Page Contents for Albuquerque, New Mexico

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The New Mexico state capital is Santa Fe.
The population of Albuquerque is approximately 384,736 (1990), 545852 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 166,870 (1990), 224330 (2010).
The amount of land area in Albuquerque is 342.409 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 1.631 sq kilometers.
The distance from Albuquerque to Washington DC is 1699 miles.
The distance to the New Mexico state capital is 54 miles. (as the crow flies)
Albuquerque is positioned 35.11 degrees north of the equator and 106.62 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Albuquerque elevation is 5,000 feet above sea level.
The average low temperature is 22 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 93 degrees F.

Location

in north-central New Mexico, southwest of Santa Fe.
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History & History Related Items

Albuquerque is a city with a long history. There is evidence that as long as 25,000 years ago, people inhabited this area. Some scientists have estimated the date to be 10,000 years ago. In any case, the area has an old heritage. The Anasazi Indians lived here from 1100 to 1300 A.D. In 1540, the Spanish explorer, Francisco Vasques do Coronado arrived from Mexico. After Coronado left, more Spanish settlers moved here. By the 1600's, the area was called: "Bosque Grande de San Francisco Xavier (A bosque is a forest on the banks of a river or body of water or possibly an area of thick vegetation). In 1706, Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdez asked the Spanish government for permission to establish a villa here. There must be 30 families to do so. There were only 18 at this time, but Cuervo, who was at the time the provisional governor of the territory, knew the plan would help his future. Cuervo planned to name the villa, Alburquerque, after the viceroy Francisco Fernandez de la Cueva, the Duke of Alburquerque. His application was accepted and the city of Alburquerque was formed. The first "r" was dropped from the name supposedly when a sign painter omitted it because he couldn't spell it or just didn't have enough room. There is another theory about the latin spelling of Albuquerque, which means white oak.

In 1846, the U.S. claimed the territory when General Stephen Kearny raised the US flag over the plaza and established an army post here. Albuquerque was briefly part of the civil war when confederate troops occupied for a brief time. In 1880, the railroad came to town. Albuquerque welcomed the new railroad and because of this, the city prospered. The "Old Town" area was established when the railroad opened a new area of town. It wasn't long before the "Old Town" grew enough to be included in with the new railroad portion of the new town. They were both combined to makeup the Albuquerque that is known today. By 1885, the entire make-up of the city had changed due to the influx of new residents from other areas. Albuquerque was incorporated as a town in 1895 and as a city in 1889. The "Old Town" area is a large tourist attraction for the city.

Albuquerque was also placed on the famous route 66. Early in its history, it was part of the Spanish Camino Real. Route 66 was originally a round-about route through New Mexico. The Governor in 1934, Clyde Tingley, who was a friend of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, managed to have the route straightened through his connections. The new through-road opened in 1936. The Albuquerque International Sunport opened in 1928. It was renovated completely in 1986 and it underwent another expansion in 1996. For more information about Albuquerque, go to Albuquerque Information
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The founding of Albuquerque

1706

The incorporation of Albuquerque

1885 (town), 1889 (city)

Attractions

The New Mexico Museum of Natural HIstory
1801 Mountain Rd. NW
Old Town
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Phone: 505-884-8837
If you like dinosaurs, you'll love this museum!

The Albuquerque Museum
2000 Mountain Road NW
Old Town
Albuquerque, New Mexico
History and art exhibitions, workshops, lectures and more.

American International Rattlesnake Museum
202 San Felipe NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Phone: 505-242-6569
World's largest colleciton of captive-born rattlesnakes.

Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
UNM Campus
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Phone: 505-277-4404
Emphasis on native cultures of the Southwest, baskets, kachinas, weavings and more.

Telephone Pioneers of America Museum
201 Third St., rm. 710
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Phone: 505-245-5883

The Kodak International Balloon Fiesta
The biggest event of its kind anywhere in the world. Held in October of each year.

Rio Grande Zoological Park
903 10th SW
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Phone: 505-843-7413
Over 1,000 animals in their natural habitats, including an African savanna and an Amazon rain forest.

Pueblo Cultural Center
2401 12th Street NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104
Phone: 505-843-7270
Toll-free: 800-766-4405 (outside New Mexico)
Beautiful murals, demonstrations, traditional dances and art, Native American art and jewelry and much more.
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Albuquerque Chamber

Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
Convention and Tourism Department
1600 Lomas Northwest
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104
Phone: 505-842-9003
Toll-free: 800-754-4620, ext. 97

Albuquerque Organizations

Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
Convention and Tourism Department
1600 Lomas Northwest
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104
Phone: 505-842-9003
Toll-free: 800-754-4620, ext. 97 Albuquerque

Miscellany

Highest Relative Humidity was 56% in December