Monday, March 29, 2010

Albuquerque Community Information

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
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Albuquerque is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is the largest city in the state of New Mexico. This magical city is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The estimated population of the metropolitan area is a little over 841,000. In 2007, Albuquerque ranked as the 32nd-largest city as well as the 2nd fastest growing city in the country.

Albuquerque residents enjoy a unique quality of life and developing business environment. Nestled between the brilliant Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque is rich with culture and heritage and offers breathtaking landscapes and is famous for its 180 degree sunsets.

The University of New Mexico (UNM) and Kirtland Air Force Base as well as Sandia National Laboratories and Petroglyph National Monument all call Albuquerque home. The Sandia Mountains run along the eastern side of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande flows through the city north to south.

One of Albuquerque's greatest assets is the glorious weather, offering 350 approximate days of sunshine a year, with elevation of approximately 5,700 feet. Albuquerque is a true high desert. Albuquerque has four true seasons with none being extreme.

Albuquerque is geographically divided into four quadrants which are officially part of the mailing address.

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 Sandia Heights and High Desert neighborhoods, which are situated in or near the foothills and are significantly higher, in elevation and price range, than the rest of the city.

Northwest Quadrant
This quadrant contains historic Old Town Albuquerque, which dates back to the 1700s, as well as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The area has a mixture of commercial and some of the most expensive homes in the city. It borders the Rio Grande River and has abundant trees and vegetation.

Southeast Quadrant
The Nob Hill and East Downtown (EDo) neighborhoods lie along Central Avenue, the border between the Southeast and Northeast quadrants. The University of New Mexico campus is located in this charming neighborhood.

Southwest Quadrant
Traditionally consisting of agricultural and rural areas, the Southwest quadrant is often referred to as the "South Valley". Although the city limits of Albuquerque do not include all of the area, the South Valley is considered to extend all the way to the Isleta Indian Reservation.