BERNALILLO COUNTY
County Offices
One Civic Plaza NW
Albuquerque 505-468-7000
www.bernco.gov
Chamber of Commerce
115 Gold Avenue SW
Albuquerque 505-404-8492
http://sandovalchamber.sks.com
Major Highways
Interstates 25 and 40; Routes 14, 66
Anchored by New Mexico’s largest city, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County leads the state in population and economic activity. Rich in history and culture, the county is located in central New Mexico and stretches from the East Mountain area just north of the Sandia Mountains to the Volcano Cliffs on the West Mesa.
Bernalillo County nestled in a region that claims deep historic roots and diverse cultures as well as magnificent natural beauty and abundant space for growth. County planners as well as civic leaders in Albuquerque anticipate the excitement of the unfolding new millennium as a period filled with controlled quality growth and stellar achievement. The county constantly balances the preservation of historic sites and treasures with a progressive attitude toward advanced technologies and the increasing sophistication of its urban center.
Anchored by the Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories, Bernalillo County boasts a robust and diverse economy. The University of New Mexico, colleges and technical schools, several large hospitals and healthcare systems, and national companies with household names like Intel and General Mills play important roles in the county’s growing influence. Enhancing the expansion of business and industry, the county boasts an efficient transportation network of interstate highways, an international airport, opportunities for mass transit, interstate and intrastate bus and rail options, and rail and truck service.
Services
Newcomers to Bernalillo County will be pleased to discover state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and services where advanced diagnostics and treatment combine with cost-effective delivery of comprehensive services. Highly acclaimed teaching hospitals, major medical centers, family practice clinics, long-term care centers, emergency care and after-hour care, rehabilitation, every imaginable form of therapy, and specialized centers of excellence all contribute to the health and well-being of Bernalillo County residents. Those who life, work, and play in this area benefit from a wide range of proactive programs such as health screenings, fitness programs, and ongoing community education programs from birth readiness to nutrition.
The quantity and quality of educational institutions in Bernalillo County are evidence of the commitment to lifelong learning. The region supports a quality public education system from elementary and secondary levels through options for higher education that include a respected four-year, state-supported university. Parents have abundant options to explore alternative educational environments in private schools, both independent and parochial or religiously affiliated.
The selection of vocational and career institutions is particularly rich, and students can launch an affordable start on a four-year degree on a community college campus close to home. The Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute is distinguished as one of the largest post-secondary schools in the state and offers degrees, certificates, and continuing education. Several private colleges are at home in Bernalillo County, including the world’s most prestigious university specializing in aviation and aerospace — Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The University of New Mexico enriches the community in countless ways, providing a law school, a medical school, a college of pharmacology, a college of nursing, and a business school among its many facilities and programs. The university’s research centers continually attract the brightest minds and the most celebrated talent to the area for a self-perpetuating cycle of excellence.
Lifestyle
While Albuquerque is the undeniable retail, educational, healthcare, and cultural hub of Bernalillo County, the suburban areas offer comfortable and tranquil communities that benefit from close proximity to New Mexico’s leading metropolis. Residents enjoy easy access to first-rate resort amenities from championship golf courses to performing arts as well as theatre, symphony, choral concerts, ballet and jazz, opera, and dinner theater. Native American cultural centers and world-class museums are among the finest in the Southwest, including the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, the Fine Arts Museum, the Jonson Gallery, and the Meteorite Museum. Popejoy Hall at the University of New Mexico showcases everything from Bach to Broadway, encouraging regional talent and attracting national and even international stars.
Bernalillo County’s natural beauty, that of the surrounding region, and the mild New Mexico climate that is so often bathed in bright sunlight against cloudless skies combine to create a paradise for sports and outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, hunting, off-roading, and nature study are some of the common pastimes. Extravaganzas like EXPO, the New Mexico State Fair, or the world-famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta are complemented by seasonal and holiday celebrations and festivals that bring friends and neighbors together around the calendar year.
Shopping is available in modern malls or quaint, small-town districts where unique boutiques offer one-of-a-kind merchandise and fine antiques. Open-air flea markets, farmer’s markets, wineries and vineyards, and delightful historic districts like Albuquerque’s Old Town are just a few of the colorful reminders of the region’s agricultural past. Deep forests and towering mountains are close to home for weekend and seasonal getaways as well as winter sports from cross-country skiing to snowboarding, downhill skiing, tubing, sledding, and snowshoeing.
The communities in Bernalillo County are as diverse the terrain, encompassing everything from historic Corrales to the rapidly growing suburban area of Rio Rancho. In spite of the high quality of living in this region, the cost of living and taxes remain remarkably low. Residential subdivisions dot the region, offering abundant choices for well-kept older homes in a variety of settings and price ranges or upscale enclaves with premier amenities like Paa-ko with its award-winning golf course. Another development along the Turquoise Trail, San Pedro Creek, features its own nature preserve and creek with lot sizes that begin at ten acres.
Those who desire multi-acre properties will find numerous options in Bernalillo County, where lots ranging from half an acre to properties that sprawl over a dozen acres are often shaded by junipers or lofty pines. Some residential developments offer easy access to national forestland for hiking and equestrian trails close to home. At the same time, beautiful suburban villages are available with libraries, schools, shopping, and convenient services just minutes from home. Whether you choose to live in the heart of the bustling city or in one of Bernalillo County’s smaller towns or growing suburbs, you will discover why the residents of this region would never consider living anywhere else.
Suburban Communities
Cedar Crest, Sandia Park
County Offices
505-468-7000
www.bernco.gov
Chamber of Commerce
Albuquerque 505-404-8492
http://sandovalchamber.sks.com
Two of the unincorporated communities nestled in the East Mountain region, Cedar Crest and Sandia Park have welcomed a number of large custom homes. The Sandia Mountains, the Manzano Mountains, and the Ortiz Mountains surround the region with breathtaking natural beauty and spectacular sunset and sunrise vistas. The recently incorporated area of Edgewood in adjacent Santa Fe County serves as the hub of most activity in this booming rural area.
Development tends to be sporadic and most residential subdivisions still provide abundant opportunities for large or multi-acre lots. In spite of the temperate summer climate and winter-sports opportunities provided by the higher elevation, this area is only minutes from Albuquerque. Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course and Tinkertown Museum are two local attractions.
Corrales
Village Hall
505-897-0502
www.corrales-nm.org
Chamber of Commerce
Albuquerque 505-404-8492
http://sandovalchamber.sks.com
Situated in close proximity to Albuquerque’s premier amenities and attractions, the historic village of Corrales is brimming over with charm. The village extends into Bernalillo County, although the lion’s share of development is in adjacent Sandoval County. Many quaint adobe buildings line the narrow, two-lane road that serves as the village “main street. In spite of its rustic charm and rural feeling, the village has evolved as a desirable residential location. Many of the properties have irrigated acreage and allow horses. Home values are on the rise, enhanced by the area’s increasing popularity. Brilliant gardens, lush fruit trees, and picturesque equestrian images contrast with handsome contemporary homes on acre lots or scenic mini-farms. Antique shops, craft stores, fine dining opportunities, and spectacular views add to the appeal.
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque
Village Hall
505-344-6582
http://losranchosnm.gov
Chamber of Commerce
Albuquerque 505-404-8492
http://sandovalchamber.sks.com
The picturesque and desirable village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque fringes the Rio Grande Bosque to offer premier outdoor activities and a family-oriented community. Nature’s bounty includes breathtaking Sandia Mountain views, and the opportunities for outdoor adventure close to home are virtually unlimited. Residents also enjoy shopping for antiques and heirlooms or exquisite art pieces in local studios and galleries, taking advantage of relaxing spa treatments, or visiting a local vineyard for a wine-tasting event. Rio Grande Boulevard is a favorite roadway for bikers, although horses are an equally common sight and share the village roads. Planet Fun is a regional attraction that offers the largest gym and slot car racer track in New Mexico. The village has experienced rapid growth in recent decades, drawing new residents to quiet rural living just seven miles from downtown Albuquerque.
South Valley
County Offices
505-468-7000
www.bernco.gov
Chamber of Commerce
Albuquerque 505-404-8492
http://sandovalchamber.sks.com
This diverse area of beautiful landscapes, relaxed rural atmosphere, and deeply rooted heritage has been transforming in recent decades into a suburban setting. The more highly urbanized northern neighborhoods near Central Avenue in the Atrisco area blend into semi-urban sections that give way to open rural ranchos of Pajarito and Los Padillas. South Valley stretches over nearly 40 square miles, making up more than one-third of the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Some residents have owned land in this region for decades or even generations, and the evidence of early inhabitants is still found in place names and cultural traditions. Albuquerque’s urban sprawl has been heavily influencing the South Valley since the 1960s, continually reducing the number of agricultural properties that once dotted the region. Still, many homes enjoy spacious lots or generous acreage.
Tijeras, Carnuel
Village Hall
505-281-1225
Chamber of Commerce
Albuquerque 505-404-8492
http://sandovalchamber.sks.com
Just east of the City of Albuquerque in the Tijeras Canyon, nestled in the region known as East Mountains, the welcoming Village of Tijeras and the nearby community of Carnuel offer properties that range from a half-acre in size to five acres. Much of this area features deep woodland beauty, adding to the attraction of multi-acre lots that provide a secluded but not remote lifestyle near urban amenities and advantages. Horses and other livestock are usually permitted on these properties, preserving the rural flavor that represents the community’s roots. Those who appreciate the intimacy and close-knit spirit of a small town where neighbors greet each other by name will want to explore the growing number of residential options in this picturesque area.
