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11/12/2024 11:13:36 PM
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Albuquerque

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

The city with the highest population in the U.S. state of New Mexico is Albuquerque. The Duke City and Burque, two of its nicknames, refer to the city's establishment as La Villa de Alburquerque by Nuevo México governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés in 1706. The city, which bears the Viceroy of New Spain's Viceroy's name, was an outpost on El Camino Real that connected Mexico City to the northernmost provinces of New Spain. It was named after the 10th Duke of Alburquerque. 

The city is situated in the Albuquerque Basin and is bordered by the Sandia Mountains to the east and the West Mesa to the west. The Rio Grande and a bosque flow north to south through the city. Albuquerque ranked 32nd in terms of population in the United States and fourth in the Southwest after the 2020 census, which revealed that there were 564,559 people living there. As of July 2020, there were 916,528 people living in the Albuquerque metropolitan area, which is a component of the larger Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas combined statistical area, which had 1,162,523 people living there as of January 2020. 

Technology, media, historical sites, and the fine arts are all centered in Albuquerque. The University of New Mexico, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the Gathering of Nations, and the New Mexico State Fair are some of the city's well-known attractions. The city is also renowned for its diversified restaurant scene, which serves both New Mexican and international food. 

 

Geography 

Albuquerque, which is situated in north-central New Mexico, serves as Bernalillo County's County seat. The Sandia-Manzano Mountains are to its east, the Rio Grande flows through the middle, and the West Mesa and Petroglyph National Monument make up the western portion of the city. With heights ranging from 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above sea level along the Rio Grande to approximately 6,700 feet (2,000 m) in the foothill regions of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills, Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any large city in the United States. The Sandia Mountains crest, at a height of 10,678 feet, is the highest point in the metropolitan area, and is where the municipal apex is located. It is located in an undeveloped portion of the Albuquerque Open Space (3,255 m). 

Albuquerque has a total area of 189.5 square miles (490.9 km2), of which 187.7 square miles (486.2 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), or 0.96%, is water, according to the United States Census Bureau. 

Albuquerque is located in the Albuquerque Basin ecoregion, which is focused on the Rio Grande and features the Bosque gallery forest. To the east and west of Albuquerque are the Sandia-Manzano Mountains and the West Mesa, respectively. Located in central New Mexico, the city is also strongly influenced by the nearby Colorado Plateau semi-desert, the New Mexico Mountains covered in juniper and pine, and, depending on where one is located, the Southwest plateaus and plains steppe ecoregions. 

 

Climate 

According to one implementation of the Köppen climatic classification system, Albuquerque has a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). The Biota of North America Program and Terrestrial Ecosystems—Isobioclimates of the Conterminous United States, which use datasets and mapping technology from the PRISM Climate Group, classify its climate as semi-desert warm temperate. 

Depending on the approach used, Albuquerque is situated at the intersection of a number of ecoregions. The Arizona/New Mexico Mountains ecoregion defines the nearby Sandia-Manzano mountains, including the foothills in the eastern edges of the city proper east of roughly Juan Tabo Boulevard, where the city is situated, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Although the city is located at the point where the Chihuahuan Desert transitions into the Colorado Plateau, much of Albuquerque's western region, particularly the desert grassland and sand scrub plant communities, is more like the Chihuahuan Desert in terms of aridity, temperature, and natural vegetation. 

The Southwestern Tablelands, which are occasionally thought of as a southern extension of the central high plains and northeast New Mexico highlands, are located in the eastern portions of the Greater Albuquerque Area, also known as the East Mountain Area. The Southern Rockies ecoregion in the Jemez Mountains is to the north. 

The average annual precipitation, which supports an arid environment, is less than half that of evaporation, and no month's mean daily temperature falls below freezing. Compared to regions of the country more north or farther south, the climate is rather mild. However, because to the city's high elevation, winter lows frequently fall below freezing. Daily temperature differentials are affected by the geography and height differences within the city and in the surrounding areas. The coldest months, December and January, have daily average temperatures of 36.9 °F (2.7 °C) and 37.4 °F (3.0 °C), respectively, that are above freezing. 

The weather in Albuquerque is often dry and sunny, with 3,415 sunlight hours on average every year. Averaging 278 days of brilliant sunshine each year, the area is characterized by intervals of variable mid- and high-level cloudiness that temper the sun, mainly in the cooler months. Rarely can prolonged cloudiness linger for more than two or three days 

Winter is typically characterized by cool days and cold nights, with the exception of the time immediately after the passage of the strongest cold fronts and arctic airmasses, when daytime temperatures remain below average. In the city, overnight lows typically occur between 10 pm and 8 am, with the exception of colder airmasses, colder spots of the valley, and the majority of the East Mountain areas. The median or usual coolest temperature of the year is 12 °F (11 °C), while the average or mean is roughly 11 °F (12 °C). December has the lowest average temperature of the year, which is 36.9 °F (2.7 °C). A long-term average of 93 days each year dip to or below freezing, with two days failing to rise above freezing, making daily low temperatures throughout much of late December, January, and February typically below freezing. As the weather started to warm up late in the winter, winds were more prevalent in March. 

Although spring is often the driest season of the year in Albuquerque, spring can be windy and occasionally unsettling with rain. Many days between 20 and 30 mph (32 to 48 km/h) of wind are typical in late March and early April, and afternoon gusts can occasionally result in spells of sand and dust blowing. The winds usually start to die down in May as temperatures and an airmass resembling summer start to appear more frequently. In June, the trend of warming and drying is still present. Temperatures can get beyond 100 °F (38 °C) by mid-June. 

The majority of people can tolerate the long, scorching summers since there is little humidity and air circulation. The New Mexico monsoon is an outlier, with certain days having quite high daily humidity, especially in July and August. Average annual high temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) or higher occur on 2.6 days, usually in June and July and infrequently in August due in part to the monsoon season; average annual low temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher occur on 64 days on average. Despite the rarity of such heat, the Sunport in Albuquerque experienced 28 days with highs of at least 100 °F (38 °C). The monsoon begins to wane around September. Every summer, more high temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C) and 100 °F (38 °C) are recorded in the valley and at certain West Mesa areas. 

Although there is typically less rain in the fall than there is in the summer, the weather can become more unpredictable as winter approaches because colder airmasses and weather patterns tend to creep in more frequently from the north and northwest. Rarely will it snow in late November, although occasionally it will in late autumn in December. 

The annual average precipitation is 8.84 inches (225 mm). Due to shower and thunderstorm activity brought on by the monsoon that is prominent throughout the Southwestern United States, January is often the driest month while July and August are the wettest. The late summer monsoon season, which normally lasts from early June to mid-September, is when it rains the most. 

The average annual snowfall in Albuquerque is 7.9 inches (20 cm), yet the city regularly gets many accumulating snow events. Because of their higher elevations and closer proximity to mountains, the Northeast Heights and Eastern Foothills typically experience more snowfall than other areas of the city. On December 28–30, 2006, the city was one of many in the area to experience a major winter storm; Albuquerque saw snowfall of between 10.5 and 26 inches (27 and 66 cm) in some areas. More recently, in late February 2015, the city received up to a foot (30 cm) of snow from a significant winter storm. Since they are so uncommon during the time on record, these huge snowfalls have a significant negative impact on both the workforce and traffic flow. 

The Sandia Mountain foothills have a tendency to raise any available moisture, increasing precipitation to roughly 10-17 inches (254-432 mm) each year. The mountains and highlands east of the city produce a rain shadow effect because of the drying of air descending the mountains. When leaving Albuquerque's valley and heading west, north, or east, one immediately gains elevation and enters a markedly cooler and slightly wetter environment. One such location, generally known as the East Mountain area, is included in the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area and is covered in juniper and pion tree woodlands, a characteristic of the southwestern uplands and the southernmost Rocky Mountains. 

 

Religion 

Christians make up the bulk of Albuquerque's population. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe, whose administrative center is located in Albuquerque, serves Catholics. This is in keeping with the city's long history as a Spanish and Mexican city. The second largest group is made up of many different Christian denominations, including the Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Following Latter Day Saints, Pentecostals, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Episcopalians as the three largest Christian groups are Baptists. 

The oldest Jewish institution still in existence in New Mexico is Congregation Albert, a Reform synagogue founded in 1897, and Judaism is the second-largest non-Christian faith in Albuquerque. With an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 members, or 85% of the state's Muslim population, Islam is the second-largest minority religion. The largest mosque in Albuquerque, the Islamic Center of New Mexico, hosts daily prayers and events for both Muslims and non-Muslims. 

Together, eastern religions including Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism make up the largest religious category. The city's Sikh community is served by the Albuquerque Sikh Gurudwara and Guru Nanak Gurdwara Albuquerque, while the primary Hindu institutions are the Hindu Temple Society of New Mexico and Gayatri Temple. In the city, there are many Buddhist temples and institutes that represent various movements and schools, including Zen and Soka Gakki. 

 

Sports 

The Springfield Isotopes baseball team considers moving to Albuquerque in The Simpsons season 12 episode "Hungry, Hungry Homer," which is where the Albuquerque Isotopes got their name. The Springfield Isotopes are a minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The USL New Mexico, with its headquarters in Albuquerque, was named as the United Soccer League's newest expansion team on June 6, 2018. Brenda Burnside, Bob Foster, and Johnny Tapia, three legendary boxers, all called Albuquerque home before the Jackson Wink MMA training facility was established there. In that facility, fighters and world champions in the MMA, such Holly Holm and Jon Jones, train. With Sun Country Golf House, the PGA of America offers golf tournaments in Albuquerque, including the Sun Country PGA Championship and the New Mexico Open, both of which have previously taken place in the metro area. Albuquerque is becoming a hub for roller sports, having hosted the USARS Championships in 2015 and being home to teams for both roller hockey and roller derby. 

The former Albuquerque Dukes minor league baseball team still has a sizable fan base despite no longer being actively playing, and the Major League Baseball management is aware of this. The Duke mascot continues to be a symbol of the community, and The Isotopes occasionally hosts Dukes Retro Night where players dress in Dukes uniforms. 

 

Economic 

The majority of the economic activity in New Mexico occurs in Albuquerque, which is the state's most important economic hub. The city's economy is highly diversified and based on the fields of science, medicine, technology, business, commerce, education, media entertainment, and culture (particularly fine arts); since 2020, the industries that have experienced the strongest growth are construction, film production, and retail trade. 

The Kirtland Air Force Base, the Sandia National Laboratories, private healthcare facilities like the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute and Presbyterian Health Services, academic institutions like the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College, and private corporations are all located in the New Mexico Technology Corridor, which is centered in Albuquerque. Microsoft and MITS both have their original offices in the city. 

Los Alamos, Sandia, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories have collaborated on diverse research in the area since the Manhattan Project in the 1940s; contractors for these facilities bring highly educated personnel and researchers to an otherwise very remote area. In and around Albuquerque, the federal government invests around $4 billion in research and development every year. Steve Baer, a pioneer in solar energy and architectural design, established Zomeworks in the area in the late 1960s. 

There are numerous movie studios in New Mexico, and Netflix has a sizable production facility there. The city is home to a large number of shopping malls and complexes, including ABQ Uptown, Coronado, Cottonwood, Nob Hill, and Winrock. A horse racing track and casino named The Downs Casino and Racetrack is located outside the city borders but is bordered by it, while resort casinos like Sandia Resort, Santa Ana Star, Isleta Resort, and Laguna Pueblo's Route 66 Resort are located in the pueblos surrounding the city. 

In 2006, Albuquerque was named the finest American city for business and careers by Forbes, and in 2008, it was ranked 13th best (out of 200 metro areas). In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked the city sixth among the nation's engineering capitals. In 2009, Albuquerque was named one of the Top 10 Best Cities to Live by U.S. News & World Report, and the TLC network named it the fourth best city for families to live. It was listed by National Geographic Adventure as one of the Top 50 Best Places to Live and Play in 2007 and as one of the Top Best Cities for Jobs. 

 

Population 

The city of Albuquerque is found in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. It is the largest city in New Mexico and the 31st largest city in the United States with a projected population of 570,172 in 2023. Albuquerque's population has grown by 0.99% since the most recent census, which showed that there were 564,559 residents there in 2020, and is currently growing at a rate of 0.33% annually. 3,046 people live in Albuquerque, which spans more than 189 miles and has a high population density. 

Albuquerque has a poverty rate of 19.30% and a $72,265 average household income. The median monthly cost of rent in recent years has been, and the median value of a home is. Albuquerque's median age is 37.1 years, with 35.5 years for men and 38.8 years for women. 

Albuquerque is somewhat remote, and the closest similarly sized city is four hours away. With a metro area population of 903,000, the city proper is estimated to have 558,000 residents. Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Placitas, Los Lunas, Belen, Bosque Farms, and Corrales are all part of the MSA. As a result, it ranks as the 59th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. There are 1.17 million people living in the combined statistical region of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. 

 

Top 2 News Websites 

Albuquerque News 

A standalone website, Albuquerque News, covers local news as well as articles from the surrounding area and outside. also offers updates on the weather, business and financial stories, foreign currency rates, and worldwide headlines. 

KRQE News 13 

Leading news agency KRQE, based in Albuquerque, provides up-to-date news, sports, and precise weather predictions from Albuquerque to locations around the state of New Mexico. 

 

Current City Mayor 

Tim Keller redirected his professional life after a prosperous corporate career to address some of the most pressing challenges in Albuquerque and New Mexico. Tim has continually questioned the status quo and established a track record of having a genuine influence throughout his time in public service, from State Senator for the International District to New Mexico State Auditor to Mayor of Albuquerque. 

Tim was elected again in 2021 after taking office in 2017. Since the city's establishment in 1706, he has been elected as the 82nd mayor and 31st mayor overall. Albuquerque's mayor, Tim, is committed to make the city more secure, progressive, and diverse. 

In his capacity as mayor, Tim established the first-ever Community Safety Department, which is tasked with dispatching trained professionals to non-violent 911 calls, guaranteeing the proper response to calls for mental health, substance use, and homelessness, and freeing up police to concentrate on criminal activity. He oversaw the Police Department's efforts to commemorate victims and provide justice by reducing property crime rates that were among the worst in the country. Under his direction, the City's homeless support system served four times as many individuals and acquired Gibson Health Hub, the largest housing-related investment in city history. Through his efforts, the local economy was modernized and thousands of new employments were created at companies like Facebook, Netflix, NBC Universal, and Amazon. Albuquerque became the top 5 solar cities in America because to his climate change initiatives. The city is also on target to use only renewable energy by 2025. 

Throughout his term, he has centered his leadership on the "One Albuquerque" program for togetherness, a strong push to support locals from all backgrounds. By creating the first offices of Equity and Inclusion, Consumer Protection, Civil Rights, Black Community Engagement, and Native American Affairs, his administration revolutionized the City's social justice initiatives. Tim is a fervent advocate for immigration-friendly policy. 

Tim reacted immediately, using the City's emergency powers to create a safety net for the most vulnerable when the COVID-19 pandemic endangered lives and livelihoods. The city offered senior food delivery, $50 million in small company awards, childcare for 10,000 key workers, and rental help. By speeding $200 million in construction projects and concentrating on historically underrepresented neighborhoods, he proceeded to create a more inclusive City. 

Tim Keller was one of the nation's youngest State Auditors when he was elected in 2014. He established the first Government Accountability Office in the state and was in charge of monitoring the finances of more than 1,000 local governments. He promoted a number of transparency initiatives, including those that unearthed billions in unused infrastructure funding and exposed dishonest behavior by government officials. Tim previously won two elections to the New Mexico State Senate in one of the state's most diverse districts, which included Albuquerque's International District. During his term as majority whip, he achieved the distinction of passing the majority of bills sponsored by both parties. 

Tim worked in the private sector for 15 years, first for Fortune 500 firms and subsequently for tribal governments. He also spent three years living in Cambodia, where he was the founder and CEO of the country's first digital firm that offered living wage jobs to trafficking and landmine survivors. 

Tim Keller, an Eagle Scout and Kellogg Foundation Race Equity Fellow, was born and raised in Albuquerque. He attended the University of Notre Dame after graduating from St. Pius X High School and studied art history there. Later, he graduated with honors from Harvard Business School with an MBA.