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. It was incorporated as a city in 1891. [161] The same year, Albuquerque opened its first Bicycle Boulevard on Silver Avenue. John Gaw Meem is also credited with developing and popularizing the Pueblo Revival style, which was based in Santa Fe but received an important Albuquerque commission in 1933 as the architect of the University of New Mexico. [113] Several MMA world champions and fighters, including Holly Holm and Jon Jones, train in that facility. - Albuquerque Journal", "New jobs, bigger facilities, local support: New Mexico's bioscience industry is alive and kicking - Albuquerque Journal", "Best Places For Business And Careers 2006", "America's Engineering Capitals: No. As a large and multicultural city, Albuquerque is home to a variety of global cuisines, in addition to local New Mexican cuisine. Architect John Gaw Meem is often credited with this revival. neomexicana), New Mexico walnut (Juglans major), and New Mexico ash (Fraxinus velutina). Arroyos contain desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) while breaks and the prominent volcanic escarpment include threeleaf sumac with less frequent stands of oneseed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), netleaf hackberry (Celtis reticulata), mariola (Parthenium incanum), and beebrush or oreganillo (Aloysia wrightii). [24] In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Albuquerque's population as 34.5% Hispanic and 58.3% non-Hispanic white. One of the longest running AM broadcasts in the United States is an ABC News Radio station called KKOB (AM). Talk radio has several outlets in the Albuquerque area. "Duke City" gained popularity when the city's baseball team was the Albuquerque Dukes, which boasted a loyal fan base throughout the city.When the city . According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,[48] the city is located in the southeastern edge of the Arizona/New Mexico Plateau, with the Arizona/New Mexico Mountains ecoregion defining the adjacent Sandia-Manzano mountains, including the foothills in the eastern edges of the city proper east of about Juan Tabo Boulevard. [126], The city council has the power to adopt all ordinances, resolutions, or other legislation. It is also found in western India where it was taken by Portuguese colonists. The city is referenced in "Hungry, Hungry Homer", the 15th episode of the twelfth season of The Simpsons, which features Albuquerque as the location where the owners of the Springfield Isotopes baseball team wish to relocate; the episode inspired the name of the real Albuquerque Isotopes Minor League team. 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. 16. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males. The mountains and highlands east of the city create a rain shadow effect, due to the drying of air descending the mountains; the Sandia Mountain foothills tend to lift any available moisture, enhancing precipitation to about 1017 inches (254432mm) annually. [20] Many Anglo merchants, mountain men, and settlers slowly filtered into Albuquerque, creating a major mercantile commercial center which is now Downtown Albuquerque. [69], Like many major American cities, Albuquerque struggles with homelessness, which has become more visible since the 2000s. There is also a Laotian American temple and a sizable community in parts of this area as well as around Uptown. Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), one of the largest school districts in the nation, provides educational services to almost 100,000 children across the city. Many drug dealers sell any drug they can get their hands. [65] Collectively, other Christian churches and organizations, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy, among others, make up the second largest group. In September 2021, PNM entered final merger talks with Avangrid, the U.S. subsidiary of Spanish power giant Iberdrola. The Rio Grande is classified, like the Nile, as an "exotic" river. Albuquerque ( countable and uncountable, plural Albuquerques ) A surname from Spanish. There is also an African American community around Highland. Treated effluent water is recycled into the Rio Grande south of the city. Albuquerque dining is best known for its unique local cuisine blending Native American and Spanish flavors and preparations with our signature ingredients: red and green chiles. ", The project's page at the United States Bureau of Reclamation's website, AlbuquerqueSanta FeLas Vegas combined statistical area, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park, National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, List of historic landmarks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, List of middle schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico, List of high schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico, List of colleges and universities in New Mexico, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, List of people from Albuquerque, New Mexico, "Grammar guy: Spelling and expelling demonyms", "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Albuquerque city, New Mexico", "QuickFacts: Albuquerque city, New Mexico", "Combined Statistical Areas - 2020 Census - Data as of January 1, 2020", "Intel investing $3.5B in New Mexico fab upgrade, boosting US chipmaking", "An Albuquerque Appetite: Where to Eat in New Mexico's Biggest City", "San Felipe de Neri Church Historical Marker", "The fastest growing U.S. cities June 28, 2007", "Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990", "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Albuquerque city, New Mexico", "Adopted Santolina Level A Master Plan-Bernalillo County, New Mexico", "USGS Scientific Investigations Map 3084: Terrestrial EcosystemsIsobioclimates of the Conterminous United States", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "WMO Climate Normals for ALBUQUERQUE/INT'L ARPT NM 19611990", "Ecoregion Download Files by State - Region 6", "100 Facts for Albuquerque and New Mexico", "Preliminary total snowfall reports across central and northern New Mexico from the December 2830 winter storm", "Protecting the aquifer: Albuquerque reacting", "Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority: Water Resource Management Strategy", "Project details - San Juan-Chama Project - Bureau of Reclamation", "The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority", "State & County QuickFacts: Albuquerque (city), New Mexico", "New Mexico police seek public's help in probe of four Muslim slayings", "Top 10 Best Buddhist Temples in Albuquerque, NM - Last Updated December 2022", "Annual count shows city's homeless numbers up - Albuquerque Journal", "Annual count shows city's homeless numbers' up", "Do You Remember "The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca", "Cerrillos New Mexico Ghost Town - Haunted Places: Old Abandoned Mining Towns", "Breaking Bad Cooks Up Record-Breaking Formula for Guinness World Records 2014 Edition", "Buzz surrounds 'burial' for Walter White 'Breaking Bad' character to have services in ABQ cemetery", "Behind the Scenes: "The Avengers" in Albuquerque, NM", Millions of eyeballs on New Mexico as movie opens, Colorado Rockies drop Sky Sox, pick up Albuquerque Isotopes, "The 10 Best Songs of New Mexico Music, America's Forgotten Folk Genre", "Tribute to a Legend: "The Godfather" Al Hurricane", "Viejo el viento - Remembering Al Hurricane", "Q&A mayoral candidate Edward Joseph Aragon Jr", "Jim Glaser performs "The Lights of Albuquerque" Live On The Marty Stuart Show", "Lights of Albuquerque by Billy Mize - Track Info", "The Lights of Albuquerque by Pat Duran - Track Info", "LibGuides: Library History: A Brief History of the Public Library", "Jackson Wink MMA gets attention for training top fighters", "UFC's first Albuquerque show is a long time coming for Jackson's MMA", "Roller skating champions to return to Lincoln in 2016", "Hell on Skates: Roller derby enters the new millennium", "Dukes Retro Night elicits fond memories", "Albuquerque Registered Voter Enrollment: 2016", "Charter of the City of Albuquerque [PDF]", "Council Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) City of Albuquerque", "Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies", "Albuquerque Economy Showing Remarkable Growth, August GRT Data Just Released", "Will The Rio Grande Tech Corridor Become The Silicon Valley Of New Mexico? Mesa: Spanish for plateau in southwestern United States. For more information, email us at info@visitalbuquerque.org, call 011-505-842-9918 or fax 011-505-247-9101. [95] Today, KISS 97.3 still exists, though WILD has changed to a variety of formats. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.02. Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the U.S., ranging from 4,900 feet (1,500m) above sea level near the Rio Grande to over 6,700 feet (2,000m) in the foothill areas of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills. Petroglyphs carved into basalt in the western part of the city bear testimony to an early Native American presence in the area, now preserved in the Petroglyph National Monument. The daily average temperatures in December and January, the coldest months, are above freezing at 36.9F (2.7C) and 37.4F (3.0C), respectively. Summer is lengthy and very warm to hot, relatively tolerable for most people because of low humidity and air movement. The population density was 2,907.6 per square mile (4679.329/km2), making Albuquerque one of the least densely populated large cities in the U.S. There are numerous golf courses in the city area; Arroyo Del Oso Golf Course, Isleta Eagle Golf Course, Ladera Golf Course, Los Altos Golf Course, Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, Paradise Hills Golf Course, Puerto del Sol Golf Course, Sandia Golf Club, Santa Ana Golf Club, Twin Warriors Golf Club, and University of New Mexico's Championship Golf Course. The surname has been established in Portugal since the 15th century. 17. (mentally sharp) a. quick Mi pap tiene un ingenio vivo. Historically it was sometimes referred to as "La Placita" (Little Plaza in Spanish). 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. The city is served by one major newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, other ongoing periodicals in the city include Albuquerque the Magazine, both of which are distributed throughout the Southwestern United States and are catalogued by the Library of Congress. 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. Albuquerque has ten sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International: The pre-1940s parts of Albuquerque are quite different in style and scale from the post-1940s areas. Entries linking to Albuquerque alb (n.) In 2010, 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 65or older. [22] :317 Meem also designed the Cathedral Church of St. John in 1950.[101]. MRCOG's cornerstone project is currently the New Mexico Rail Runner Express. When driving along major roads in the newer sections of Albuquerque, one sees strip malls, signs, and cinderblock walls. ). Precipitation averages 8.84 inches (225mm) per year. Numerous works of fiction take place, either fully or in part, in the Albuquerque metropolitan area including Albuquerque (1948 Western), Bless Me, Ultima, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Breaking Bad (along with its spin-offs Better Call Saul and El Camino), and High School Musical. Albuquerque is home to over 300 other visual arts, music, dance, literary, film, ethnic, and craft organizations, museums, festivals and associations, and the state's capital Santa Fe is known for being a major arts city. Trash and recycling in the city are managed by the City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Management Department. In 2002, the Alvarado Transportation Center was built on the site in a manner resembling the old landmark. Albuquerque is home to eighteen broadcast television stations, including KOB, KRQE, KOAT-TV, and KLUZ-TV, although most households are served by direct cable network connections. Each of the Albuquerque metropolitan area's megachurches have media presence with broadcasts of their sermons, those include Legacy, Calvary, and Sagebrush. [129], Albuquerque is New Mexico's leading economic center, accounting for half the state's economic activity. Related: Quercine (adj. 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. Albuquerque's drinking water comes from a combination of Rio Grande water (river water diverted from the Colorado River basin through the San Juan-Chama Project[53]) and a delicate aquifer that has been described as an "underground Lake Superior". Alburquerque (Spanish pronunciation: [alukeke] ( listen)) is a town in the province of Badajoz in Spain. As well as arthropods like the plains cicada, vinegaroon, desert centipede, white-lined sphynx (hummingbird moth), two-tailed swallowtail, fig beetle, New Mexico mantis, and harvester ant. It is the largest airport in New Mexico, and the state's sole international airport, serving over 5 million passengers annually. [135] In 2017, the state-funded Bioscience Authority was established to help promote local industry development, particularly through public-private partnerships; the following year, pharmaceutical company Curia built two large facilities in Albuquerque, and in fall 2022 broke ground on a $100 million expansion of its local operations.[136]. Alburquerque Origin of albuquerque From Spanish Alburquerque ("a town in Spain"), after Spanish viceroy Francisco Fernndez de la Cueva, 8th Duke of Alburquerque (1619-1676). In September, the monsoon begins to weaken. Failure to do so can somehow result in Bugs ending up thousands of miles off-course. My dad has a quick wit. At the Albuquerque International Sunport, the elevation is 5,352feet(1,631m) above sea level. What does Albuquerque mean in Spanish? [128] 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 by a two-thirds vote of councilors. Much of the rainwater Albuquerque receives does not recharge its aquifer. It is diverted through a network of paved channels and arroyos and empties into the Rio Grande. 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. Spring is windy, sometimes unsettled with rain, though spring is usually the driest part of the year in Albuquerque. [105] Route 66 era neon signs, and LED style versions of the neon-style are common throughout the city. 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, the Paradise Hills neighborhood, Taylor Ranch, and Cottonwood Mall. The Sandia Mountains are the predominant geographic feature visible in Albuquerque. Hundreds of hot-air balloons are seen every day, and there is live music, arts and crafts, and food.[100]. Some of the main highways in the metro area include: The interchange between I-40 and I-25 is known as the "Big I". There are six road bridges that cross the Rio Grande and serve the municipality on at least one end if not both. The northsouth dividing line is Central Avenue (the path that Route 66 took through the city), and the eastwest dividing line is the Rail Runner tracks. The eastern approaches of the northernmost three all pass through adjacent unincorporated areas, the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, or the North Valley. Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, Sandia Science & Technology Park, the Max Q commercial district, Albuquerque International Sunport, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Central New Mexico Community College, UNM South Campus, Duke City BMX, University Stadium, Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park, The Pit, Mesa del Sol, Isleta Amphitheater, Netflix Studios, Isleta Resort & Casino, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, New Mexico Veterans Memorial, and Talin Market are all located in the Southeast quadrant of Albuquerque. The area was the site of Native American pueblos (villages) when Europeans first arrived in 1540. "It's historical, scientific, technological and cultural. Albuquerque's judicial system consists of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, which serves other municipalities and unincorporated areas in the county; the main Metropolitan Courthouse is located in downtown Judges serve in nineteen divisions and are subject to partisan elections by county voters every four years. 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. These incidents were classified for decades.[27]. For other uses, see. The Spanish translation of Albuquerque is "White Oak". "Tamalewood" Our personal version of Hollywood. 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. [25], On April 11, 1950, a USAF B-29 bomber carrying a nuclear weapon crashed into a mountain near Manzano Base. The Four Hills neighborhoods are located in and around the foothills on the outskirts of Southeast Albuquerque. The average annual precipitation is less than half of evaporation supporting an arid climate, and no month's daily temperature mean is below freezing. By mid-June, temperatures can exceed 100F (38C). The Old Main Library was recognized as a landmark in September 1979. [6] According to the 2020 census, Albuquerque had 564,559 residents,[7] making it the 32nd-most populous city in the United States and the fourth largest in the Southwest. Albuquerque is a charter city, exercising home rule as opposed to being directly governed by state law. 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. Schools within APS include both public and charter entities. Origin of Albuquerque From Spanish Alburquerque ("a town in Spain"), after Spanish viceroy Francisco Fernndez de la Cueva, 8th Duke of Alburquerque (1619-1676). The exception is some days during the New Mexico monsoon, when daily humidity remains relatively high, especially in July and August. [64] Reflecting its long history as a Spanish city, the Catholic Church is the largest denomination; Catholics are served by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe, whose administrative center is located in Albuquerque. The city proper is bordered on the north by the North Valley, the village of Corrales, and the city of Rio Rancho. The southern half of the International District lies along Central Ave and Louisiana Blvd. In October 2013, the Albuquerque Journal reported Albuquerque as the third best city to own an investment property.[31]. The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) has developed a water resources management strategy that pursues conservation and the direct extraction of water from the Rio Grande for the development of a stable underground aquifer in the future.[54][55]. Albuquerque lies in the Albuquerque Basin, a portion of the Rio Grande rift. Albuquerque is geographically divided into four quadrants that are officially part of mailing addresses. Alburquerque Origin of albuquerque From Spanish Alburquerque ("a town in Spain"), after Spanish viceroy Francisco Fernndez de la Cueva, 8th Duke of Alburquerque (1619-1676). [119], While no longer operating in an official capacity, the defunct Albuquerque Dukes minor league baseball team still has a major following, and the Major League Baseball organization is aware of the team's continued popularity. The median age was 35 years. Martineztown, the University of New Mexico, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, Nob Hill, the Uptown area which includes three shopping malls (Coronado Center, ABQ Uptown, and Winrock Town Center), Hoffmantown, Journal Center, Cliff's Amusement Park, and Balloon Fiesta Park are all in this quadrant. [152] [18], After the New Mexico Territory became a part of the United States, Albuquerque had a federal garrison and quartermaster depot, the Post of Albuquerque, from 1846 to 1867. Sandia Peak Ski Area, adjacent to Albuquerque, provides both winter and summer recreation in the Sandia Mountains. [85] The city is referenced in Billy Mize's 1967 album Lights of Albuquerque, Jim Glaser's 1986 song "The Lights of Albuquerque", Neil Young's song "Albuquerque", and "Weird" Al Yankovic's song "Albuquerque". feminine noun. The city was one of several in the region experiencing a severe winter storm on December 2830, 2006, with locations in Albuquerque receiving between 10.5 and 26 inches (27 and 66cm) of snow. The vast newer subdivision of Volterra lies west of the Four Hills area. 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. It is typical for daily low temperatures in much of late December, and January, and February to be below freezing, with a long-term average of 93 days per year falling to or below freezing, and two days failing to rise above freezing. This quadrant also contains the North Valley settlement, outside the city limits, which has some expensive homes and small ranches along the Rio Grande. Why is everyone moving to Albuquerque? The upside of this planning style is that neighborhoods are shielded from the worst of the noise and lights on the major roads. The ABCWUA expects river water to comprise up to seventy percent of its water budget in 2060. What El Paso means? Including a public radio station run by The University of New Mexico KUNM-FM,[98] for conservative talk radio there is KIVA "The Rock of Talk" owned by Eddy Aragon,[99] and KKOB has a Cumulus Media station affiliated with ABC News Radio. Located in north-central New Mexico, Albuquerque serves as the county seat of Bernalillo County. The city was also the founding location of MITS and Microsoft. The primary mass transit system is ABQ RIDE, which operates a variety of bus routes throughout the city, including the Rapid Ride express bus service. This metro is part of the larger AlbuquerqueSanta FeLas Vegas combined statistical area (CSA), with a population of 1,171,991 as of 2016. 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,[146] Temple Baptist Academy, and Victory Christian. ", "Opportunities knocking for NM tech economy", "New Mexico scientists have formed nearly 150 bioscience startups in just the past 10 years. It has 5,600 inhabitants. ", This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 19:04. The Wells Fargo Building is illuminated green. In 2020, the racial makeup of the city was 60.3% White (including some residents of Hispano or Mexican heritage),[61] 4.5% Native American, 3.1% Black or African American, 3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, and 9.2% Multiracial (two or more races). During this time, contemporary Christian music garnered success with KLYT, branded as M88 in its earlier days, due to the crossover of Christian rock and Christian hip hop with popular music.[96][97]. Africans brought farming methods, cooking styles, crops, and okra and palm oil. It features Sandia Peak Tramway, the world's second-longest passenger aerial tramway, and the longest in the Americas. [168] Smaller specialty hospitals include the Heart Hospital of New Mexico and Lovelace Women's Hospital. Albuquerque hosts the International Balloon Fiesta, the world's largest gathering of hot-air balloons, taking place every October at Balloon Fiesta Park, with its 47-acre launch field. This quadrant includes the old communities of Atrisco, Los Padillas, Huning Castle, Kinney, Westgate, Westside, Alamosa, Mountainview, and Pajarito. The climate is rather mild compared to parts of the country further north or further south. [162] In 2015, the city adopted the "Bikeway & Trails Facility Plan" to invest in its bicycle infrastructure, including improving and expanding the existing system, adding new routes, and establishing bike sharing programs. Does Albuquerque mean anything in Spanish? Named in honor of the Viceroy of New Spain, the 10th Duke of Alburquerque, the city was an outpost on El Camino Real linking Mexico City to the northernmost territories of New Spain. (United States) Se me olvid sacar la basura antes de irme a trabajar.I forgot to take out the trash before going to work. tree genus, Latin quercus "oak," from PIE *kwerkwu-, assimilated form of *perkwu- "oak" (see fir). By the 1500s, there were around 20 Tiwa pueblos along a 60-mile (97km) stretch of river from present-day Algodones to the Rio Puerco confluence south of Belen. Its climate is classified as semi-desert warm temperate as defined by The Biota of North America Program[39] and the U.S. Geological Survey's Terrestrial EcosystemsIsobioclimates of the Conterminous United States,[40] using datasets and mapping technology such as those from the PRISM Climate Group. When the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1880, it bypassed the Plaza, locating the passenger depot and railyards about 2miles(3km) east in what quickly became known as New Albuquerque or New Town. Under this arrangement, power is divided between a mayor who serves as chief executive,[124]:V and a nine-member council that holds legislative authority. The eastern areas of the Greater Albuquerque Area, known as the East Mountain Area, lie the Southwestern Tablelands, sometimes considered a southern extension of the central high plains and northeast New Mexico highlands. Groundwater will constitute the remainder. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in 1706 as La Villa de Alburquerque by Nuevo Mxico governor Francisco Cuervo y Valds. 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Count # Texas California New Mexico Nevada Florida Arizona New Jersey New York Illinois . Route 66 originally ran through the city on a northsouth alignment along Fourth Street, but in 1937 it was realigned along Central Avenue, a more direct eastwest route. The Spanish, and later the Mexican, government encouraged settlement of the Territorio de Nuevo Mexico by the establishment of large land grants, many of which were turned into ranchos, devoted to the raising of cattle and sheep.The owners of these ranchos patterned themselves after the landed gentry in Spain.Their workers included Native Americans, some of whom had learned to speak Spanish . [64] The Albuquerque Sikh Gurudwara and Guru Nanak Gurdwara Albuquerque serve the city's Sikh population, while the main Hindu organizations are the Hindu Temple Society of New Mexico and Gayatri Temple. Judaism is the second-largest non-Christian religion in Albuquerque;[64] Congregation Albert, a Reform synagogue established in 1897, is the oldest extant Jewish organization in New Mexico. The city is home to the University of New Mexico, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the Gathering of Nations, the New Mexico State Fair, and a diverse restaurant scene, which features both New Mexican and global cuisine.[12]. Albuquerque has expanded greatly in area since the mid-1940s. "'Topes" The slang term for our only minor league baseball team. Several major motion pictures and television shows have been filmed and produced in Albuquerque, including scenes from Walt Disney Presents Elfego Baca,[73][74][75][76] The Muppet Movie, the Breaking Bad franchise,[77][78][79][80][81] The Avengers,[82][83] A Million Ways to Die in the West,[84] In Plain Sight, Speechless, Daybreak, Just Getting Started, and Stranger Things season 4. Due to its population size, the metropolitan area regularly receives most national and international music concerts, Broadway shows, and other large traveling events, as well as New Mexico music, and other local music performances. A few houses in the farthest reach of this quadrant lie in the Cibola National Forest, just over the line into Sandoval County. In Beyond the Mississippi (1867), Albert D. Richardson, traveling to California via coach, passed through Albuquerque in late October 1859its population was 3,000 at the timeand described it as "one of the richest and pleasantest towns, with a Spanish cathedral and other buildings more than two hundred years old."[19].