New Deal]]-era governor [[Clyde Tingley]] and famed southwestern architect [[John Gaw Meem]] were among those brought to New Mexico by tuberculosis.
=== Decades of growth ===
{{wrapper}}
|[[Image:100 2060.jpg|thumb|right|Home Development on the West Side. (West Gate Heights)]]
|-
|[[Image:100 1976.jpg|thumb|right|The West Side's Housing Explosion]]
|}
On June of 2007 Albuquerque was listed as the 6th fastest growing city in America by CNN and the US Census Bureau. [http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/27/real_estate/fastest_growing_cities/]
The first travelers on [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]] appeared in Albuquerque in 1926, and before long dozens of motels, restaurants, and gift shops had sprung up along the roadside to serve them. Route 66 originally ran through the city on a north-south alignment along Fourth Street, but in 1937 it was realigned along [[Central Avenue]], a more direct east-west route. The intersection of Fourth and Central downtown was the principal crossroads of the city for decades. The majority of the surviving structures from the Route 66 era are on Central, though there are also some on Fourth. Signs between [[Bernalillo, New Mexico|Bernalillo]] and [[Los Lunas, New Mexico|Los Lunas]] along the old route now have brown, historical highway markers denoting it as ''Pre-1937 Route 66.''
The establishment of [[Kirtland Air Force Base]] in 1939, Sandia Base in the early 1940s, and [[Sandia National Laboratories]] in 1949, would make Albuquerque a key player of the Atomic Age. Meanwhile, the city continued to expand outward onto the West Mesa, reaching a population of 201,189 by 1960. In 1990 it was 384,736 and in 2007 it was 523,590.
Albuquerque's downtown entered the same phase and development (decline, "urban renewal" with continued decline, and gentrification) as nearly every city across the United States. As Albuquerque spread outward, the downtown area fell into a decline. Many historic buildings were razed in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for new plazas, high-rises, and parking lots as part of the city's urban renewal phase. Only recently has downtown come to regain much of its urban character, mainly through the construction of many new loft apartment buildings and the renovation of historic structures like the [[KiMo Theater]], in the [[gentrification]] phase.
=== New millennium ===
During the 21st century, the Albuquerque population has continued to grow rapidly. The population of the city proper is estimated at 518,271 in 2007, up from 448,607 in the 2000 census.<ref name="Census PopEst over 100,000 2007" /> The metropolitan area population is estimated at 835,120 in 2007, up from 729,649 in the 2000 census. <ref name="Census PopEst MSA 2007" />
During 2005 and 2006, the city celebrated its tricentennial with a diverse program of cultural events.
==Geography==
[[Image:STS040-614-61.jpg|thumb|right|Satellite image of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Courtesy of NASA.]]
[[Image:Albuquerque aerial.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial photo of Albuquerque]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Albuquerque has a total area of <span style="white-space:nowrap">181.3 square miles (469.6 km²)</span>. <span style="white-space:nowrap">180.6 square miles (467.8 km²)</span> of it is land and <span style="white-space:nowrap">0.6 square miles (1.6 km²)</span> of it (0.35%) is water. The metro area has over 100 square miles developed.
Albuquerque lies within the northern, upper edges of the [[Chihuahuan Desert]] ecoregion, based on long-term patterns of climate, associations of plants and wildlife, and landforms, including drainage patterns. Located in central New Mexico, the city also has noticeable influences from the adjacent Colorado Plateau Semi-Desert, Arizona-New Mexico Mountains, and Southwest Plateaus and Plains Steppe ecoregions, depending on where one is located. Its main geographic connection lies with southern New Mexico, while culturally, Albuquerque is a crossroads of most of New Mexico.
Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the United States, though the effects of this are greatly tempered by its southwesterly continental position. The elevation of the city ranges from <span style="white-space:nowrap">4,900 feet (1,490 m)</span> above sea level near the Rio Grande (in the Valley) to over <span style="white-space:nowrap">6,700 feet (1,950 m)</span> in the foothill areas of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills. At the airport, the elevation is <span style="white-space:nowrap">5,352 feet (1,631 m)</span> above sea level.
The Rio Grande is classified, like the [[Nile]], as an 'exotic' river because it flows through a desert. The New Mexico portion of the Rio Grande lies within the [[Rio Grande Rift]] Valley, bordered by a system of [[fault]]s, including those that lifted up the adjacent Sandia and [[Manzano Mountains]], while lowering the area where the life-sustaining Rio Grande now flows.
Albuquerque is located at {{coor dms|35|6|39|N|106|36|36|W|city}} (35.110703, -106.609991).{{GR|1}}
===Climate===
Albuquerque's climate is usually sunny and dry, with low relative humidity. Brilliant sunshine defines the region, averaging more than 300 days a year; periods of variably mid and high-level cloudiness temper the sun at other times. Extended cloudiness is rare. The city has four distinct seasons, but the heat and cold are mild compared to the extremes that occur more commonly in other parts of the country.
Winters are rather brief but definite; daytime highs range from the mid 40s to upper 50s [[Fahrenheit]], while the overnight lows drop into the low 20s to near 30 by sunrise; nights are often colder in the valley and uppermost foothills by several degrees, or during cold frontal passages from the Great Basin or Rocky Mountains. The occasional snowfall, associated with low pressure areas, fronts and troughs, often melts by the mid-afternoon; over half of the scant winter moisture occurs in the form of light rain showers, usually brief in duration. In the much higher and colder Sandia Mountains, moisture falls as snow; many years have enough snow to create decent skiing conditions at the local ski area.
Spring time starts off windy and cool, sometimes unsettled with some rain and even light snow, though spring is usually the driest part of the year in Albuquerque. March and April tend to see many days with the wind blowing at 20 to 30 mph, and afternoon gusts can produce periods of blowing sand and dust. In May, the winds tend to subside, as temperatures start to feel like summer.
Summer daytime highs range from the upper 80s to the upper 90's, while dropping into the low 60s to low 70s overnight; the valley and uppermost foothills are often several degrees cooler than that. The heat is quite tolerable because of low humidity, except during the late summer during increased humidity from surges in the monsoonal pattern; at that time, daytime highs drop slightly but the extra moisture in the air can cause nighttime temperatures to increase.
Fall sees mild days and cool nights with less rain, though the weather can be more unsettled closer to winter.
The city was one of several in the region experiencing a severe winter storm leaving between 10 and 26 inches of snow in just over 24 hours on [[December 30]], [[2006]].<ref>[http://www.weather.com Weather.com] - [http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNM0004?from=search Monthly Averages for Albuquerque, NM]. Retrieved [[17 December]] [[2006]].</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Month
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jan
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Feb
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Mar
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Apr
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | May
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jun
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jul
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Aug
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Sep
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Oct
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Nov
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Dec
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Rec high °F
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 70
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 78
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 89
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 89
| style="background: #FF6600; color:#000080;" | 98
| style="background: #FF6600; color:#000080;" | 107
| style="background: #FF6600; color:#000080;" | 105
| style="background: #FF6600; color:#000080;" | 101
| style="background: #FF6600; color:#000080;" | 100
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 91
| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 77
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 72
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Avg high °F
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 48
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 55
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 62
| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 71
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 80
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 90
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 92
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 89
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 82
| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 71
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 57
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 48
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Avg high °C
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 9
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 13
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 17
| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 22
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 27
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 32
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 33
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 32
| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 28
| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 22
| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 14
| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" |9
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Avg low °F
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 24
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 28
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 34
| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 41
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 50
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 59
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 65
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 63
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 56
| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 44
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 32
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 24
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | Avg low °C
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | -4
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" |-2
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 1
| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 5
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 10
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 15
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 18
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 17
| style="background: #FFCC66; color: black;" | 13
| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 7
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 0
| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | -4
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Precipitation inches
| style="background: #2288BB;" | .49
| style="background: #2288BB;" | .44
| style="background: #44AADD;" | .61
| style="background: #44AADD;" | .50
| style="background: #44AADD;" | .60
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | .65
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 1.27
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 1.73
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 1.07
| style="background: #44AADD;" | 1.00
| style="background: #2288BB;" | .62
| style="background: #2288BB;" | .49
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Precipitation [[millimeter|mm]]
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 12.4
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 11.2
| style="background: #44AADD;" | 15.5
| style="background: #44AADD;" | 12.7
| style="background: #44AADD;" | 15.2
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 16.5
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 32.3
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 43.9
| style="background: #66CCFF;" | 27.2
| style="background: #44AADD;" | 25.4
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 15.7
| style="background: #2288BB;" | 12.4
|}
Albuquerque's climate is classified as [[arid]] (BWk or BWh, depending on the particular scheme of the [[Köppen climate classification]] system one uses), meaning average annual precipitation is less than half of evaporation, and the mean temperature of the coldest month is above freezing (32F). Only the wettest areas of the Sandia foothills are barely [[semi-arid]], where precipitation is more than half of, but still less than, evaporation; such areas are localized and usually lie above 6000 feet in elevation and often in arroyo drainages, signified by a slightly denser, taller growth of evergreen oak - juniper - pinon chaparral and rarely, woodland, often mixed with taller desert grasses. These elevated foothill areas still border arid areas, best described as desert grassland or desert shrub, on their west sides.
Traveling to the west, north and east of Albuquerque, one quickly rises in elevation and leaves the sheltering effect of the valley to enter a noticeably cooler and slightly wetter environment. One such area is still considered part of metro Albuquerque, commonly called the "East Mountain" area; it is covered in savannas or woodlands of low juniper and pinon trees, reminiscent of the lower parts of the southern Rocky Mountains, which do not actually contact Albuquerque proper.
Those mountains and highlands beyond the city create a "rain shadow" effect, due to the drying of descending air movements; the city usually receives very little rain or snow, averaging 8-9 inches (216 mm) of precipitation per year. Valley and west mesa areas, farther from the mountains are drier, averaging 6-8 inches of annual precipitation; the Sandia foothills tend to lift any available moisture, enhancing precipitation to about 10-17 inches annually. Most precipitation occurs during the summer monsoon season (also called a [[chubasco]] in Mexico), typically starting in early July and ending in mid-September.
===Geology===
The [[Sandia Mountains]] are the predominant geographic feature visible in Albuquerque. "Sandía" is [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "[[watermelon]]", and is popularly believed to be a reference to the brilliant coloration of the mountains at sunset: bright pink (melon meat) and green (melon rind). The pink is due to large exposures of [[granodiorite]] cliffs, and the green is due to large swaths of [[conifer]] forests. However, Robert Julyan notes in ''The Place Names of New Mexico'', "the most likely explanation is the one believed by the [[Sandia Pueblo|Sandia Pueblo Indians]]: the Spaniards, when they encountered the Pueblo in 1540, called it Sandia, because they thought the squash growing there were watermelons, and the name Sandia soon was transferred to the mountains east of the pueblo."<ref name="julyan">Robert Julyan, ''The Place Names of New Mexico'' (revised edition), UNM Press, 1998.</ref> He also notes that the Sandia Pueblo Indians call the mountain ''Bien Mur'', "big mountain."<ref name="julyan"/>
The Sandia foothills, on the west side of the mountains, have soils derived from that same rock material with varying sizes of decomposed granite, mixed with areas of clay and [[caliche]] (a calcereous clay common in the arid southwestern USA), along with some exposed [[granite]] bedrock.
Below the foothills, the area usually called the "Heights" consists of a mix of clay and [[caliche]] soils, overlain by a layer of decomposed granite, resulting from long-term outwash of that material from the adjacent mountains. This [[bajada]] is quite noticeable when driving into the Duke City from the north or south, due to its fairly uniform slope from the mountains' edge downhill to the valley. Sand hills are scattered along the I-25 corridor and directly above the Rio Grande valley, forming the lower end of the Heights.
The Rio Grande valley, due to long-term shifting of the actual river channel, contains layers and areas of soils varying between [[caliche]], clay, loam, and even some sand. It is the only part of Albuquerque where the [[water table]] often lies close to the surface, sometimes less than 10 feet.
The last significant area of Albuquerque geologically is the "West Mesa": this is the elevated land west of the Rio Grande, including the sandy terrace immediately west and above the river, and the rather sharply defined volcanic escarpment above and west of most of the developed city. The west mesa commonly has soils often referred to as "blow sand", along with occasional clay and caliche and even basalt, nearing the escarpment.
===Cityscape===
[[Image:KiMo Theater Albuquerque.jpg|thumb|right|The Pueblo Deco style KiMo Theater is one of Albuquerque's best-known landmarks.]]
Albuquerque has expanded greatly in area since the mid 1940s. During those years of expansion, the planning of the newer areas has considered that people drive rather than walk. The pre-1940s parts of Albuquerque are quite different in style and scale from the post 1940s areas. These older areas include the North Valley, the South Valley, various neighborhoods near downtown, and Corrales. The newer areas generally feature 4 to 6 lane roads in a <span style="white-space:nowrap">1 mile (1.61 km)</span> grid. Each <span style="white-space:nowrap">1 square mile (2.59 km²)</span> is divided into four 160-acre neighborhoods by smaller roads set <span style="white-space:nowrap">0.5 miles (0.8 km)</span> between major roads. When driving along major roads in the newer sections of Albuquerque, one sees strip malls, signs, and cinderblock walls. The upside of this planning style is that neighborhoods are shielded from the worst of the noise and lights on the major roads. The downside is that it is virtually impossible to go anywhere from home without driving.
Albuquerque is geographically divided into four [[quadrant]]s which are officially part of the mailing address. They are '''NE''' (northeast), '''NW''' (northwest), '''SE''' (southeast), and '''SW''' (southwest). The north-south dividing line is Central Avenue (the path that [[Route 66]] took through the city) and the east-west dividing line is the [[BNSF Railway]] tracks.
====Northeast Quadrant====
This quadrant has been experiencing a housing expansion since the late 1950s. It abuts the base of the Sandia Mountains and contains portions of the Sandia Heights neighborhoods, which are situated in or near the foothills and are significantly higher, in elevation and price range, than the rest of the city. Running from Central Ave. and the railroad tracks to the [[Sandia Peak Tramway|Sandia Peak Aerial Tram]], this is the largest quadrant both geographically and by population. The [[University of New Mexico]], the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, the Uptown area which includes both Coronado and Winrock malls, Journal Center (with over 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) of office space), Balloon Fiesta Park, and [[Albuquerque Academy]] are all located in this quadrant. Some of the most affluent regions of the city are located here, including Las Lomas-Roma, Netherwood Park, Academy Hills, Tanoan West & East, High Desert, Glenwood Hills, Sandia Heights, North Albuquerque Acres, and Tierra Monte. (Sandia Heights, Tierra Monte, and some of North Albuquerque Acres are outside the city limits proper.) A few houses in the farthest reach of this quadrant lie in the [[Cibola National Forest]], just over the line into [[Sandoval County, New Mexico|Sandoval County]].
====Northwest Quadrant====
This quadrant contains historic [[Old Town Albuquerque]], which dates back to the 1700s, as well as the [[Indian Pueblo Cultural Center]]. The area has a mixture of commercial, low-income, middle-income, and some of the most expensive homes in the city. Northwest Albuquerque includes the largest section of [[Downtown Albuquerque|downtown]], the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and the [[Bosque]] (''"woodlands"'' Cottonwood forest), the [[Petroglyph National Monument]], [[Double Eagle II Airport]], the historic Martineztown neighborhood, the Paradise Hills Area, and the [[Cottonwood Mall]]. Additionally, the "North Valley" area, which includes some small ranches and expensive residential homes along the [[Rio Grande]], is located in this quadrant. The City of Albuquerque engulfs the village of [[Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico|Los Ranchos de Albuquerque]] and borders [[Corrales, New Mexico|Corrales]] in the northwest valley. The rapidly-developing area on the west side of the river is known as the "west side" and consists primarily of traditional residential subdivisions. Here the city proper is bordered on the north by the [[Rio Rancho, New Mexico|City of Rio Rancho]].
====Southeast Quadrant====
[[Eclipse Aviation]], [[Kirtland Air Force Base]], [[Sandia National Laboratories]], the [[Central New Mexico Community College]] main campus, the [[Albuquerque International Sunport]], [[University Stadium, Albuquerque|University Stadium]], [[Isotopes Park]], and [[University Arena]] ("The Pit") are located in the Southeast (SE) quadrant.
The Nob Hill and East Downtown (EDo) neighborhoods lie along Central Avenue, the border between the Southeast and Northeast quadrants. The expensive residential developments of Four Hills, Willow Wood, and Ridgecrest are also located in this quadrant. In sharp contrast to these upscale developments, however, some of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods in the city are also located in Southeast Albuquerque. During the past twenty years, the SE area, mainly around Gibson Blvd. and Central Ave., has become the highest crime area in the city. However, recent developments in the neighborhood such as the Cesar Chavez Community Center, Veterans Memorial, and the renovated Talin Market have shown that this area is in the beginning stages of reestablishing itself as one of many cultural centers in the city.
====Southwest Quadrant====
Traditionally consisting of agricultural and rural areas, the Southwest quadrant is often referred to as the "South Valley". Although the city limits of Albuquerque do not include all of the area, the South Valley is considered to extend all the way to the [[Isleta Indian Reservation]]. This includes the old communities of Atrisco, Los Padillas, Kinney, Mountainview, and Pajarito. The south end of downtown Albuquerque and the [[Bosque]] ("woodlands" cottonwood forest), the historic [[Barelas]] neighborhood, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the [[Rio Grande Zoo]] (which is part of the City's Albuquerque Biological Park system), and [[Tingley Beach]] are also located here.
The southwest area is currently undergoing rapid and controversial development, including large retail stores and quickly-built subdivisions.
== Government and politics==
[[Image:Pete Domenici US Courthouse Albuquerque.jpg|thumb|right|The Federal courthouse as seen from Lomas Blvd.]]
The city of Albuquerque is served by an elected four-year term [[mayor]] and a nine-member [[city council]]. [[The Albuquerque City Council]] is the legislative authority of the city, and has the power to adopt all ordinances, resolutions, or other legislation. The council members are elected from the nine council districts on four-year terms, with four or five districted Councilors elected every two years. One of the council members is elected by the members of the council to be the Council President, another is elected by the council to be the Vice-President.
The mayor can approve or [[veto]] any decision made by the council. However, the council can override the mayor's veto with a six out of nine member vote. Each year, the mayor submits his or her city budget proposal for the year to the council on [[April 1]], and the council spends the next 60 days discussing the budget before voting on the final budget in late May.
==Economy==
Albuquerque lies at the center of the New Mexico Technology Corridor, a concentration of high-tech private companies and government institutions along the Rio Grande. Larger institutions whose employees contribute to the population are numerous and include [[Sandia National Laboratories]], [[Kirtland Air Force Base]], and the attendant contracting companies which bring highly educated workers to a somewhat isolated region. [[Intel]] operates a large semiconductor factory or "[[Fab (semiconductors)|fab]]" just outside the city boundaries of suburban [[Rio Rancho, New Mexico|Rio Rancho]], in neighboring [[Sandoval County, New Mexico|Sandoval County]], with its attendant large capital investment.
The [[solar power|solar energy]] and architectural-design innovator [[Steve Baer]] located his company, Zomeworks, to the region in the late 1960s; and [[Los Alamos National Laboratory]], [[Sandia National Laboratories|Sandia]], and [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] cooperate here in an enterprise that began with the [[Manhattan Project]]. In January 2007, Tempur-Pedic opened an 800,000 square foot mattress factory in northwest Albuquerque. SCHOTT Solar, Inc., announced in January 2008 they will open a 200,000 square foot facility manufacturing receivers for concentrated solar thermal power plants (CSP) and 64MW of photovoltaic (PV) modules.
Forbes Magazine rated Albuquerque the best city in America for business and careers in 2006, and the 13th best for jobs in 2008.
== Urban trends and issues ==
Government leaders and many citizens in the city have actively pursued urban projects taken on by cities many times larger. A huge push has resulted in the somewhat successful revitalization of downtown, creating restaurants, offices, and residential lofts. The strip of Central Avenue between First and Eighth streets has become a hub of urban life, with a big-city feel. Alvarado provides convenient access to other parts of the city via [[ABQ RIDE]] the city bus system. The city wants to provide better public transportation opportunities to ease the city's growing traffic woes. A street car is being considered and would initially extend up the Central Avenue corridor from the westside, through downtown, past UNM and the Nob Hill district, and into the Uptown Area.<ref>[http://www.cabq.gov/transit/modernstreetcar.html]</ref>
Many citizens fear Albuquerque may be growing beyond its means. A majority of residents want to avoid increasing crime and traffic, worsening air quality, stressing water supplies, and encroaching on the natural environment. Many feel these are the negative consequenses of persistent sprawl development patterns.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
On [[March 23]], [[2007]], the city's mayor [[Martin Chavez]] announced his plan to brand the city "[[the Q]]". Despite various opinions as to what the city's nickname should be, Mayor Chavez is continuing to push his initiative.
[[Soy de Burque]], "I am from Burque", is one response to the mayor's vision of a "hip" reincarnation".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNuZyTmMPtM&eurl=http://www.soydeburque.com/Movielink.htm Jeremy Jojola - "Q" Quarrel (KOBTV, 2007)]</ref> This group of Albuquerque’s residents feels it is unnecessary to spend taxpayer money to hire marketing companies to brand their city with a more palatable nickname, recognizing the city already has a brand and nickname. This selling of a city’s [[cultural identity]] to marketing and advertising firms to brand and sell has been dubbed by [[Soy de Burque]] as culture branding. One central issue to their response is the branding campaign was never voted on, but rather declared by Mayor Chavez,<ref>[http://www.alibi.com/index.php?story=19880&scn=news Marisa Demarco - Talking Points: Burque vs. the Q" (Albuquerque Alibi 2007)]</ref> and [[outsource]]d to marketing and advertising firms.
The passage of the Planned Growth Strategy in 2002-2004 marked the community's strongest effort to create a framework for a more balanced and sustainable approach to urban growth.<ref>[http://www.cabq.gov/council/pgs.html Planned Growth Strategy]</ref>
"A critical finding of the study is that many of the 'disconnects' between the public's preferences and what actually is taking place are caused by weak or non-existent implementation tools - rather than by inadequate policies, as contained in the City/County Comprehensive Plan and other already adopted legislation."
Urban sprawl is limited on three sides by the [[Pueblo]] of Sandia to the north, the Pueblo of Isleta and [[Kirtland Air Force Base]] to the south, and the [[Sandia Mountains]] to the east. Suburban growth continues at a strong pace to the west beyond the Petroglyph National Monument, once thought to be a natural boundary to sprawl development.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/petr/ Petroglyph National Monument]</ref>
Because of cheaper land and lower taxes, much of the growth in the metropolitan area is taking place outside of the City of Albuquerque itself. In Rio Rancho to the northwest, the communities east of the mountains, and the incorporated parts of [[Valencia County]], population growth rates approach twice that of the city. The primary cities in Valencia County are [[Los Lunas, New Mexico|Los Lunas]] and [[Belen, New Mexico|Belen]], both of which are home to growing industrial complexes and new residential subdivisions. The [[Mid Region Council of Governments]] (MRCOG), which includes constituents from throughout the Albuquerque area, was formed to insure that these governments along the middle Rio Grande would be able to meet the needs of their rapidly rising populations. MRCOG's cornerstone project is the [[New Mexico Rail Runner Express]].
==Architecture==
[[Image:Albuquerque Plaza Albuquerque.jpg|thumb|[[Albuquerque Plaza]]]]
[[Image:Abq Petroleum Bldg.jpg|thumb|[[Albuquerque Petroleum Building]]]]
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+ 10 Tallest Buildings in Albuquerque
|-
! Name !! Height !! Floors
|-
| [[Bank of Albuquerque Tower (Albuquerque)|Bank of Albuquerque Tower]]
| {{nowrap|351 feet (107 m)}}
| 22
|-
| [[Hyatt Regency Albuquerque]]
| {{nowrap|256 feet (78 m)}}
| 21
|-
| [[Compass Bank Building (Albuquerque)|Compass Bank Building]]
| {{nowrap|238 feet (73 m)}}
| 18
|-
| [[Albuquerque Petroleum Building]]
| {{nowrap|235 feet (72 m)}}
| 15
|-
| [[Bank of the West Tower]]
| {{nowrap|213 feet (65 m)}}
| 17
|-
| [[Gold Building]]
| {{nowrap|203 feet (62 m)}}
| 14
|-
| [[Dennis Chavez Federal Building]]
| {{nowrap|197 feet (60 m)}}
| 13
|-
| [[PNM Building]]
| {{nowrap|184 feet (56 m)}}
| 12
|-
| [[Simms Building]]
| {{nowrap|180 feet (55 m)}}
| 13
|-
| [[Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse|Pete V. Domenici U.S. Courthouse]]
| {{nowrap|176 feet (54 m)}}
| 7
|}
{{seealso|List of tallest buildings in Albuquerque}}
Due to the nature of the soil in the Rio Grande Valley, the skyline is lower than might be expected in a city of commensurate size elsewhere. {{Fact|date=June 2007}}
Albuquerque boasts a unique nighttime cityscape. Many building exterior's are illuminated in vibrant colors. The Well's Fargo Building is illuminated green. The Double Tree Hotel and the Compass Bank building are illuminated blue. The [[rotunda (architecture)|rotunda]] of the county courthouse is illuminated yellow, while the tops of the Bank of Albuquerque and the Bank of the West are illuminated reddish-yellow.
== Culture ==
===Tourism and recreation===
[[Image:Hot Air Balloons , Albuquerque , Ektachrome by Scott Williams.jpg|thumb|right|Balloons at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.]]
Albuquerque contains a variety of museums, shops and other points of interest. Some of these include the [[Albuquerque Biological Park]] and [[Old Town Albuquerque]].
The city hosts the annual [[New Mexico State Fair]] for 17 days in September at [[Expo New Mexico]], formerly the New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
Albuquerque also has the largest [[hot air balloon]] gathering in the world. It is called the [[Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta]] and it is held during early October. It was started in 1972 with 13 balloons. It progressed and in 2000 there were a record 1000 balloons that attended and lifted off in a mass ascension. Since 2000 the officials keep it to no more than 700 registered balloons for safety, and it is the most photographed event in the world.<ref>[ www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/features/balloonfiesta/tips_main.html]</ref>
Old town contains numerous shops and restaurants as well as a ghost tour performed by the Southwest Ghosthunters Association.
The city is also home to the annual Gathering of Nations [[Pow-wow|Pow-Wow]], an international event featuring over 3,000 indigenous [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] dancers and singers representing more than 500 tribes from Canada, México and the United States. Dancers and singers participate socially and competitively at the event, held in April.
The Sandia Mountains to the East offer interesting and varied rock climbing. Climbs from one to 10 pitches can be found at all ability levels.
The [[Sandia Peak Tramway]], located adjacent to Albuquerque is the world's longest passenger aerial tramway. It also has the world's third longest single span. It stretches from the Northeast edge of the city to the crestline of the Sandia Mountains.
Albuquerque also annually hosts [[Bubonicon]] which is among the largest Science Fiction conventions in the South West.
{{further|[[List of points of interest in Albuquerque]], [[List of historic landmarks in Albuquerque]]}}
===Sports===
[[Image:Isotopes Park Front.jpg|left|thumb|Isotopes Park]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Venue
!Capacity
|-
|[[Albuquerque Isotopes]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[Pacific Coast League|AAA PCL]]
|[[Isotopes Park]]
|12,050
|-
|[[Albuquerque Thunderbirds]]
|[[Basketball]]
|[[NBA D-League]]
|[[Tingley Coliseum]]
|11,200
|-
|[[New Mexico Scorpions]]
|[[Ice Hockey|AA Minor League Ice Hockey]]
|[[Central Hockey League|CHL]]
|[[Santa Ana Star Center]]
|8,000
|-
|[[New Mexico Wildcats]]
|[[Indoor football]]
|[[American Indoor Football Association|AIFA]]
|[[Santa Ana Star Center]]
|7,500
|-
|[[New Mexico Lobos football|University of New Mexico Lobos]]
|[[NCAA Football|NCAA Division I Football]]
|[[Mountain West Conference]]
|[[University Stadium, Albuquerque|University Stadium]]
|41,000
|-
|[[New Mexico Lobos basketball|University of New Mexico Lobos]]
|[[NCAA Basketball|NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball]]
|[[Mountain West Conference]]
|[[University Arena]](also known as The Pit)
|18,018
|}
===Media===
{{further|[[Media in Albuquerque, New Mexico]]}}
Albuquerque is a media hub for much of [[New Mexico]]. The city is served by one major newspaper, the [[Albuquerque Journal]]. Albuquerque is also home to several radio and television stations that serve the metropolitan area.
====Notable people====
For a list of notable people see: ''[[List of famous people from Albuquerque]]''
==Demographics==
{{USCensusPop
|1890=3785
|1900= 6238
|1910=11020
|1920=15157
|1930=26570
|1940=35449
|1950=96815
|1960=201189
|1970=244501
|1980=332920
|1990=384736
|2000=448607
|estimate=518271
|estyear=2007
|estref= <ref name="Census PopEst over 100,000 2007" />
|footnote=Sources: 1890-1990<ref>{{cite book
|title=Population and Housing Unit Counts
|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-1-1.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2008-07-03
|series=1990 Census of Population and Housing
|volume=CPH-2-1
|publisher= U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
|pages=593–594
|chapter=Table 46. Population Rank of Incorporated Places of 100,000 Population or More, 1990; Population, 1790 to 1990; Housing Units: 1940 to 1990}}
</ref>, 2000<ref name="ABQ 2006 pop">
{{cite web
|url= http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-35.csv
|title= Population Estimates for All Places: 2000 to 2006
|accessdate= 2008-06-24
|date= 2007-06-29
|publisher= US Census Bureau, Population Division
}}
</ref>
}}
===Census 2000 data===
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 448,607 people, 183,236 households, and 112,690 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,483.4 people per square mile (958.9/km²). There were 198,465 housing units at an average density of 1,098.7/sq mi (424.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.59% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 3.89% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.24% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.10% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 14.78% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.31% Multiracial (from two or more races). 39.92% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.
There were 183,236 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,272, and the median income for a family was $46,979. Males had a median income of $34,208 versus $26,397 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,884. About 10.0% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
===2007 estimates===
Albuquerque and the Albuquerque [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]'s July 1, 2007 populations were estimated at 518,271 and 835,120 respectively by the [[United States Census Bureau]]'s Population Estimates Program. <ref name="Census PopEst over 100,000 2007" /> <ref name="Census PopEst MSA 2007" />
== Educational institutions ==
[[Image:UNM, Mesa Vista Hall.jpg|right|thumb|University of New Mexico]]
The city is home to [[University of New Mexico]], one of the two large state universities in New Mexico. UNM includes a School of Medicine which was ranked in the top 50 primary care-oriented medical schools in the country <ref>{{cite web |url=http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/med/brief/mdprank_brief.php |title=America's Best Graduate Schools 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-19 |format= |work= }}</ref>. Albuquerque is also home to the [[National American University]], [[Trinity Southwest University]], and the [[University of St. Francis]] College of Nursing and Allied Health Department of Physician Assistant Studies. The [[Central New Mexico Community College]] serves most of the area, as do several technical schools including [[ITT Technical Institute]] and the [[University of Phoenix]]. Furthermore, [[The Art Center Design College]] offers bachelor's degrees in Graphic and Interior Design, animation, illustration, Photography as well as several other disciplines.
[[Albuquerque Public Schools]], one of the largest [[school districts]] in the nation, provides educational services to over 87,000 children across the city.
{{Further|[[List of middle schools in Albuquerque]], [[List of high schools in Albuquerque]], [[List of colleges and universities in Albuquerque]]}}
== Transportation ==
[[Image:PaseoDelNorte.JPG|thumb|A drive on Paseo Del Norte, one of the city's busiest roads, running East and West.]]
===Highways===
*[[Interstate 25]] - Pan American Freeway
*[[Interstate 40]] - Coronado Freeway
=== Roads ===
Many of the roads have undergone recent rehabilitation projects. Numerous intersections of the city have been outfitted with red-light cameras to issue fines for running red-lights as well as speeding.
=== Mass transit ===
[[ABQ RIDE]] is the local transit agency in Albuquerque. ABQ RIDE operates a variety of city bus routes, including the [[Rapid Ride]] [[BRT]] route.
=== Rail ===
The city has recently incorporated a [[commuter rail]] line that serves the region. The [[New Mexico Rail Runner Express]] system began operation in July 2006 on existing [[BNSF Railway]]. Stops are open serving [[Sandoval County]], [[Bernalillo, New Mexico|Bernalillo]], Los Ranchos de Albuquerque and the North Valley, downtown Albuquerque, Albuquerque's airport and the South Valley, [[Los Lunas]], Sandia Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo and [[Belen, New Mexico|Belen]]. A major expansion to [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]] is currently under construction, and is estimated to be complete and in service by the end of 2008.<ref>[http://www.nmrailrunner.com/service_to_santa_fe.asp Project Plans, Service to Santa Fe: The Alternatives Report - New Mexico Rail Runner Express<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Amtrak]]'s [[Southwest Chief]], which travels between [[Chicago]] and [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], also serves the Albuquerque area.
=== Airports ===
Albuquerque is served by two airports, the larger of which is [[Albuquerque International Sunport]]. It is located 3 miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district (CBD) of Albuquerque.
[[Double Eagle II Airport]] is the other airport. It is primarily used as an [[Air ambulance]], corporate flight, military flight, training flight, [[charter flight]], and private flight facility.
==Sister cities==
Albuquerque has nine [[town twinning|sister cities]], as designated by [http://www.sister-cities.org/ Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI)]:
{|
| valign="top" |
* {{flagicon|Spain}} - [[Alburquerque, Badajoz|Alburquerque]], [[Spain]]
* {{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} - [[Aşgabat]], [[Turkmenistan]]
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} - [[Chihuahua, Chihuahua|Chihuahua]], [[Chihuahua]], [[Mexico]]
* {{flagicon|Spain}} - [[Gijón]],[[Spain]]
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} - [[Guadalajara, Jalisco|Guadalajara]], [[Jalisco]], [[Mexico]]
| valign="top" |
* {{flagicon|Germany}} - [[Helmstedt]], [[Germany]]
* {{flagicon|Taiwan}} - [[Hualien]], [[Republic of China|Taiwan]]
* {{flagicon|China}} - [[Lanzhou]], [[People's Republic of China|China]]
* {{flagicon|Japan}} - [[Sasebo, Nagasaki|Sasebo]], [[Japan]]
|}
== Cultural influence ==
*''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode ''[[Hungry Hungry Homer]]'' [[Springfield Isotopes]] baseball team relocating to Albuquerque. [[Albuquerque Isotopes]].<ref>{{cite news
| title = Doh! Go Isotopes!
| work = [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]
| publisher = [[Hearst Corporation]]
| page = C8
| date = [[2003-05-13]]
| accessdate =2007-06-11
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| first = Dennis
| last = Latta
| title = Team President Throws Isotopes Name Into Play
| work = [[Albuquerque Journal]]
| publisher = Albuquerque Publishing Company
| page = A1
| date = [[2002-09-05]]
| accessdate = 2007-06-11
}}</ref>
*In another episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', titled ''[[E Pluribus Wiggum]]'', Krusty states that the presidential candidates have more hot air than the [[Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta]].
*In [[Bugs Bunny]] shorts where Bugs is travelling underground and does not end up where he thought he was going, while consulting a map, he would often say, "I knew I should've taken a left turn at Albuquerque."
*[["Weird Al" Yankovic]] wrote a song for his ''[[Running with Scissors]]'' album called [[Albuquerque (song)|Albuquerque]].
*The Hit Disney Channel Original Movies ''[[High School Musical]]'' and ''[[High School Musical 2]]'' are both set in Albuquerque. The teenagers attend the fictitious East High School. Neither of the films was shot in Albuquerque.
*In ''[[Little Miss Sunshine]]'', the family travel from Albuquerque to the pageant.
*[[Neil Young]] wrote a song called "Albuquerque" for his album ''[[Tonight's the Night (album)|Tonight's the Night]]'' from 1975.
*The Partridge Family had a song called "Point Me In the Direction of Albuquerque" that was played in one of the episodes of the show.
*[[Ethel Mertz]], a fictional character played by [[Vivian Vance]] in the 1950s sitcom ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', is from Albuquerque, which is featured in the episode "Ethel's Hometown." Vance, like her character, hails from Albuquerque.
*[[Prefab Sprout]] mention Alburquerque in the chorus of their song [[The King Of Rock 'N' Roll]].
*Albuquerque has an active live music scene.
*[[Avant-Garde]] musician [[Frank Zappa]] in his song "The Jazz Discharge Party Hats" tells a story set in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
*The show [[Breaking Bad]](2008) on [[AMC (TV network)|AMC]] was filmed and takes place in and around Albuquerque.
*[[Johnny Cash]] was wanted in Albuquerque, at least in the song "Wanted Man" he wrote with [[Bob Dylan]]
*The USA Show [[In Plain Sight]] takes place in Albuquerque, and prominently features many local landmarks.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Albuquerque, New Mexico}}
* [http://www.cabq.gov/ Official government website]
* [http://www.itsatrip.org/ Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.abqchamber.com/ Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.comevisitalbuquerque.com/ Business Directory Albuquerque]
* [http://www.dukecityfix.com/ Duke City Fix, Albuquerque's biggest cityblog]
* [http://www.virtualalbuquerque.com/ A Virtual Tour of Albuquerque, NM]
* [http://explorealbuquerque.com/ The Official City Portal of Albuquerque, NM]
* [http://albuquerque.dexknows.com/ Albuquerque City Guide and Local Phone Book]
* [http://www.abqartists.com/central-art-galleries.html City Art Galleries]
* {{wikitravel|Albuquerque}}
* [http://www.abqstyle.com/ Albuquerque Photos and Travel Tips]
* [http://www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us/ City of Rio Rancho Home]
* [http://www.rredc.org/ RREDC - Collects statistical data on Rio Rancho]
* [http://www.knme.org/ KNME Public Media's documentary film, ''Villa de Albuquerque'']
* [http://www.knme.org/ KNME Public Media's documentary film, ''The Sandias'']
* [http://www.albuquerqueoldtown.com/ Albuquerque's Old Town]
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|35.110703|-106.609991}}
{{Albuquerque}}
{{Bernalillo County, New Mexico}}
{{New Mexico}}
{{USLargestCities}}
[[Category:Settlements established in 1706]]
[[Category:Albuquerque, New Mexico| ]]
[[Category:Cities in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Communities on U.S. Route 66]]
[[Category:County seats in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Albuquerque metropolitan area]]
[[ar:ألباكركي، نيومكسيكو]]
[[ast:Albuquerque, Nuevu Méxicu]]
[[bs:Albuquerque]]
[[bg:Албакърки]]
[[ca:Albuquerque]]
[[cs:Albuquerque (Nové Mexiko)]]
[[da:Albuquerque]]
[[de:Albuquerque]]
[[nv:Bee’eldííl Dahsinil]]
[[es:Albuquerque]]
[[eo:Albuquerque (Nov-Meksiko)]]
[[fa:آلبوکرکی]]
[[fr:Albuquerque]]
[[gl:Albuquerque, Novo México]]
[[ko:앨버커키]]
[[hr:Albuquerque, Novi Meksiko]]
[[id:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[ia:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[it:Albuquerque]]
[[he:אלבקרקי]]
[[pam:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[ka:ალბუკერკე]]
[[sw:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[lt:Albukerkė]]
[[hu:Albuquerque]]
[[ms:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[nl:Albuquerque]]
[[ja:アルバカーキ]]
[[no:Albuquerque]]
[[pl:Albuquerque (Nowy Meksyk)]]
[[pt:Albuquerque]]
[[ro:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[ru:Альбукерке]]
[[simple:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[sk:Albuquerque]]
[[sl:Albuquerque, Nova Mehika]]
[[sr:Албукерки]]
[[fi:Albuquerque]]
[[sv:Albuquerque]]
[[ta:ஆல்புகெர்க்கி (நியூ மெக்சிகோ)]]
[[vi:Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
[[tr:Albuquerque]]
[[vo:Albuquerque]]
[[zh:阿布奎基 (新墨西哥州)]]