Communities: Albuquerque Community Overview

shawna — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:47:04 -0600

Albuquerque Community Overview

Located in Bernalillo County, Albuquerque is one of the most livable cities in the U.S., with an average of 304 days of sunshine a year, and rare to non-existent natural disasters. The metro area averages 8.9 inches of rain a year and only 4.2 days of snow a year. Average humidity ranges from 30 percent in the summer to 56 percent in the winter. The city rests at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, which tower 10,678 feet above sea level and provide breathtaking views. The Rio Grande runs north to south.

Albuquerque has been named one of the ten fastest growing cities in the nation. Between 1990 and 2000, the metro area population increased 22 percent. By 2020, the metro area population is expected to exceed more than 1 million.

For more regional information on Albuquerque, visit here.

Housing

Housing in Albuquerque is new, affordable and diverse. Residents can choose from tree-lined neighborhoods along the Rio Grande to high-desert homes to planned communities and urban lofts.

The median sales price for a single-family home in 2009 was $180,000.
The area has a large supply of affordable rental housing including some 75,000 apartment units.

Quality of Life

Albuquerque's scenic beauty of mountains and high desert is unparalleled. There are some 200 parks throughout the city and more than 80 miles of running and biking trails. Skiing and snowboarding are less than an hour from the city and golf is a year-round activity on the more than 15 courses in the city. For those who prefer more remote adventures, New Mexico boasts millions of acres of public lands and rivers for fishing and hunting; white-water rafting, mountain climbing and biking; hang gliding, horseback riding, backpacking and camping.

Sports fans enjoy collegiate and professional games. The University of New Mexico Lobos have popular major college football, baseball, basketball and soccer games. The area's Triple A baseball team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, entertain fans in a multimillion dollar state-of-the-art stadium. The Albuquerque Thunderbirds, part of the NBA Development League, is Albuquerque's newest sports team.

The Southwest culture in Albuquerque is unique and renowned. The city boasts more than 40 art galleries and 20 museums, numerous arts and crafts fairs, more than 30 performing arts centers and groups, an historic Old Town with old world charm, 500-plus places of worship, and two library systems.

For more information, visit these links: Albuquerque Arts and Culture or Albuquerque Recreational Opportunities.

Albuquerque Community Resources

Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau - What to do, where to go, map, history, relocation info
City of Albuquerque - Community calendar, city services, department listings, list of Albuquerque A-Z

Communities: Albuquerque Business Overview

shawna — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:31:54 -0600

Albuquerque Business Overview

Labor Snapshot

Labor force size: 408,600 (2009 average)
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (2009 average) 7.9% (12/09)
Median age: 35.9 (2009 estimate)
Major industries: Government - 22%, Professional & Business Services - 16%, Educational & Health Services - 14%

Major Albuquerque Employers

ORGANIZATION	EMPLOYS	DESCRIPTION
Kirtland Air Force Base (Civilian)	16,533*	Air Force Materiel Command
Sandia National Labs (Lockheed Martin)	8,400	Research & Development
University of New Mexico	15,260	Educational Institution
Albuquerque Public Schools	14,000	Educational Institution
Presbyterian Healthcare	7,425	Hospital/Healthcare Services
City of Albuquerque	5,940	Government
State of New Mexico	5,710	Government
UNM Hospital	5,455	Hospital
Lovelace Health System	3,400	Hospital/Healthcare Services
Bernalillo County	2,530	Government
Central New Meico Community College	1,855	Educational Institution
Veterans' Administration Medical Center	1,800	Hospital
Sandia Resort & Casino	1,800	Resort & Casino
PNM Electric Services	1,065	Electric Utility
T-Mobile	1,500	Customer Service Center
Citi Cards	1,100	Credit Card Collection & Customer Service Center
Honeywell Defense & Space Electronic Systems	1,100	Aircraft Avionics Manufacturer
Isleta Resort & Casino	1,200	Resort & Casino
Verison Wireless	1,500	Wireless Technical Data Services & Customer Service Center

*Kirtland’s employment number includes civilian employees and contractors, including Sandia National Laboratories. However, Sandia National Labs employment is also shown separately since Sandia and Kirtland publish data in different cycles.

Utilities

The Public Service Company of New Mexico, an investor-owned utility company, provides Albuquerque's electricity.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo Water Utility Authority is a joint agency that administers the water and wastewater utility for all of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The city owns a substantial amount of water from the San Juan-Chama Diversion Project, which, in 2008, began infusing more than 15 billion gallons of water annually into the city and will provide up to 70 percent of the area's water.

Qwest, Time Warner Telecom, MCI Worldcom, McLeod USA and Xspedius all provide fiber or telecommunications services locally.

Transportation

Albuquerque is well-positioned to give companies a market access advantage. Two major highways (I-40 and I-25) bisect Albuquerque, providing easy access in all directions. Albuquerque International Sunport is served by eight major airlines and six commuter airlines. The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway offers a north-south line that connects in Albuquerque and an east-west line that connects in Belen. Commuters can ride the RailRunner Express, a new commuter rail traveling between Santa Fe, 60 miles north of Albuquerque, and Belen, 35 miles south of Albuquerque.

Business Resources

Albuquerque Economic Development - Business relocation and expansion information, Alliance member
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce - Promotes economic and educational opportunities for the Albuquerque Hispanic community.
Bernalillo County - Officials, departments, and general info
Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce - Contact members of business community, calendar of events, relocation information
City of Albuquerque - Officials, departments, and general information

NMSS - Communities: Albuquerque