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Place Name
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Albuquerque
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Pronunciation
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AL-buh-kuhr-kee
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Place Status (Type)
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city
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Capital Of
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Bernalillo County
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Population
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384,736 (1990)
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Location
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Bernalillo County, New Mexico (NM), United States, North America
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Latitude
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35°07'N
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Longitude
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106°37'W
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Albuquerque
(AL-buh-kuhr-kee), city (1990 pop. 384,736),
 Bernalillo co., N central N.Mex., on the upper Rio Grande;
35°07'N 106°37'W. The largest city in the state, it is an important
commercial, industrial, and transportation center that serves a rich
timber, livestock, and farm area. Mfg. (electronics, consumer goods,
furniture, food and beverage prods., fabricated metal prods.,
machinery, medical equip.). A major employer is the Sandia
Laboratories. Sandia Military Reserve, to SE, has Atomic Mus. (SE of
Kirtland Air Force Base) and is engaged in nuclear research, testing,
and weapons development. Kirtland Air Force Base to SE, home of the air
force special weapons center, is in Albuquerque. The city experienced
rapid growth after World War II and continues to be one of the fastest
growing cities in the U.S.; it attracts many high-technology
industries, such as lasers, data processing, and solar energy. Span.
settlers arrived in the mid-1600s but were repelled (1680) by Native
Americans. The old town was founded in 1706 and named for the viceroy
of New Spain, the duke of Alburquerque. The new town was plotted in
1880 in connection with the RR and grew rapidly, soon enveloping the
old town. Albuquerque is a noted health resort with many hosps. It is
the seat of the Univ. of N. Mex., the Univ. of Albuquerque, and
Albuquerque Technical Vocational Inst. Tourist attractions in and about
the city include the Church of San Felipe de Neri (1706); the
Old Town Plaza and Mus. of Natural History; numerous mus.; the Sandia
mts. to E, with caves that contain remains of some of the oldest
habitations in the Western Hemisphere; and many pueblos. Coronado State
Monument and State Park to N, is an excavated pueblo near which
Coronado camped in 1541. Isleta Indian Reservation to S. Albuquerque
Internatl. Airport in S; State Fairgrounds and Race Track in SE;
Petroglyph Natl. Monument to W; Indian Petroglyph State Park in NW part
of city; Shooting Range State Park to W; Rio Grande Nature Center State
Park and San Gabriel State Park, both on Rio Grande in city; part of
Cibola National Forest to E, includes Sandia Crest
(10,678 ft/3,255 m) to NE; Sandia Aerial Tram,
Sandia Peak Ski Area, and Sandia Recreational Area, all NE; Indian Park
in Cultural Center; Internatl. Balloon Fiesta (hot air balloon site) to
N. Inc. 1890
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