Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico and one of the oldest in the country. Its 181 square miles are also at one of the highest elevations in the region. Its origins are a mixture from the original population by the Pueblo Indians, to the Spanish in the 16th century and the Mexicans in the 1800s. Albuquerque is a center of culture and industry and the influence of this eclectic history is evident in its restaurants, shopping, and vibrant art scene. Situated around the Rio Grande, the city of Albuquerque is the 57th largest metropolis in the country. Between the river that runs through the center of the city, the Chihuahua desert to the south, and the Sandia Mountains to the north, there is plenty to do in a climate that is conducive to active sightseeing as well as convalescing seniors. The golf courses are among the best in the Southwest and there is hiking, biking and boating throughout the area to help visitors enjoy and experience the scenery. The sun shines ¾ of the year. The economy is strongly focused on the technology industry and jobs are plentiful in both the private and government industries. The expansive ecosystem of the region has lead to many green movements in the area and a real appreciation for the environment. The solar industry has some of its largest labs in the Albuquerque area and innovations are constant.
The Spanish founded Albuquerque as a colonial outpost in 1706. They had actually arrived in the area in the 1500s to settle near the Rio Grande and enjoy its bounty. However, long before that the Pueblo people, Native Americans, lived in the area and remnants of their advanced masonry and stone crafting is still in the area today, both in the ancient architecture and hidden among the mountains. They clashed with the Spanish until they fled the area, until the late 1690s when a peace was brokered by the Spaniards.
The city's first formal organization came when it was turned into the Spanish garrison. After 1821, the Mexicans had a military garrison there as well. The layout of the town showed its Hispanic roots, a plaza surrounded by government buildings and then market and then residential areas. That original plaza is still in existence as a protected site and museum. “The placita” (little plaza in Spanish) is a must see for visitors who want some insight into the city's origins. The Spanish influence is also seen in the adobe churches they built when they first occupied the area. New Mexico officially became part of the United States in 1912, and Albuquerque is one of the only cities in the country to reach 300 years, celebrating its tri-centennial in 2006.
Wherever you live in the city, access to amazing natural landscapes and adventures is only minutes away. Both a large part of the industry and social culture is based on the amount of natural resources and a common respect and concern for the environment. As recently as 2006, it was related among the top areas for living and working in the country. There is a part of the region for anyone, from the active outdoor areas in the gorgeous foothills of the Sandia Mountains, to the University of Mexico campus and the charm of the pueblos in Uptown. The cuisine varies as well and the heavy Spanish and Mexican influences can be seen everywhere.
Albuquerque was named one of the smartest cities in the country with a large portion of the population having college and graduate degrees. The intellectual pursuits range from the Art Design College to a number of centers for technological and nuclear design. Rents are among the lowest in the country and apartment living is described as very user-friendly. It's also a top city for dog owners, determined by MSNBC based on pet-friendly apartments, boarding, dog parks, and recreational parks that allow visitors to bring their dogs. The cost of living is low and the cost of entertainment is low enough for visitors on a budget, students at the University of New Mexico, and resort guests as well. Residents like the easy mix of cultures. You can leave a technological center in a high-rise building and walk a block or two and find a Native American making traditional silver jewelry. It's a testament to the city; the feel of a small town with the success of a big city and the access to all of the different eco-options of the surrounding area.
Forbes ranked Albuquerque first in the country for business and careers in 2006 and it held strong at 13th in 2008.The recession has hit everywhere, but in Albuquerque, the economy and job atmosphere has stayed fairly solid.
Much of this success is because of the technological industry being so prominent in the area. Between the tech, the solar industry, Northrop Grumman, and recently TempurPedic, the job market stays reliable and solid. As a government research center, Sandia National Laboratories is a steady job source for the area. The region's weather also lends it to the medical services field and both medical and recreational visitors support a thriving hospitality industry and a constant provider of jobs. Starting a business in Albuquerque is always attractive because of the low cost of living and the smart and educated local resident. New Mexico as a whole has a number of programs to give breaks to entrepreneurial pursuits and Albuquerque itself has the Albuquerque Economic Development group which is a non-profit recruiting business to the region. It offers startup and ongoing support. The tech industry also has several non-profits of its own to help bring new businesses to the technological research corridor of which Albuquerque is the center.
All of the Southwest is distinctly flavored by its proximity to the Mexican border. In Albuquerque, it has fused with the local Native American cuisine to make a regional taste that is unparalleled. Almost everything is served with corn, blue tortillas, and chilies, red, green or “Christmas,” for the brave diner willing to try both. Head to the placita for some authentic Spanish or Mexican fare, or to the Pueblo Center to sample the Native American cuisine in its truest form. The city also has all levels of dining in pizza, Italian, Greek, barbecue, vegetarian and anything else you might want.
The Spanish started their own wineries in Albuquerque at the banks of the Rio Grande. The oldest wine making region in the country is still thriving, and local restaurants offer a wide selection for people who don't plan on heading out for a tasting of the native wines.
There is a vivid art scene in Albuquerque. The museums and historical spots across the city and region alone could fill a vacation schedule for weeks. The placita and the blocks around it have many historical buildings and museums that explain the history of the area and show the original architecture, sometimes reconstructed, but often real conserved structures and artwork from today's predecessors. There are always regional arts festivals, Native American events that embody the dances and music of the past.
A short trip out of the city proper takes a visitor to some of the most amazing portraits of the past in the cliff dwellings. The stories told in their art, the petroglyphs are a look into the past not seen in many other cultures firsthand. American Style also named Albuquerque one of the top ten cities for the arts in the country. The National Institute of Flamenco, a winning poetry slam team, performances at the University of Mexico's theater, and the legendary KiMo Theater all combine to give the city a diverse and thriving art scene that is fascinating to residents and visitors alike.
In addition to all of the museums and original buildings in the placita, the petroglyphs, and the cliff dwellings, Albuquerque is full of sights to see. One of the most renowned is Historic Route 66. The old Route 66 still cuts through Albuquerque, now known as Central Avenue. The old shops, restaurants, and hotels along the way still light their neon signs and carry fun stories and touristy specials and memorabilia. There's even a Route 66 Tour to take you to all the highlights.
One of the great ways to see the sights and landscape of Albuquerque is in a hot air balloon. Albuquerque is known by many as the Hot Air Balloon capital of the world. With its year-round optimal ballooning conditions, it is the perfect home for the International Balloon Fiesta, the largest of its kind and one of the most photographed events of every year. There are plenty of guides to take visitors up and let them experience the magnificence of the land of and around Albuquerque in a way they will never forget. Tours will even point out the historical landmarks surrounded by the beautiful natural phenomena so guests can get a full picture of the past and present of the area.
The Albuquerque nightlife is renowned for several different indigenous scenes. First, there is the super trendy Southwestern music scene that divulges itself in live music seven nights a week. The vibrant theater and arts niche adds performances every night in dance, poetry, folk, theater, and film throughout the city. Downtown and Nob Hill rock with clubs, brew pubs, wine and cigar bars, and hipster hangouts that have a mix of locals, tourists, and business travelers.
The jewels of the area are the bright and loud casinos that mirror a smaller and cooler Las Vegas under the stars in the suburbs of Albuquerque. Four casinos are within a half hour drive from the center of downtown. The new Hard Rock Casino is between the airport and downtown and promises to bring large tours and acts to the area.
Shopping reflects the cultural mixture of the city. In Old Town near the placita, you can shop from Native American crafts in the east side, which include hand-woven rugs, silver jewelry, beautiful, and useful pottery.
Along Route 66/Central Avenue the shopping is versatile. The antique district has a mixture of shops and even a mall all offering slightly used older jewels. A few blocks west in Nob Hill, a very cool variety of retail has something for every shopper. A strip of mostly privately owned unique boutiques, there are authentic local wares like pottery and jewelry and a sampling from Albuquerque's other aspect, the Wild West of which is was an extended part. There are also hipster shops for the funky clothes shopper and the locals plus places to buy the perfect souvenirs to take home. There are several malls in the outlying towns with all of the usual upscale shops for the serious shopper.
The weather in Albuquerque has long been known to be beneficial to people with respiratory problems. There is a whole industry built around it and many excellent and progressive health centers have opened in the area. Staying healthy in Albuquerque is easy as long as you like beautiful landscapes and fresh clean air. It's one of the only places where on any given day you could ski and bike and canoe. With the meeting of the desert, the lushness from the Rio Grande, and the mountains, the outside activities are endless and Albuquerque is known for its fit and active inhabitants. The high altitude is also optimal for distance bikers, runners, and triathletes.
It's also home to the best golf courses in the Southwest and spas that cater to whatever activity level you want on your trip. The naturally heated mineral springs have drawn visitors for centuries and they are incorporated into the luxurious spas that also use other local items in their treatments like clay, cornmeal, and sage.
All major national chains are represented in downtown Albuquerque from Days Inn to Hyatt. Albuquerque is known for having among the lowest hotel rates in the country, notwithstanding the thriving local tourist and business travel industries. There are extended stay hotels downtown and bed and breakfasts in old colonial mansions or preserved adobe huts. Visitors can wake up thinking they are in another time with the cool clay walls or western landscapes on the walls, then head down to the dining room and sample the homemade versions of local classics.
To get a real taste of local lifestyle, you can stay on a working ranch, where one rate gets you down-home cooking and a comfortable home style place to stay after you spend the day riding horses and rounding up the herd to help the real cowboys. Or go the opposite direction and stay at a full service resort and spa like Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. Or take in the golfing by day and gaming by night at the golf resort and casino in the Hilton at Buffalo Thunder where the amenities also include a full spa indoor/outdoor and fine dining restaurants and health clubs.
The public school system in Albuquerque, New Mexico is in the top 40 of the largest school districts in the US. The districts include 80 elementary schools, 26 middle schools, and 11 high schools; there are ten other schools in the district both Charter and Christian Academies. Of the schools in the Albuquerque school districts 70 of them are private schools. There are publicly funded charter schools available in the area for parents who want to go that route. The districts pay close attention to their students, and makes sure that they are staying the course for a bright future. There are options for parents who wish to home school their children as well. The school system supplies the tools for parents to successfully help their children with independent studies.
The University of New Mexico is the largest learning facility in New Mexico. It has five branches off of its Albuquerque base. The school is fortunate to bring in over 20,000 students each semester. This University is centered a lot on medical courses, and Latin American studies. An interesting program they have to offer is Flamenco Dancing! If you want to go to a college with lots of different cultures then this is the college for you! Other colleges located in Albuquerque are the Metropolitan College of Court Reporting, a branch of ITT Technical Institute, the Technical – Vocational Institute, and the National American University. The Technical Vocational Institute is the largest community college in New Mexico, and offers both degrees in the liberal arts and occupational studies. Other colleges that are noteworthy in the area are the University Of New Mexico School Of Law, and the University of Phoenix. The colleges pull in students from across the country. New Mexico is really starting to get out there advertising their schools, so there will probably be more coming to the area.
The town of Albuquerque, New Mexico has a lot of modes of transportation to choose from. The town has a major Greyhound Bus Station. Another major station located in Albuquerque is the Amtrak Station. There are a couple of different public transit systems. There is the Suntran Bus System, and the Sunport Shuttle. A good thing about the Sunport Shuttle is that it has 24 hour customer service so there is always someone available to talk to for information. ABQ is the of the main public bus system in the city. It can be used daily and has both curb to curb service, and an express route.
The New Mexico Rail Runner has twelve separate stations. These train stations have free parking and bike racks. They are meant to be very commuter friendly. They are an active part in the community and often team up with businesses for promotions. Casino Tours and Custom Tours are just two of the companies who provide exciting packages for visitors. They can take a tour of Casinos, or take a golf trip for just the guys. The Albuquerque Airport Shuttle is available to take passengers to their hotel and back. It is nice when you land in a new area to be able to instantly have transportation to where you are staying. There are taxis readily available for public use, as well as a bus that makes stops every 15 minutes throughout town. These are in addition to all the other buses ran by the city and the Metro. With so many choices to get out and see the sites of Albuquerque, there are no excuses not to see the beautiful town.
Albuquerque has a great range of helpful services provided by the mayor's office and local government offices. If you need information or action, do not hesitate to get in touch with them. To find all of the information available regarding local government services, you should visit the official website at www.cabq.gov. Albuquerque aims to be a friendly city so the local government officials are there for you, providing essential services and keeping the city clean and safe. They ensure the smooth running of the fire, police and court services, alongside all of the utility departments.
There are many services for the business community and the city is now running a business partnership program which promotes integration of transportation among Albuquerque businesses, employees, and their customers. For up-to-the-minute information on commuting, the City can keep you in touch with the latest updates on the Rail Runner Express. The City uses all types of media to keep you informed, including its own public service TV station, Channel 16. For visitors, help is also available from the Albuquerque Convention and Visitor's Bureau in finding out about venues and attractions. You can contact City Hall if you need information on the Balloon Fiesta, the air quality in the city, transport route disruption, the availability of attractions such as KiMo Theater, and even the status of public projects.
The Albuquerque Mayor's offices are located at City-County Building, 11th floor, One Civic Plaza, NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102. If you need help from any number of other services then contact them at City Hall, 400 Marquette Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. You can be a part of Albuquerque's outstanding operations team by attending City Council meetings at the Vincent E. Griego Chambers at the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center. Any member of the community can come before the City Council and put their points to the elected members. There is a special section at each meeting for the general public to make their comments; so come along and help make Albuquerque a beautiful place to live.
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