| Albuquerque History
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT...
SOME HISTORY OF DUKE CITY
Albuquerque is definitely "enchanting." It is situated in the Rio Grande valley between the Sandia Mountains and the volcanic cones of the western plateau country. For thousands of years, Indians were the exclusive inhabitants of this area. Ancient indians known as the Anasazi roamed the area and built stone and adobe cities until their civilization peaked in the 13th century. There is no record of the Anasazi after that time, although it is believed they may be the ancestors of today's Pueblo Indians.
The Pueblo Indians inhabited the region for centuries before Francisco Coronado invaded the territory in 1540 -- searching for the fabled golden "Seven Cities of Cibola." Coronado claimed the land for Spain and the New Mexico territory became a vice royalty of the "Kindom of New Spain," ruled from the territory capital in Santa Fe.
Albuquerque was founded on the banks of the Rio Grande river in 1706 by Spanish families from nearby settlements. The center of Albuquerque was a small adobe church surrounded by a plaza and adobe houses. The settlers named this villa after the Duke of Albuquerque -- the Viceroy of New Spain. The villa's location on the trade route between Santa Fe and Mexico City, and the good protection it afforded, attracted further settlement. By 1790, there were 6,000 residents. New Mexico was ceded to the the United States in 1848 under the Treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo and the anglo influence began. Commerce via the Santa Fe Trail brought manufactured goods from the East. The coming of the railroad in 1880 and the defeat of the Apache renegade "Geronimo" in 1886, launched an era of economic growth that culminated in New Mexico's attainment of statehood in 1912.
On July 16, 1945, during World War II, the world's first atomic bomb was detonated in a remote section of New Mexico near Alamagordo. Scientists working together on the secret project at Los Alamos formed the nucleus for the high-tech development industry, and Albuquerque became a major research and development center.
Today's modern Albuquerque, known as "Duke City," is New Mexico's largest metropolitan area. Situated at the center of the high-tech corridor, between Los Alamos and White Sands, it is home to Sandia Laboratories, Intel, Eclipse Aviation, and a host of other high tech companies. But it still has a blend of both old and new. It's multi-cultural heritage contributes to its appeal. Each culture has left its mark and is reflected in the art, architecture, food, music, tradition, and festivals of the city.
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