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