Albuquerque, New Mexico - wikipedia Albuquerque, New Mexico `` Albuquerque '' redirects here. For other uses, see Albuquerque ( disambiguation ). Albuquerque City Balloon Fiesta, Downtown Albuquerque Alvarado Center, Sandia Peak Tramway San Felipe de Neri Church, Rio Grande Wetlands Flag Seal Nickname ( s ) : ABQ, The Duke City, Burque, The 505, The Big A Location in the state of New Mexico Albuquerque Location in the contiguous United States Albuquerque Albuquerque ( the US ) Show map of New Mexico Show map of the US Show all Coordinates : 35 ° 06 ′ 39 '' N 106 ° 36 ′ 36 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.11083 ° N 106.61000 ° W ﻿ / 35.11083 ; - 106.61000 Coordinates : 35 ° 06 ′ 39 '' N 106 ° 36 ′ 36 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.11083 ° N 106.61000 ° W ﻿ / 35.11083 ; - 106.61000 Country United States State New Mexico County Bernalillo County Founded 1706 ( as Alburquerque ) Incorporated 1891 ( as Albuquerque ) Named for Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, Duke of Alburquerque Government Type Mayor - council government Mayor Tim Keller ( D ) City Council Councilors 5 Democrats, 4 Republicans Ken Sanchez ( D ) Diane G. Gibson ( D ) Isaac Benton ( D ) Cynthia Borrego ( I ) Bradley Winter ( R ) Patrick Davis ( D ) Klarissa J. Peña ( D ) Trudy Jones ( R ) Don Harris ( R ) State House Representatives 13 Democrats, 11 Republicans G. Andres Romero ( D ) Javier Martínez ( D ) Patricio Ruiloba ( D ) Eleanor Chavez ( D ) Patricia Roybal Caballero ( D ) Miguel Garcia ( D ) Sarah Maestas Barnes ( R ) Antonio Maestas ( D ) Deborah Armstrong ( D ) Gail Chasey ( D ) Sheryl M. Williams - Stapleton ( D ) Jim Dines ( R ) Stephanie Maez ( D ) James Smith ( R ) Paul Pacheco ( R ) Conrad James ( R ) Christine Trujillo ( D ) Georgene Louis ( D ) Larry Larranaga ( R ) Jimmie C. Hall ( R ) David Adkins ( R ) Nathaniel Gentry ( R ) William Rehm ( R ) Monica Youngblood ( R ) State Senate State senators 7 Republicans, 6 Democrats John Ryan ( R ) Linda Lopez ( D ) Jerry Ortiz y Pino ( D ) Dede Feldman ( D ) Eric Griego ( D ) H. Diane Snyder ( R ) Cisco McSorley ( D ) Mark Boitano ( R ) Sue Wilson Beffort ( R ) William H. Payne ( R ) Kent L. Cravens ( R ) Joseph J. Carraro ( R ) Bernadette Sanchez ( D ) U.S. House Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham ( D ) Area City 189.5 sq mi ( 490.9 km ) Land 187.7 sq mi ( 486.2 km ) Water 1.8 sq mi ( 4.7 km ) Elevation 5,312 ft ( 1,619.1 m ) Population ( 2010 ) City 545,852 Estimate ( 2016 ) 559,277 Rank US : 32nd Density 2,900 / sq mi ( 1,100 / km ) Metro 909,906 ( 60th ) 1,171,991 ( Albuquerque -- Santa Fe -- Las Vegas CSA ) Ethnicities 69.7 % White 4.6 % Multiracial 4.6 % American Indian 3.3 % Black 2.6 % Asian 46.7 % Hispanic Demonym ( s ) Albuquerquean, Burqueño Time zone MST ( UTC - 7 ) Summer ( DST ) MDT ( UTC - 6 ) ZIP code ( s ) 87101 -- 87125, 87131, 87151, 87153, 87154, 87158, 87174, 87176, 87181, 87184, 87185, 87187, 87190 -- 87199 Area code ( s ) 505, 575 FIPS code 35 - 02000 GNIS feature ID 0928679 Primary Airport Albuquerque International Sunport ABQ ( Major / International ) Secondary Airport Double Eagle II Airport - KAEG ( Public ) Website www.cabq.gov Albuquerque ( / ˈælbəˌkɜːrki / ( listen ) AL - bə - kur - kee ; in Navajo Beeʼeldííl Dahsinil, pronounced ( pèːʔèltíːl tɑ̀xsɪ̀nɪ̀l ), Arawageeki in Keres ; Vakêêke in Jemez Towa ; Gołgéeki in Jicarilla Apache ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The city serves as the county seat of Bernalillo County, and it is situated in the north central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population is 559,277 as of the July 1, 2016 population estimate from the United States Census Bureau, and ranks as the 32nd - largest city in the U.S. The Albuquerque metropolitan statistical area ( or MSA ) has a population of 909,906 according to the United States Census Bureau 's most recently available estimate for 2016. Albuquerque is the 60th - largest United States metropolitan area. The Albuquerque MSA population includes the city of Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Placitas, Corrales, Los Lunas, Belen, Bosque Farms, and forms part of the larger Albuquerque -- Santa Fe -- Las Vegas combined statistical area, with a total population of 1,171,991 as of the July 1, 2016, Census Bureau estimates. Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico ( UNM ), Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Central New Mexico Community College ( CNM ), Presbyterian Medical Services ( PMS ), Presbyterian Health Services, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Albuquerque Biological Park, 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. Albuquerque is also the home of the International Balloon Fiesta, the world 's largest such gathering of hot - air balloons from around the globe. The event takes place during October. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Native American presence 2.2 Early European settlers 2.3 Early 20th century 2.4 Decades of growth 2.5 New millennium 2.6 Urban trends and issues 3 Geography 3.1 Geology 3.2 Landscape 3.3 Climate 3.4 Hydrology 3.5 Quadrants 3.5. 1 Northeast Quadrant 3.5. 2 Northwest Quadrant 3.5. 3 Southeast Quadrant 3.5. 4 Southwest Quadrant 4 Demographics 5 Arts and culture 5.1 Points of interest 5.2 International Balloon Fiesta 5.3 Architecture 5.3. 1 Tallest buildings 6 Sports 7 Parks and recreation 8 Government 8.1 Police department 9 Economy 10 Education 11 Infrastructure 11.1 Transportation 11.1. 1 Main highways 11.1. 2 Bridges 11.1. 3 Rail 11.1. 4 Freight service 11.1. 5 Intercity rail 11.1. 6 Commuter rail 11.1. 7 Local mass transit 11.1. 8 Bicycle transit 11.1. 9 Walkability 11.1. 10 Airports 11.2 Utilities 11.2. 1 Energy 11.2. 2 Sanitation 11.3 Healthcare 12 Media 12.1 In popular culture 12.1. 1 In film 12.1. 2 In music 12.1. 3 In television 13 Notable people 14 Sister cities 15 See also 16 Notes 17 References 18 Further reading 19 External links Etymology Francisco, Duke of Alburquerque Albuquerque was named in honor of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 10th Duke of Alburquerque who was Viceroy of New Spain from 1702 to 1711. The growing village was named by provincial governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés. The Duke 's title referred to the Spanish town of Alburquerque, in the province of Badajoz, near the border with Portugal. The name has two theories of origin, which denote either Latin or Arabic roots. Under the Latin theory, the name derives from albus quercus meaning `` white oak ''. The name was probably in reference to the prevalence of cork oaks in the region, which have a white wood when the bark is removed. Alburquerque is still a center of the Spanish cork industry, and the town coat - of - arms features a white cork oak. Another theory suggests that the name derives from the Arabic Abu al - Qurq, which means `` father of the cork ( oak ) ''. The first `` r '' in Alburquerque was later dropped, probably due to association with the prominent Portuguese general Alfonso de Albuquerque, whose family title ( among others ) and then name originated from the presently Spanish town, which was once a dominion of the Kings of Portugal and used the Portuguese variant spelling of its name. The change was also in part because citizens found the original name difficult to pronounce. History See also : History of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Timeline of Albuquerque, New Mexico Native American presence Petroglyphs carved into basalt in the west part of the city bear testimony to early Native American presence in the area, now preserved in the Petroglyph National Monument. The Tanoan and Keresan peoples had lived along the Rio Grande for centuries before European settlers arrived in what is now Albuquerque. By the 1500s, there were around 20 Tiwa pueblos along a 60 - mile ( 97 km ) stretch of river from present - day Algodones to the Rio Puerco confluence south of Belen. Of these, 12 -- 13 were densely clustered near present - day Bernalillo and the remainder were spread out to the south. Two Tiwa pueblos lie specifically on the outskirts of the present - day city, both of which have been continuously inhabited for many centuries : Sandia Pueblo, which was founded in the 14th century, and the Pueblo of Isleta, for which written records go back to the early 17th century, when it was chosen as the site of the San Agustín de la Isleta Mission, a Catholic mission. The Navajo, Apache and Comanche peoples were also likely to have set camps in the Albuquerque area, as there is evidence of trade and cultural exchange between the different Native American groups going back centuries before European conquest. Early European settlers Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as the Spanish colonial outpost of Villa de Alburquerque. Present - day Albuquerque retains much of its historical Spanish cultural heritage. Old Town Albuquerque Plaza Albuquerque was a farming community and strategically located military outpost along the Camino Real. The town was also the sheep - herding center of the West. Spain established a presidio ( military garrison ) in Albuquerque in 1706. After 1821, Mexico also had a military garrison there. 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. '' Historically it was sometimes referred to as `` La Placita '' ( little plaza in Spanish ). On the north side of Old Town Plaza is San Felipe de Neri Church. Built in 1793, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city. After the American occupation of New Mexico, Albuquerque had a federal garrison and quartermaster depot, the Post of Albuquerque, from 1846 to 1867. During the Civil War Albuquerque was occupied in February 1862 by Confederate troops under General Henry Hopkins Sibley, who soon afterward advanced with his main body into northern New Mexico. During his retreat from Union troops into Texas he made a stand on April 8, 1862, at Albuquerque and fought the Battle of Albuquerque against a detachment of Union soldiers commanded by Colonel Edward R.S. Canby. This daylong engagement at long range led to few casualties. Downtown Albuquerque in the 1880s When the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1880, it bypassed the Plaza, locating the passenger depot and railyards about 2 miles ( 3 km ) east in what quickly became known as New Albuquerque or New Town. The railway company built a hospital for its workers that was later a juvenile psychiatric facility and has now been converted to a hotel. Many Anglo merchants, mountain men, and settlers slowly filtered into Albuquerque creating a major mercantile commercial center which is now Downtown Albuquerque. Due to a rising rate of violent crime, gunman Milt Yarberry was appointed the town 's first marshal that year. New Albuquerque was incorporated as a town in 1885, with Henry N. Jaffa its first mayor, and it was incorporated as a city in 1891. Old Town remained a separate community until the 1920s when it was absorbed by the city of Albuquerque. Old Albuquerque High School, the city 's first public high school, was established in 1879. Congregation Albert, a Reform synagogue established in 1897, is the oldest continuing Jewish organization in the city. Early 20th century Old Albuquerque High, built in 1914 ( Victorian and Gothic styles were used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ) By 1900, Albuquerque 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 campus on the East Mesa. In 1902, the famous Alvarado Hotel was built adjacent to the new passenger depot, and it remained a symbol of the city until it was razed 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. It also 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 20th century, 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. This is the Albuquerque 's Alvarado Hotel ( Fred Harvey Hotel ), Native American Building, Laundry Building, Santa Fe Train Station and Tourist Shopping Area. This Campus was built in 1902 and was torn down in 1970. This drawing captures its Mission Revival Style appearance in east elevation. The raised train track platform from the later period is not shown as it would hide many details. Decades of growth Depiction of downtown Central Avenue, circa 1940s The McCanna - Hubbell Building, built in 1915, is one of Downtown Albuquerque 's many historic buildings The first travelers on 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 and 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 into the Northeast Heights, reaching a population of 201,189 by 1960. In 1990, it was 384,736 and in 2007 it was 518,271. In June 2007, Albuquerque was listed as the sixth fastest - growing city in America. In 1990, the Census Bureau reported Albuquerque 's population as 34.5 % Hispanic and 58.3 % non-Hispanic white. 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. As of 2010, 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 such as 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 was estimated at 528,497 in 2009, up from 448,607 in the 2000 census. During 2005 and 2006, the city celebrated its tricentennial with a diverse program of cultural events. Urban trends and issues Albuquerque Plaza The passage of the Planned Growth Strategy in 2002 -- 2004 was the community 's strongest effort to create a framework for a more balanced and sustainable approach to urban growth. 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 Sandia Pueblo to the north, the Isleta Pueblo 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 Petroglyph National Monument, once thought to be a natural boundary to sprawl development. Aerial view of Albuquerque core Because of less - costly 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 Albuquerque. The primary cities in Valencia County are Los Lunas and Belen, both of which are home to growing industrial complexes and new residential subdivisions. The mountain towns of Tijeras, Edgewood, and Moriarty, while close enough to Albuquerque to be considered suburbs, have experienced much less growth compared to Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Los Lunas, and Belen. Limited water supply and rugged terrain are the main limiting factors for development in these towns. The Mid Region Council of Governments ( MRCOG ), which includes constituents from throughout the Albuquerque area, was formed to ensure 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 currently the New Mexico Rail Runner Express. In October 2013, the `` Albuquerque Journal '' reported Albuquerque as the third best city to own an investment property. Geography Satellite image of Albuquerque taken by NASA According to the United States Census Bureau, Albuquerque has a total area of 189.5 square miles ( 490.9 km ), of which 187.7 square miles ( 486.2 km ) is land and 1.8 square miles ( 4.7 km ), or 0.96 %, is water. 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 4,900 feet ( 1,490 m ) above sea level near the Rio Grande ( in the Valley ) to over 6,700 feet ( 1,950 m ) in the foothill areas of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills. At the airport, the elevation is 5,352 feet ( 1,631 m ) 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 faults, including those that lifted up the adjacent Sandia and Manzano Mountains, while lowering the area where the life - sustaining Rio Grande now flows. Geology Sandia Peak Ski Area in the Sandia Mountains Aerial view of the Rio Grande flowing through Albuquerque in 2016 Albuquerque lies in the Albuquerque Basin, a portion of the Rio Grande rift. The Sandia Mountains are the predominant geographic feature visible in Albuquerque. `` Sandía '' is 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 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. '' He also notes that the Sandia Pueblo Indians call the mountain Bien Mur, `` big mountain. '' 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 calcium carbonate deposit common in the arid southwestern USA ), along with some exposed granite bedrock. Below the foothills, the area usually called the `` Northeast Heights '' consists of a mix of clay and caliche soils, overlaying 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 Albuquerque 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 ( 3.0 m ). The last significant area of Albuquerque geologically is the West Mesa : this is the elevated land west of the Rio Grande, including `` West Bluff '', 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. Landscape Panoramic view of the city of Albuquerque Climate Albuquerque has a cold semi-arid climate ( BSk in the Köppen climate classification ). Albuquerque is in the northern tip of the Chihuahuan Desert, near the edge of the Colorado Plateau. The average annual precipitation is less than half of evaporation, and no month averages below freezing. Albuquerque 's climate is usually sunny and dry, with an average of 3,415 sunshine hours per year. Brilliant sunshine defines the region, averaging 278 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. Downtown Albuquerque after a snowstorm Winter consists of chilly / mild days and cold nights. December, the coolest month, averages 36.3 ° F ( 2.4 ° C ), although low temperatures bottom out in January, and the coldest temperature of the year is typically around 10 ° F ( − 12 ° C ). Most nights in December, January, and February will usually be below freezing. Spring is windy, sometimes unsettled with some rain, 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 ( 32 to 48 km / h ), and afternoon gusts can produce periods of blowing sand and dust. In May, the winds tend to subside. The summer heat is relatively tolerable for most because of low humidity, except for some days during the North American Monsoon. There are 2.7 days of 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) + highs annually, mostly in June and July and rarely in August due in part to the monsoon ; an average 60 days see 90 ° F ( 32 ° C ) + highs. Fall sees less rain than summer, though the weather can be more unsettled closer to winter. Albuquerque averages around 9 inches of snow per winter, and experiences several accumulating snow events each season. Locations in the Northeast Heights and Eastern Foothills tend to receive more snowfall due to each region 's higher elevation and proximity to the mountains. The city was one of several in the region experiencing a severe winter storm on December 28 -- 30, 2006, with locations in Albuquerque receiving between 10.5 and 26 inches ( 27 and 66 cm ) of snow. More recently, a major winter storm in late February 2015 dropped up to a foot ( 30 cm ) of snow on most of the city. The mountains and highlands beyond the city create a rain shadow effect, due to the drying of air ascending the mountains ; 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. 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 piñon trees, reminiscent of the lower parts of the southern Rocky Mountains, which do not actually contact Albuquerque proper. Most rain occurs during the summer monsoon season ( also called a chubasco in Mexico ), typically starting in early July and ending in mid-September. Climate data for Albuquerque ( Albuquerque International Sunport ), 1981 -- 2010 normals, extremes 1891 -- present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 72 ( 22 ) 79 ( 26 ) 85 ( 29 ) 89 ( 32 ) 98 ( 37 ) 107 ( 42 ) 105 ( 41 ) 101 ( 38 ) 100 ( 38 ) 91 ( 33 ) 83 ( 28 ) 72 ( 22 ) 107 ( 42 ) Mean maximum ° F ( ° C ) 60.1 ( 15.6 ) 67.6 ( 19.8 ) 76.1 ( 24.5 ) 83.2 ( 28.4 ) 91.1 ( 32.8 ) 98.8 ( 37.1 ) 99.4 ( 37.4 ) 95.7 ( 35.4 ) 91.3 ( 32.9 ) 82.5 ( 28.1 ) 70.8 ( 21.6 ) 60.3 ( 15.7 ) 100.2 ( 37.9 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 46.8 ( 8.2 ) 52.5 ( 11.4 ) 60.5 ( 15.8 ) 69.0 ( 20.6 ) 78.8 ( 26 ) 88.3 ( 31.3 ) 90.1 ( 32.3 ) 87.2 ( 30.7 ) 80.7 ( 27.1 ) 69.0 ( 20.6 ) 55.8 ( 13.2 ) 46.1 ( 7.8 ) 68.8 ( 20.4 ) Daily mean ° F ( ° C ) 36.4 ( 2.4 ) 41.4 ( 5.2 ) 48.1 ( 8.9 ) 56.0 ( 13.3 ) 65.6 ( 18.7 ) 74.9 ( 23.8 ) 78.3 ( 25.7 ) 76.2 ( 24.6 ) 69.3 ( 20.7 ) 57.5 ( 14.2 ) 44.9 ( 7.2 ) 36.3 ( 2.4 ) 57.2 ( 14 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 26.1 ( − 3.3 ) 30.3 ( − 0.9 ) 35.7 ( 2.1 ) 43.0 ( 6.1 ) 52.5 ( 11.4 ) 61.6 ( 16.4 ) 66.4 ( 19.1 ) 65.1 ( 18.4 ) 57.9 ( 14.4 ) 46.1 ( 7.8 ) 34.1 ( 1.2 ) 26.5 ( − 3.1 ) 45.5 ( 7.5 ) Mean minimum ° F ( ° C ) 14.1 ( − 9.9 ) 16.7 ( − 8.5 ) 22.3 ( − 5.4 ) 29.4 ( − 1.4 ) 39.0 ( 3.9 ) 50.3 ( 10.2 ) 59.4 ( 15.2 ) 57.6 ( 14.2 ) 46.3 ( 7.9 ) 31.9 ( − 0.1 ) 20.3 ( − 6.5 ) 12.1 ( − 11.1 ) 9.6 ( − 12.4 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 17 ( − 27 ) − 10 ( − 23 ) 6 ( − 14 ) 13 ( − 11 ) 25 ( − 4 ) 35 ( 2 ) 42 ( 6 ) 46 ( 8 ) 26 ( − 3 ) 19 ( − 7 ) − 7 ( − 22 ) − 16 ( − 27 ) − 17 ( − 27 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 0.38 ( 9.7 ) 0.48 ( 12.2 ) 0.57 ( 14.5 ) 0.61 ( 15.5 ) 0.50 ( 12.7 ) 0.66 ( 16.8 ) 1.50 ( 38.1 ) 1.58 ( 40.1 ) 1.08 ( 27.4 ) 1.02 ( 25.9 ) 0.57 ( 14.5 ) 0.50 ( 12.7 ) 9.45 ( 240 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 2.1 ( 5.3 ) 1.8 ( 4.6 ) ( 2.8 ) 0.6 ( 1.5 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.3 ( 0.8 ) 1.0 ( 2.5 ) 2.7 ( 6.9 ) 9.6 ( 24.4 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 4.1 3.8 4.9 3.2 4.2 4.4 8.3 9.2 5.9 5.1 3.9 4.2 61.2 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 2.4 1.7 1.5 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 1.0 2.4 9.5 Average relative humidity ( % ) 56.3 49.8 39.7 32.5 31.1 29.8 41.9 47.1 47.4 45.3 49.9 56.8 44.0 Mean monthly sunshine hours 234.2 225.3 270.2 304.6 347.4 359.3 335.0 314.2 286.7 281.4 233.8 223.3 3,415.4 Percent possible sunshine 75 74 73 78 80 83 76 75 77 80 75 73 77 Source : NOAA ( relative humidity and sun 1961 -- 1990 ) Climate data for Albuquerque South Valley ( elevation 4,955 ft ( 1,510.3 m ), 1981 -- 2010 normals, extremes 1991 -- present ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 73 ( 23 ) 79 ( 26 ) 86 ( 30 ) 89 ( 32 ) 101 ( 38 ) 105 ( 41 ) 103 ( 39 ) 101 ( 38 ) 96 ( 36 ) 89 ( 32 ) 76 ( 24 ) 70 ( 21 ) 105 ( 41 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 50.3 ( 10.2 ) 56.2 ( 13.4 ) 63.4 ( 17.4 ) 71.7 ( 22.1 ) 80.1 ( 26.7 ) 89.3 ( 31.8 ) 91.4 ( 33 ) 89.1 ( 31.7 ) 82.4 ( 28 ) 71.3 ( 21.8 ) 59.0 ( 15 ) 49.3 ( 9.6 ) 71.2 ( 21.8 ) Daily mean ° F ( ° C ) 35.6 ( 2 ) 40.9 ( 4.9 ) 47.6 ( 8.7 ) 55.4 ( 13 ) 63.8 ( 17.7 ) 72.3 ( 22.4 ) 76.7 ( 24.8 ) 75.3 ( 24.1 ) 67.8 ( 19.9 ) 55.9 ( 13.3 ) 43.7 ( 6.5 ) 35.5 ( 1.9 ) 55.9 ( 13.3 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 20.9 ( − 6.2 ) 25.6 ( − 3.6 ) 31.7 ( − 0.2 ) 39.0 ( 3.9 ) 47.5 ( 8.6 ) 55.3 ( 12.9 ) 62.0 ( 16.7 ) 61.5 ( 16.4 ) 53.1 ( 11.7 ) 40.4 ( 4.7 ) 28.5 ( − 1.9 ) 21.7 ( − 5.7 ) 40.7 ( 4.8 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 4 ( − 20 ) − 5 ( − 21 ) 6 ( − 14 ) 22 ( − 6 ) 26 ( − 3 ) 41 ( 5 ) 47 ( 8 ) 44 ( 7 ) 36 ( 2 ) 19 ( − 7 ) 9 ( − 13 ) ( − 17 ) − 5 ( − 21 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 0.46 ( 11.7 ) 0.53 ( 13.5 ) 0.67 ( 17 ) 0.62 ( 15.7 ) 0.54 ( 13.7 ) 0.58 ( 14.7 ) 1.44 ( 36.6 ) 1.72 ( 43.7 ) 1.25 ( 31.8 ) 1.13 ( 28.7 ) 0.64 ( 16.3 ) 0.63 ( 16 ) 10.21 ( 259.3 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 1.7 ( 4.3 ) 0.7 ( 1.8 ) 0.9 ( 2.3 ) 0.4 ( 1 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.2 ( 0.5 ) 0.5 ( 1.3 ) 2.8 ( 7.1 ) 7.2 ( 18.3 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 3.9 4.0 4.5 3.2 3.7 4.3 8.2 8.9 5.3 4.9 3.0 3.9 57.8 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 1.4 0.6 0.5 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.4 1.3 4.5 Source : NOAA Climate data for Albuquerque Foothills ( elevation 6,120 ft ( 1,865.4 m ), 1981 -- 2010 normals ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high ° F ( ° C ) 46.0 ( 7.8 ) 51.5 ( 10.8 ) 59.6 ( 15.3 ) 68.9 ( 20.5 ) 78.6 ( 25.9 ) 87.8 ( 31 ) 89.4 ( 31.9 ) 86.5 ( 30.3 ) 79.7 ( 26.5 ) 67.3 ( 19.6 ) 54.4 ( 12.4 ) 44.8 ( 7.1 ) 68.0 ( 20 ) Daily mean ° F ( ° C ) 36.4 ( 2.4 ) 40.7 ( 4.8 ) 47.1 ( 8.4 ) 54.9 ( 12.7 ) 64.0 ( 17.8 ) 73.1 ( 22.8 ) 75.8 ( 24.3 ) 73.5 ( 23.1 ) 67.1 ( 19.5 ) 55.5 ( 13.1 ) 43.7 ( 6.5 ) 35.6 ( 2 ) 55.7 ( 13.2 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 26.7 ( − 2.9 ) 30.0 ( − 1.1 ) 34.6 ( 1.4 ) 41.0 ( 5 ) 49.5 ( 9.7 ) 58.3 ( 14.6 ) 62.2 ( 16.8 ) 60.6 ( 15.9 ) 54.5 ( 12.5 ) 43.6 ( 6.4 ) 33.1 ( 0.6 ) 26.5 ( − 3.1 ) 43.4 ( 6.3 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 0.76 ( 19.3 ) 0.82 ( 20.8 ) 1.36 ( 34.5 ) 1.03 ( 26.2 ) 0.82 ( 20.8 ) 0.71 ( 18 ) 2.25 ( 57.2 ) 2.97 ( 75.4 ) 1.54 ( 39.1 ) 1.54 ( 39.1 ) 1.29 ( 32.8 ) 1.21 ( 30.7 ) 16.30 ( 414 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 4.7 ( 11.9 ) 3.9 ( 9.9 ) 5.0 ( 12.7 ) 2.0 ( 5.1 ) trace 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.6 ( 1.5 ) 3.0 ( 7.6 ) 7.3 ( 18.5 ) 26.5 ( 67.3 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 5.6 6.0 6.3 4.6 5.6 4.9 11.8 10.7 7.5 6.5 5.0 6.3 80.8 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 3.9 3.2 3.1 1.4 0.1 0 0 0 0 0.5 1.7 4.3 18.2 Source : NOAA Hydrology See also : Kirtland Air Force Base § Environmental contamination due to jet fuel spill Albuquerque 's drinking water presently comes from a combination of Rio Grande water ( river water diverted from the Colorado River basin through the San Juan - Chama Project ) and a delicate aquifer that was once described as an `` underground Lake Superior ''. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority ( ABCWUA ) has developed a water resources management strategy, which pursues conservation and the direct extraction of water from the Rio Grande for the development of a stable underground aquifer in the future. Tingley Beach in Old Town, Albuquerque, a pond in a former watercourse by the Rio Grande The aquifer of the Rio Puerco is too saline to be cost - effectively used for drinking purposes. Much of the rainwater that Albuquerque receives does not recharge its aquifer. It is diverted through a network of paved channels and arroyos, and emptied into the Rio Grande. Of the 62,780 acre feet ( 77,440,000 m ) per year of the water in the upper Colorado River basin entitled to municipalities in New Mexico by the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact, Albuquerque owns 48,200. The water is delivered to the Rio Grande by the San Juan -- Chama Project. The project 's construction was initiated by legislation enacted by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, and completed in 1971. This diversion project transports water under the continental divide from Navajo Lake to Lake Heron on the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande. In the past much of this water was resold to downstream owners in Texas. These arrangements ended in 2008 with the completion of the ABCWUA 's Drinking Water Supply Project. The ABCWUA 's Drinking Water Supply Project uses a system of adjustable height dams to skim water from the Rio Grande into sluices which lead to water treatment facilities for direct conversion to potable water. Some water is allowed to flow through central Albuquerque, mostly to protect the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow. Treated effluent water is recycled into the Rio Grande to the south of the city. The ABCWUA expects river water to comprise up to seventy percent of its water budget in 2060. Groundwater will constitute the remainder. One of the policies of the ABCWUA 's strategy is the acquisition of additional river water. Quadrants Albuquerque is geographically divided into four quadrants 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 Rail Runner 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 foothills neighborhoods, which are significantly higher, in elevation and price range, than the rest of the city. Running from Central Avenue and the railroad tracks to the Sandia Peak Aerial Tram, this is the largest quadrant both geographically and by population. The University of New Mexico, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, Nob Hill, the Uptown area which includes two shopping malls ( Coronado Center and ABQ Uptown ), Hoffmantown, Journal Center, and Balloon Fiesta Park are all located in this quadrant. Some of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city are located here, including : High Desert, Tanoan, Sandia Heights, and North Albuquerque Acres. ( Parts of Sandia Heights and 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. Northwest quadrant KiMo Theatre in Downtown This quadrant contains historic Old Town Albuquerque, which dates back to the 18th century, as well as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The area has a mixture of commercial districts and low - to middle - income neighborhoods. Northwest Albuquerque includes the largest section of downtown, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and the Bosque ( `` woodlands '' ), Petroglyph National Monument, Double Eagle II Airport, Martineztown, the Paradise Hills neighborhood, Taylor Ranch, and Cottonwood Mall. Additionally, the North Valley settlement, outside the city limit, which has some expensive homes and small ranches along the Rio Grande, is located here. The city of Albuquerque engulfs the village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. A small portion of the rapidly developing area on the west side of the river south of the Petroglyphs, known as the `` West Mesa '' or `` Westside '', consisting primarily of traditional residential subdivisions, also extends into this quadrant. The city proper is bordered on the north by the North Valley, the village of Corrales, and the city of Rio Rancho. Southeast quadrant Lobo Theater in Nob Hill Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, Sandia Science & Technology Park, Albuquerque International Sunport, Eclipse Aerospace, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque Veloport, University Stadium, Isotopes Park, The Pit, Mesa del Sol, The Pavilion, Albuquerque Studios, Isleta Resort & Casino, National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, New Mexico Veterans ' Memorial, and Talin Market are all located in the Southeast ( SE ) quadrant. The upscale neighborhood of Four Hills is located in the foothills of Southeast Albuquerque. Other neighborhoods include Nob Hill, Ridgecrest, Willow Wood, and Volterra. Southwest quadrant Traditionally consisting of agricultural and rural areas and suburban neighborhoods, the Southwest quadrant comprises the south end of downtown Albuquerque, the Barelas neighborhood, the rapidly - growing west side, and the community of South Valley, New Mexico, often referred to as `` The South Valley ''. Although the city limits of Albuquerque do not include the South Valley, the quadrant extends through it all the way to the Isleta Indian Reservation. Newer suburban subdivisions on the West Mesa near the southwestern city limits join homes of older construction, some dating back as far as the 1940s. This quadrant includes the old communities of Atrisco, Los Padillas, Huning Castle, Kinney, Westgate, Westside, Alamosa, Mountainview, and Pajarito. The Bosque ( `` woodlands '' ), the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Rio Grande Zoo, and Tingley Beach are also located here. A new adopted development plan, the Santolina Master Plan, will extend development on the west side past 118th Street SW to the edge of the Rio Puerco Valley, and house 100,000 by 2050. It is unclear at this time whether the Santolina development will be annexed into the City of Albuquerque or incorporated into its own city when its development does occur. Demographics Historical population Census Pop. % ± 1880 2,315 -- 1890 3,785 63.5 % 1900 6,238 64.8 % 1910 11,020 76.7 % 1920 15,157 37.5 % 1930 26,570 75.3 % 1940 35,449 33.4 % 1950 96,815 173.1 % 1960 201,189 107.8 % 1970 244,501 21.5 % 1980 332,920 36.2 % 1990 384,736 15.6 % 2000 448,607 16.6 % 545,852 21.7 % Est. 2016 559,277 2.5 % U.S. Decennial Census Demographic profile 1990 1970 1950 White 69.7 % 78.2 % 95.7 % 98.0 % -- Non-Hispanic 42.1 % 58.3 % 63.3 % N / A Black or African American 3.3 % 3.0 % 2.2 % 1.3 % Hispanic or Latino ( of any race ) 46.7 % 34.5 % 33.1 % N / A Asian 2.6 % 1.7 % 0.3 % 0.1 % Map of racial distribution in Albuquerque, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people : White, Black, Asian, Hispanic or Other ( yellow ) As of the United States census of 2010, there were 545,852 people, 239,166 households, and 224,330 families residing in the city. The population density was 3010.7 / mi2 ( 1162.6 / km2 ). There were 239,166 housing units at an average density of 1,556.7 per square mile ( 538.2 / km2 ). The racial makeup of the city was : 69.7 % White ( Non-Hispanic white 42.1 % ) 4.6 % Native American 3.3 % Black or African American 2.6 % Asian 0.1 % Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4.6 % Multiracial ( two or more races ) The ethnic makeup of the city was : 46.7 % of the population were Hispanics or Latinos ( of any race ) Median Household Income by Census Tract Block Group across Albuquerque metro. There were 239,116 households out of which 33.3 % had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6 % were 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. The age distribution was 24.5 % under 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 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. Arts and culture One of the major art events in the state is the summertime New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair, a non-profit show exclusively for New Mexico artists and held annually in Albuquerque since 1961. Albuquerque is home to over 300 other visual arts, music, dance, literary, film, ethnic, and craft organizations, museums, festivals and associations. Points of interest See also : List of landmarks in Albuquerque and List of historic landmarks in Albuquerque Albuquerque Botanical Gardens Some of the local museums, galleries, shops and other points of interest include the Albuquerque Biological Park, Albuquerque Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science, and Old Town Albuquerque. Albuquerque 's live music / performance venues including ; Isleta Amphitheater, Tingley Coliseum, Sunshine Theater and the KiMo Theater. The local cuisine prominently features green chile, which is widely available in restaurants, including national fast - food chains. The restaurant scene of Albuquerque is quite prominent throughout the city, and local restaurants receive statewide attention, alongside several of them becoming chains throughout the state. The Sandia Peak Tramway, located adjacent to Albuquerque, is the world 's second - 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. Elevation at the top of the tramway is roughly 10,300 ft ( 3,100 m ). above sea level. International Balloon Fiesta Main article : Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an event that takes place at Balloon Fiesta Park the first week of October. The Balloon Fiesta is one of Albuquerque 's biggest attractions. Hundreds of hot air balloons are able to be seen everyday. In addition to balloons, there is live music, arts and crafts, and food. Architecture Bank of the West Tower, West Gold Building John Gaw Meem, credited with developing and popularizing the Pueblo Revival style, was based in Santa Fe but received an important Albuquerque commission in 1933 as the architect of the University of New Mexico. He retained this commission for the next quarter - century and developed the university 's distinctive Southwest style. Meem also designed the Cathedral Church of St. John in 1950. Albuquerque boasts a unique nighttime cityscape. Many building exteriors are illuminated in vibrant colors such as green and blue. The Wells Fargo Building is illuminated green. The DoubleTree Hotel and the Compass Bank building are illuminated blue. The 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. Due to the nature of the soil in the Rio Grande Valley, the skyline is lower than might be expected in a city of comparable size elsewhere. 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 four to six lane roads in a 1 mile ( 1.61 km ) grid. Each 1 square mile ( 2.59 km2 ) is divided into four 160 - acre ( 0.65 km ) neighborhoods by smaller roads set 0.5 miles ( 0.8 km ) 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. Tallest buildings See also : List of tallest buildings in Albuquerque Rank Building Height Floors Built Albuquerque Plaza 351 feet ( 107 m ) 22 1990 Hyatt Regency Albuquerque 256 feet ( 78 m ) 21 1990 Compass Bank Building 240 feet ( 73 m ) 18 1966 500 Marquette 235 feet ( 72 m ) 15 1986 5 Bank of the West Tower 213 feet ( 65 m ) 17 1963 6 New Mexico Bank & Trust Building 203 feet ( 62 m ) 14 1961 7 Dennis Chavez Federal Building 197 feet ( 60 m ) 13 1965 8 PNM Building 184 feet ( 56 m ) 12 1968 9 Simms Building 180 feet ( 55 m ) 13 1954 10 Pete V. Domenici U.S. Courthouse 176 feet ( 54 m ) 7 Sports Isotopes Baseball Park The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, having derived their name from The Simpsons season 12 episode `` Hungry, Hungry Homer '', which involves the Springfield Isotopes baseball team considering relocating to Albuquerque. Prior to 2002, the Albuquerque Dukes served as the city 's minor league team, having played at the Albuquerque Sports Stadium. The stadium was torn down to make room for the current Isotopes Park. The Albuquerque Sol soccer club began play in the United Soccer League in 2014. Albuquerque is also home to Jackson -- Winkeljohn gym, a mixed martial arts ( MMA ) gym. Several MMA world champions and fighters, including Holly Holm and Jon Jones, train in that facility. Roller sports are finding a home in Albuquerque as they hosted USARS Championships in 2015, and are home to Roller hockey, and Roller Derby teams. Team Sport League Venue capacity Albuquerque Isotopes Baseball AAA PCL Isotopes Park 13,279 Albuquerque Sol Soccer Premier Development League Ben Rios Field 1,500 Duke City Gladiators Indoor Football Champions Indoor Football Tingley Coliseum 11,571 New Mexico Lobos NCAA Division I FBS Football Mountain West Conference University Stadium 42,000 New Mexico Lobos ( men and women ) NCAA Division I Basketball Mountain West Conference The Pit 15,411 Albuquerque Roller Derby Roller Derby Wells Park Community Center Parks and Recreation Roosevelt Park is a historic park in central Albuquerque This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( July 2017 ) According to the Trust for Public Land, Albuquerque has 291 public parks as of 2017, most of which are administered by the city Parks and Recreation Department. The total amount of parkland is 42.9 square miles ( 111 km ), or about 23 % of the city 's total area -- one of the highest percentages among large cities in the U.S. About 82 % of city residents live within walking distance of a park. Albuquerque has a botanical and zoological complex called the Albuquerque Biological Park, consisting of the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Albuquerque Aquarium, Tingley Beach, and the Rio Grande Zoo. Government Main article : Government of Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque registered voters as of July, 2016 Party Number of Voters Percentage Democratic 123,594 40.03 % Republican 104,662 34.13 % Unaffiliated and third party 78,404 25.57 % Albuquerque is a charter city. City government is divided into an executive branch, headed by a Mayor and a nine - member Council that holds the legislative authority. The form of city government is therefore mayor - council government. The mayor is Tim Keller a former state auditor and senator, who was elected in 2017. The Mayor of Albuquerque holds a full - time paid elected position with a four - year term. Albuquerque City Council members hold part - time paid positions and are elected from the nine districts for four - year terms, with four or five Councilors elected every two years. Elections for Mayor and Councilor are nonpartisan. Each December, a new Council President and Vice-President are chosen by members of the Council. Each year, the Mayor submits a city budget proposal for the year to the Council by April 1, and the Council acts on the proposal within the next 60 days. 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 meets two times a month, with meetings held in the Vincent E. Griego Council Chambers in the basement level of Albuquerque / Bernalillo County Government Center. Ordinances and resolutions passed by the Council are presented to the Mayor for his approval. If the Mayor vetoes an item, the Council can override the veto with a vote of two - thirds of the membership of the Council. The judicial system in Albuquerque includes the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. Police Department The Albuquerque Police Department ( APD ) is the police department with jurisdiction within the city limits, with anything outside of the city limits being considered the unincorporated area of Bernalillo County and policed by the Bernalillo County Sheriff 's Department. It is the largest municipal police department in New Mexico, and in September 2008 the US Department of Justice recorded the APD as the 49th largest police department in the United States. In November 2012, the United States Department of Justice launched an investigation into APD 's policies and practices to determine whether APD engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 ( `` Section 14141 '' ). As part of its investigation, the Department of Justice consulted with police practices experts and conducted a comprehensive assessment of officers ' use of force and APD policies and operations. The investigation included tours of APD facilities and Area Commands ; interviews with Albuquerque officials, APD command staff, supervisors, and police officers ; a review of numerous documents ; and meetings with the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, residents, community groups, and other stakeholders. When the Department of Justice concluded its investigation, it issued a scathing report that uncovered a `` culture of acceptance of the use of excessive force '' involving significant harm or injury by APD officers against people who posed no threat and which was not justified by the circumstances. The DOJ recommended a nearly complete overhaul of the department 's use - of - force policies. Among several systematic problems at APD were an aggressive culture that undervalued civilian safety and discounted the importance of crisis intervention. Economy See also : Economy of New Mexico Largest employers in Albuquerque Kirtland Air Force Base University of New Mexico Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque Public Schools 5 Presbyterian Health Services 6 City of Albuquerque ( Government ) 7 Lovelace -- Sandia Health System 8 Presbyterian Medical Services 9 Intel Corporation 10 State of New Mexico ( Government ) 11 Wal - Mart Stores, Inc. 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 '' in suburban Rio Rancho, in neighboring Sandoval County, with its attendant large capital investment. Northrop Grumman is located along I - 25 in northeast Albuquerque, and Tempur - Pedic is located on the West Mesa next to I - 40. The 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, 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 ( 74,000 m ) mattress factory in northwest Albuquerque. SCHOTT Solar, Inc., announced in January 2008 they would open a 200,000 - square - foot ( 19,000 m ) facility manufacturing receivers for concentrated solar thermal power plants ( CSP ) and 64MW of photovoltaic ( PV ) modules. The facility closed in 2012. Forbes magazine rated Albuquerque as the best city in America for business and careers in 2006 and as the 13th best ( out of 200 metro areas ) in 2008. The city was rated seventh among America 's Engineering Capitals in 2014 by Forbes magazine. Albuquerque ranked among the Top 10 Best Cities to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2009 and was recognized as the fourth best place to live for families by the TLC network. It was ranked among the Top Best Cities for Jobs in 2007 and among the Top 50 Best Places to Live and Play by National Geographic Adventure magazine. Education Further information : List of middle schools in Albuquerque, List of high schools in Albuquerque, and List of colleges and universities in Albuquerque Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico, the largest public flagship university in the state. UNM includes a School of Medicine which was ranked in the top 50 primary care - oriented medical schools in the country. Central New Mexico Community College is a county - funded junior college serving new high school graduates and adults returning to school. Zimmerman Library at University of New Mexico Albuquerque is also home to the following programs and non-profit schools of higher learning : Southwest University of Visual Arts, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Trinity Southwest University, the University of St. Francis College of Nursing and Allied Health Department of Physician Assistant Studies, and the St. Norbert College Master of Theological Studies program. The Ayurvedic Institute, one of the first Ayurveda colleges specializing in Ayurvedic medicine outside of India was established in the city in 1984. Other state and not - for - profit institutions of higher learning have moved some of their programs into Albuquerque. These include : New Mexico State University, Highlands University, Lewis University, Wayland Baptist University, and Webster University. Several for - profit technical schools including Brookline College, Pima Medical Institute, National American University, Grand Canyon University, the University of Phoenix and several barber / beauty colleges have established their presence in the area. Albuquerque Public Schools ( APS ), one of the largest school districts in the nation, provides educational services to almost 100,000 children across the city. Schools within APS include both public and charter entities. Numerous accredited private preparatory schools also serve Albuquerque students. These include various pre-high school religious ( Christian, Jewish, Islamic ) affiliates and Montessori schools, as well as Menaul School, Albuquerque Academy, St. Pius X High School, Sandia Preparatory School, the Bosque School, Evangel Christian Academy, Hope Christian School, Hope Connection School, Shepherd Lutheran School, Temple Baptist Academy, and Victory Christian. Accredited private schools serving students with special education needs in Albuquerque include : Desert Hills, Pathways Academy, and Presbyterian Ear Institute Oral School. The New Mexico School for the Deaf runs a preschool for children with hearing impairments in Albuquerque. Infrastructure Transportation Main highways Some of the main highways in the metro area include : Pan-American Freeway : More commonly known as Interstate 25 or `` I - 25 '', it is the main north -- south highway on the city 's eastern side of the Rio Grande. It is also the main north -- south highway in the state ( by connecting Albuquerque with Santa Fe and Las Cruces ) and a plausible route of the eponymous Pan American Highway. Since Route 66 was decommissioned in the 1980s, the only remaining US highway in Albuquerque, unsigned US - 85, shares its alignment with I - 25. US - 550 splits off to the northwest from I - 25 / US - 85 in Bernalillo. Aerial view of Interstate 40 Coronado Freeway : More commonly known as Interstate 40 or `` I - 40 '', it is the city 's main east -- west traffic artery and an important transcontinental route. The freeway 's name in the city is in reference to 16th century conquistador and explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. Paseo del Norte : ( aka ; State Highway 423 ) : This 6 - lane controlled - access highway is approximately five miles north of Interstate 40. It runs from Tramway Blvd ( at the base of the Sandia Mountains ) to Interstate 25, through Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, over the Rio Grande River to North Coors Boulevard. Paseo Del Norte then continues west through the Petroglyph National Monument until it reaches Atrisco Vista Blvd and the Double Eagle II Airport. The interchange with Interstate 25 was reconstructed in 2014 to improve traffic flow. Coors Boulevard : Coors is the main north - south artery to the west of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque. There is one full interchange where it connects with Interstate 40 ; The rest of the route has stoplights. The Interstate 25 underpass has no access to Coors. Parts of the highway have sidewalks, bike lanes, and medians, but most sections have only dirt shoulders and a center turn lane. To the north of Interstate 40, part of the route is numbered as State Highway 448, while to the south, part of the route is numbered as State Highway 45. Rio Bravo Boulevard : The main river crossing between Westside Albuquerque and the Sunport, Rio Bravo is a four - lane divided highway that runs from University Boulevard in the east, through the South Valley, to Coors Boulevard in the west where it is contiguous with Dennis Chaves Blvd. It follows NM - 500 for its entire route. Central Avenue : Central is one of the historical routings of Route 66, it is no longer a main through highway, its usefulness having been supplanted by Interstate 40. Alameda Boulevard : The main road between Rio Rancho and North Albuquerque, Alameda Blvd. stretches from Tramway Rd. to Coors. Blvd. The route is designated as the eastern portion of NM - 528. Tramway Boulevard : Serves as a bypass around the northeastern quadrant, the route is designated as NM - 556. Tramway Boulevard starts at I - 25 near Sandia Pueblo, and heads east as a two - lane road. It turns south near the base of the Sandia Peak Tramway and becomes an expressway - type divided highway until its terminus near I - 40 and Central Avenue by the western entrance to Tijeras Canyon. The interchange between I - 40 and I - 25 is known as the `` Big I ''. Originally built in 1966, it was rebuilt in 2002. The Big I is the only five - level stack interchange in the state of New Mexico. Bridges There are six road bridges that cross the Rio Grande and serve the municipality on at least one end if not both. The eastern approaches of the northernmost three all pass through adjacent unincorporated areas, the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, or the North Valley. In downstream order they are : Alameda Bridge Paseo del Norte Bridge Montaño Bridge I - 40 Bridge Central at Old Town Bridge Barelas Bridge Two more bridges serve urbanized areas contiguous to the city 's perforated southern boundary. Rio Bravo Bridge ( NM - 500 ) I - 25 Bridge ( near Isleta Pueblo ) Rail Rail Runner Express Downtown Albuquerque station train platform The state owns most of the city 's rail infrastructure which is used by a commuter rail system, long distance passenger trains, and the freight trains of the BNSF Railway. Freight service BNSF Railway operates a small yard operation out of Abajo yard, located just south of the Cesar E. Chavez Ave. overpass and the New Mexico Rail Runner Express yards. Most freight traffic through the Central New Mexico region is processed via a much larger hub in nearby Belen, New Mexico. Intercity Rail Amtrak 's Southwest Chief, which travels between Chicago and Los Angeles, serves the Albuquerque area daily with one stop in each direction at the Alvarado Transportation Center in downtown. Commuter Rail The New Mexico Rail Runner Express, a commuter rail line, began service between Sandoval County and Albuquerque in July 2006 using an existing BNSF right - of - way which was purchased by New Mexico in 2005. Service expanded to Valencia County in December 2006 and to Santa Fe on December 17, 2008. Rail Runner now connects Santa Fe, Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties with thirteen station stops, including three stops within Albuquerque. The trains connect Albuquerque to downtown Santa Fe with eight roundtrips per weekday. The section of the line running south to Belen is served less frequently. Local mass transit Alvarado Transportation Center, an intermodal transportation hub in downtown Albuquerque Albuquerque was one of two cities in New Mexico to have had electric street railways. Albuquerque 's horse - drawn streetcar lines were electrified during the first few years of the 20th century. The Albuquerque Traction Company assumed operation of the system in 1905. The system grew to its maximum length of 6 miles ( 9.7 km ) during the next ten years by connecting destinations such as Old Town to the west and the University of New Mexico to the east with the town 's urban center near the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway depot. The Albuquerque Traction Company failed financially in 1915 and the vaguely named City Electric Company was formed. Despite traffic booms during the first world war, and unaided by lawsuits attempting to force the streetcar company to pay for paving, that system also failed later in 1927, leaving the streetcar 's `` motorettes '' unemployed. Today, Alvarado Station provides convenient access to other parts of the city via the city bus system, ABQ RIDE. ABQ RIDE operates a variety of bus routes, including the Rapid Ride express bus service. ART logo In 2006 the City of Albuquerque under the mayorship of Martin Chavez had planned and attempted to `` fast track '' the development of a `` Modern Streetcar '' project. Funding for the US $270 million system was not resolved as many citizens vocally opposed the project. The city and its transit department maintain a policy commitment to the streetcar project. The project would run mostly in the southeast quadrant on Central Avenue and Yale Boulevard. As of 2011, the city is working on a study to develop a bus rapid transit system through the Central Ave. corridor. This corridor carried 44 % of all bus riders in the ABQ Ride system, making it a natural starting point for enhanced service. In 2017, the city moved forward with the plans, and began construction on Albuquerque Rapid Transit, or ART, including dedicated bus lanes between Coors and Louisiana Boulevards. Bicycle transit Albuquerque has a well - developed bicycle network. In and around the city there are trails, bike routes, and paths that provide the residents and visitors with alternatives to motorized travel. In 2009, the city was reviewed as having a major up and coming bike scene in North America. The same year, the City of Albuquerque opened its first Bicycle Boulevard on Silver Avenue. There are plans for more investment in bikes and bike transit by the city, including bicycle lending programs, in the coming years. Walkability A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Albuquerque below average at 28th most walkable of the fifty largest U.S. cities. Airports Albuquerque International Sunport 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 of Albuquerque. The Albuquerque International Sunport served 5,888,811 passengers in 2009. 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. Utilities Energy PNM Resources, New Mexico 's largest electricity provider, is based in Albuquerque. They serve about 487,000 electricity customers statewide. New Mexico Gas Company provides natural gas services to more than 500,000 customers in the state, including the Albuquerque metro area. Sanitation The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is responsible for the delivery of drinking water and the treatment of wastewater. Trash and recycling in the city is managed by the City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Department. Further information : § Hydrology South Side Water Reclamation Plant. Healthcare Albuquerque is the medical hub of New Mexico, hosting numerous state - of - the - art medical centers. Some of the city 's top hospitals include the VA Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Medical Services, Heart Hospital of New Mexico, and Lovelace Women 's Hospital. The University of New Mexico Hospital is the primary teaching hospital for the state 's only medical school and provides the state 's only residency training programs, children 's hospital, burn center and level I pediatric and adult trauma centers. The University of New Mexico Hospital is also the home of a certified advanced primary stroke center as well as the largest collection of adult and pediatric specialty and subspecialty programs in the state. Media Further information : Media in Albuquerque, New Mexico The city is served by one major newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, and several smaller daily and weekly papers, including the alternative Weekly Alibi. Albuquerque is also home to numerous radio and television stations that serve the metropolitan and outlying rural areas. In popular culture This article appears to contain trivial, minor, or unrelated references to popular culture. Please reorganize this content to explain the subject 's impact on popular culture rather than simply listing appearances ; add references to reliable sources if possible. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( November 2017 ) In film Many Bugs Bunny cartoon shorts feature Bugs traveling around the world by burrowing underground ; he gets lost quite often while traveling and remarks, while consulting a map, `` I knew I should have made a left toin at Albukoykee ''. ( Bugs first uses that line in 1945 's Herr Meets Hare. ) Some parts of the 1999 movie Pirates of the Silicon Valley were shot in Albuquerque. Albuquerque has been featured in Hollywood movies such as Little Miss Sunshine ( 2006 ), Sunshine Cleaning ( 2008 ), and Brothers ( 2009 ). Marvel Studios ' film The Avengers ( 2012 ) was mostly ( > 75 % ) filmed at the Albuquerque Studios. A Million Ways to Die in the West ( 2014 ), directed by Seth MacFarlane, was filmed in various areas in and around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The 2013 film Force of Execution starring Steven Seagal is set and filmed in Albuquerque. In music Musicians who have lived in Albuquerque include Jim Morrison, Glen Campbell, Bo Diddley, Demi Lovato, Eric McFadden, Rahim Al - Haj, and Bernadette Seacrest. Music groups based in Albuquerque include A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Beirut, The Echoing Green, The Eyeliners, Hazeldine, Leiahdorus, Scared of Chaka, and The Shins. Neil Young 's song `` Albuquerque '' can be found on the album Tonight 's the Night. In television Albuquerque is the setting for the television shows In Plain Sight and Breaking Bad, with the latter significantly boosting tourism in the area. Better Call Saul, a spinoff of Breaking Bad, is also set and shot in Albuquerque. Ethel Mertz, a character on the 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy, refers to Albuquerque as her hometown. Vivian Vance, the actress who played Ethel, actually was from Albuquerque. `` Hungry, Hungry Homer '', the 15th episode of the twelfth season of The Simpsons, features Albuquerque as the location where the owners of the Springfield Isotopes baseball team wish to relocate. The real Albuquerque Isotopes Minor League team 's name was inspired by the episode. Notable people Main article : List of people from Albuquerque Sister Cities Banner at the Albuquerque International Sunport listing Albuquerque 's sister cities Albuquerque has ten sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International : Alburquerque, Spain Aşgabat, Turkmenistan Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico Gijón, Spain Guadalajara, Mexico Helmstedt, Germany Hualien City, Taiwan Lanzhou, Gansu, People 's Republic of China Rehovot, Israel Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan See also National Old Trails Road Geography portal North America portal United States portal New Mexico portal New Spain portal Notes Jump up ^ Official records for Albuquerque kept December 1891 to 22 January 1933 at the Weather Bureau Office and at Albuquerque Int'l since 23 January 1933. For more information, see Threadex References ^ Jump up to : `` Annual Estimates of the Resident Population : April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016 ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Jump up ^ State & County QuickFacts Archived April 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine... Census.gov Jump up ^ `` ABQ Trolley Co. -- BURQUEÑOS ''. Abqtrolley.com. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Find a County ''. National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Metropolitan and Micropolitan -- Data -- People and Households -- U.S. Census Bureau ''. Census.gov. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014. Jump up ^ Simmons, Marc ( 2003 ). Hispanic Albuquerque, 1706 - 1846. Albuquerque : UNM Press. p. 66. ISBN 9780826331601. Retrieved October 12, 2017 -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ Julyan, Robert Hixson ( 1996 ). The Place Names of New Mexico. Albuquerque : UNM Press. pp. 9 -- 10. ISBN 9780826316899. Retrieved October 12, 2017 -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ `` Albuquerque ''. Online Etymology Dictionary. Jump up ^ James J. Parsons. The Cork Oak Forests and the Evolution of the Cork Industry in Southern Spain and Portugal. 1962. Clark University Jump up ^ Brochure `` Alburquerque : Villa Medieval '' Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Alburquerque and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya. 2006 Jump up ^ Eddie Pells, If in Doubt, You Can Just Call It Albuquirky, Los Angeles Times, May 21, 1995. Jump up ^ Barrett, Elinore M. ( 2002 ). Conquest and Catastrophe : Changing Rio Grande Pueblo Settlement Patterns in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Albuquerque : UNM Press. ISBN 9780826324139. Retrieved September 25, 2017 -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ `` History of Sandia Pueblo ''. Sandia Pueblo website. Pueblo of Sandia. 2006. Archived from the original on 2008 - 01 - 02. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 17. Jump up ^ Seymour, Deni ( 2012 ). From the Land of Ever Winter to the American Southwest. University of Utah Press. Jump up ^ `` About - Albuquerque Historical Society ''. Albuquerque Historical Society. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 04. Jump up ^ `` History ''. Nmallstar.com. Retrieved February 18, 2012. Jump up ^ New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, Historic Preservation Division. `` San Felipe de Neri Church Historical Marker ''. Jump up ^ Galloway, Lindsey. `` A hospital turned hotel in New Mexico ''. BBC Travel. BBC. ^ Jump up to : Simmons, Marc ( 1982 ). Albuquerque. Albuquerque : University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 0 - 8263 - 0627 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Home ''. congregationalbert.org. Jump up ^ Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer ( June 28, 2007 ). `` The fastest growing U.S. cities -- June 28, 2007 ''. CNN. Retrieved May 9, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places : Earliest Census to 1990 ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012. Jump up ^ Siermers, Erick ( September 17, 2007 ). `` Managing Albuquerque 's growth ''. Archived from the original on February 22, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Planned Growth Strategy ''. Cabq.gov. March 19, 2007. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Petroglyph National Monument ''. Nps.gov. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on August 28, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010. Jump up ^ Metcalf, Richard. `` ABQ third - best metro for making money owning rental housing. '' Albuquerque Journal. October 7, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Geographic Identifiers : 2010 Demographic Profile Data ( G001 ) : Albuquerque city, New Mexico ''. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 27, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Laura Calabrese. `` Vegetation & The Environment in NM ''. University of New Mexico. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Stephen Ausherman ( 2012 ). 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles : Albuquerque : Including Santa Fe, Mount Taylor, and San Lorenzo Canyon ( 2nd ed. ). Menasha Ridge Press. p. 288. ISBN 9780897326001. Jump up ^ `` Albuquerque Basin ''. The New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Robert Julyan, The Place Names of New Mexico ( revised edition ), UNM Press, 1998. ^ Jump up to : `` WMO Climate Normals for ALBUQUERQUE / INT'L ARPT NM 1961 -- 1990 ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 11. Jump up ^ `` NCDC : U.S. Climate Normals '' ( PDF ). Retrieved October 31, 2010. Jump up ^ http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Images/300dpi/NM.jpg Jump up ^ `` Preliminary total snowfall reports across central and northern New Mexico from the December 28 -- 30 winter storm ''. National Weather Service Albuquerque, NM. December 31, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2009. Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Station Name : NM ALBUQUERQUE INTL AP ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Station Name : NM ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Station Name : NM ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 22. Jump up ^ Your Drinking Water http://www.abcwua.org/Your_Drinking_Water.aspx Accessed August 1, 2013 Albuquerque Bernalillo Water Authority Jump up ^ Odenwald, Arlene Cinelli ( April 1993 ). `` Protecting the aquifer : Albuquerque reacting ''. New Mexico Business Journal. 17 ( 4 ) : 38 -- 39. ISSN 0164 - 6796. Archived from the original on 2008 - 11 - 09. Retrieved December 23, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority : Water Resource Management Strategy '' ( PDF ). Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. January 10, 2007. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008. Jump up ^ The project 's page at the United States Bureau of Reclamation 's website `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority ''. Abcwua.org. December 7, 2008. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Adopted Santolina Level A Master Plan - Bernalillo County, New Mexico ''. bernco.gov. Jump up ^ `` Census of Population and Housing ''. Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Albuquerque ( city ), New Mexico ''. State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. 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Go Isotopes ! ''. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. May 13, 2003. p. C8. Jump up ^ Latta, Dennis ( September 5, 2002 ). `` Team President Throws Isotopes Name Into Play ''. Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque Publishing Company. p. A1. Jump up ^ `` Albuquerque Sol FC Joins PDL ( press release ) ''. USLSoccer.com. December 5, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014. Jump up ^ Raimondi, Marc ( June 6, 2014 ). `` UFC 's first Albuquerque show is a long time coming for Jackson 's MMA ''. Fox Sports. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014. Jump up ^ Wright, Rick ( August 3, 2014 ). `` Duke City a dominant force in MMA ''. Albuquerque Journal. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014. Jump up ^ Star, Kevin Abourezk Lincoln Journal. `` Roller skating champions to return to Lincoln in 2016 : Lincoln, NE Journal Star ''. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 29. 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Retrieved October 12, 2017. Paseo del Norte at I - 25 Interchange Reconstruction Project - City of Albuquerque Jump up ^ `` New Mexico Rail Runner Express : Stations listed North to South ''. New Mexico Rail Runner. Retrieved August 2, 2009. Jump up ^ `` New Mexico Rail Runner Express Monday -- Friday Schedule '' ( PDF ). New Mexico Rail Runner Express. December 2, 2008. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on January 14, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2008. Jump up ^ Myrick, David F ( 1970 ). New Mexico 's Railroads -- - An Historical Survey. Golden, Colorado : Colorado Railroad Museum. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 70 - 116915. Jump up ^ Gisick, Michael ( December 4, 2006 ). `` Council : Streetcar project rushed ''. Albuquerque Tribune. Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Planning for the Future : Bus Rapid Transit ( BRT ) Service on Central Avenue ''. CABQ.gov. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2011. Jump up ^ https://www.brtabq.com/ Albuquerque Rapid Transit Jump up ^ `` Biking in Albuquerque ''. City of Albuquerque. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Jump up ^ Eric Smillie ( April 27, 2009 ). `` Sorry, Portland ''. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009. Jump up ^ Jeremy Jojola ; Joshua Panas ( January 14, 2009 ). `` Bike Boulevard to run through ABQ ''. KOB New Mexico. Retrieved August 5, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Albuquerque To Launch Bike - Sharing Program ''. abqjournal.com. Jump up ^ `` 2011 City and Neighborhood Rankings ''. Walk Score. 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Sunport Facts & Figures ''. City of Albuquerque. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Double Eagle II Airport ''. City of Albuquerque. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Herr Meets Hare ''. BCDB. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Behind the Scenes : `` The Avengers '' in Albuquerque, NM ``. May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ Adrian Gomez, Millions of eyeballs on New Mexico as movie opens, Albuquerque Journal, May 30, 2014 Jump up ^ Janela, Mike. `` Breaking Bad Cooks Up Record - Breaking Formula for Guinness World Records 2014 Edition ''. Guinness World Records 2014. Guinness World Records. Retrieved October 19, 2013. Jump up ^ Faust, Chris Gray ( August 11, 2013 ). `` ' Breaking Bad ' has been very good for Albuquerque ''. U.S.A. Today. Gannett Company, Inc. Retrieved October 19, 2013. Jump up ^ Verrier, Richard. `` ' Breaking Bad ' Tourism Boost Will Last Long After Series Leaves Albuquerque ''. Los Angeles Times. MCT Information Services. Retrieved October 19, 2013. Jump up ^ The Associated Press. `` ' Breaking Bad ' brings tourists to Albuquerque for ' meth ' treats like blue rock candy, bath salts ''. New York Daily News. New York Daily News. Retrieved October 19, 2013. Jump up ^ Thoren, Laura. `` Buzz surrounds ' burial ' for Walter White ' Breaking Bad ' character to have services in ABQ cemetery ''. KOAT - TV 7 News report. Hearst. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Better Call Saul in Albuquerque ''. visitalbuquerque.org. Jump up ^ James M. Keller, We love Ethel : Vivian Vance in Albuquerque, Santa Fe New Mexican, January 2, 2015 Jump up ^ Heather Draper, Colorado Rockies drop Sky Sox, pick up Albuquerque Isotopes, Denver Business Journal, September 17, 2014 Jump up ^ `` Sister Cities, Public Relations ''. Guadalajara municipal government. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2013. Further reading See also : Bibliography of the history of Albuquerque, New Mexico Ciotola, Nicholas P. `` Italian immigrants in Albuquerque, 1880 to 1930 : A study in Western distinctiveness. '' Journal of the West 43.4 ( 2004 ) : 41 - 48. Luckingham, Bradford. The urban southwest : a profile history of Albuquerque, El Paso, Phoenix, Tucson ( Texas Western Press, 1982 ) Simmons, Marc. Albuquerque : a narrative history ( University of New Mexico Press, 1982 ) External links Find more aboutAlbuquerque, New Mexicoat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Wikimedia Commons News from Wikinews Texts from Wikisource Travel guide from Wikivoyage Official government website 1905 Magazine Article with historical photos Albuquerque, New Mexico at Curlie ( based on DMOZ ) `` Albuquerque, New Mexico ''. C - SPAN Cities Tour. March 2013. City of Albuquerque, New Mexico Tim Keller ( politician ), Mayor City Council Mayors Architecture Arts and Culture Economy Educational Institutions Famous Residents History Timeline Landmarks Neighborhoods Sports Transportation Bernalillo County North Valley Rio Rancho South Valley Municipalities and communities of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States County seat : Albuquerque Cities Albuquerque Rio Rancho ‡ Town Edgewood ‡ Villages Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Tijeras CDPs Carnuel Cedar Crest Cedro Chilili Edith Endave Isleta Village Proper Manzano Springs ‡ North Valley Pajarito Mesa Paradise Hills Ponderosa Pine San Antonito Sandia Heights Sandia Knolls Sandia Park Sedillo South Valley Other unincorporated communities Alameda Cañoncito Carpenter Isleta Pueblo Zuzax Indian reservations Laguna Pueblo ‡ Navajo Nation ‡ Sandia Pueblo ‡ Footnotes ‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties State of New Mexico Santa Fe ( capital ) Topics Index Census - designated places Cuisine Bizcochito Chile Culture Delegations Geography Government History World War II Landmarks Military Music New Mexico music New Mexicans Hispanos Pueblos and Tribes Paleontology Symbols Tourist attractions Transportation Seal of New Mexico Society Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Regions Central New Mexico Colorado Plateau Eastern New Mexico Llano Estacado Northern New Mexico Permian Basin San Luis Valley Sangre de Cristo Mountains Southwestern New Mexico Cities Alamogordo Albuquerque Artesia Carlsbad Clovis Corrales Deming Española Farmington Gallup Grants Hobbs Las Cruces Las Vegas Los Alamos Los Lunas Lovington Portales Raton Rio Rancho Roswell Ruidoso Santa Fe Silver City Socorro Sunland Park Taos Tucumcari Counties See : List of counties in New Mexico Bernalillo Catron Chaves Cibola Colfax Curry De Baca Doña Ana Eddy Grant Guadalupe Harding Hidalgo Lea Lincoln Los Alamos Luna McKinley Mora Otero Quay Rio Arriba Roosevelt San Juan San Miguel Sandoval Santa Fe Sierra Socorro Taos Torrance Union Valencia VIAF : 137143216 GND : 4217452 - 1 BNF : cb122602117 ( data ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albuquerque,_New_Mexico&oldid=836279958 '' Categories : Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque metropolitan area Cities in Bernalillo County, New Mexico Cities in New Mexico County seats in New Mexico Populated places established in 1706 Spanish - American culture in New Mexico 1706 establishments in New Spain Railway towns in New Mexico Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Use mdy dates from June 2015 Coordinates on Wikidata Articles with hAudio microformats Articles including recorded pronunciations ( English ) Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2010 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles to be expanded from July 2017 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2011 Articles with trivia sections from November 2017 Articles with Curlie links Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Afrikaans አማርኛ Aragonés Asturianu Avañe'ẽ Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه Bamanankan বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Български Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Cebuano Čeština Corsu Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Diné bizaad Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Føroyskt Français Frysk Gaeilge Gàidhlig Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Interlingua Ирон Íslenska Italiano עברית ಕನ್ನಡ Kapampangan ქართული Қазақша Kernowek Kiswahili Кыргызча Кырык мары Ladino Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Magyar Македонски मराठी მარგალური Bahasa Melayu Монгол Nederlands 日本 語 Нохчийн Norsk Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Piemontèis Polski Português Română Romani Русский Саха тыла Sardu Scots Shqip Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Ślůnski Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் ไทย Tsetsêhestâhese Türkçe Twi Українська اردو ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche Vèneto Tiếng Việt Volapük Winaray Yorùbá 粵語 中文 95 more Edit links This page was last edited on 13 April 2018, at 19 : 51. 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Question: what is the elevation of albuquerque new mexico
Answer: 5,312 ft (1,619.1 m)