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East
Mountain
The
area called East Mountain is located on the
east side of the 10,000-foot high Sandia
Mountains and Manzano Mountains. It
encompasses more than 500 sq. miles in
Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Torrance counties,
just east of Albuquerque. The area is
bisected by Interstate 40, the primary
east-west connection to the city.
This East Mountain area has developed around
three mountain ranges controlled by the
National Forest Service- the Sandia,
Manzanita and Manzano mountains. These
mountains provide diverse recreational
opportunities and wildlife habitat areas.
Because of unique weather patterns, it
boasts being the "green side" of the
southern Rocky Mountain range.
The population in this area has shown
dramatic growth through the last two
decades, with a much higher growth rate than
most parts of the state. In Bernalillo
County, which includes Albuquerque, more
than a third of the building permits issued
occur within the East Mountain Area. The
overall population in this area is estimated
to be about 25,000 - with more than half
living in Bernalillo County.
The average altitude of the East Mountain
Area is between 6,500 and 7,000 feet above
sea level. (For comparison, Albuquerque's
average altitude is 5,300 feet; Santa Fe is
7,000 feet.)
Cedar Crest, Sandia Park and Sandia
Knolls
Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, and Sandia Knolls
are small communities on the east side of
the Sandia Mountains. All are bedroom
communities for Albuquerque and are
inhabited by those seeking a more rural
environment and who prefer living in the
pines found on the east slope.
Placitas
Conveniently located between Santa Fe (36
miles) and Albuquerque (15 miles), Placitas
was formed by the San Antonio de las Huertas
land grant of 1745. The name means "little
plazas," cultural centers of the Spanish
villages. Sandia Mountain looms nearby, and
other features include the Jemez range, the
Rio Grande, juniper and pinon-covered
hillsides and always, the sky.
Placitas is ideally suited for many of New
Mexico's favorite outdoor activities:
hiking, biking, horseback riding,
picnicking, golfing, skiing, and
sightseeing. Far from the crime and other
problems of big-city life, Placitas is
simply a great place to live. Expansive
homes dot the high desert rolling hills, yet
thanks to large minimum lot sizes, density
is not a factor.
Each year the Placita's Artists Series
presents a program of concerts by the Helios
String Quartet. Community art shows, the
traditional posada at Christmas, the 4th of
July parade and homeowner gatherings provide
additional social opportunities. Of course,
the vibrant cultural lives of Albuquerque,
Santa Fe, and even Taos are within easy
driving range.
Rio Rancho
In the 1960's the AMREP corporation of New
York began selling in the southern tip of
Sandoval County. Soon many left harsh
winters behind and moved to New Mexico. In
1980, the city incorporated and it now
boasts shopping centers, tourist facilities,
a library, churches, schools, an industrial
park and a country club. By the mid 90's the
population exceeded 40,000 and because of
its affordable housing and wonderful views
of the city and the mountains, the area
continues to grow.
Rio Rancho is a delightful study in
contrasts - a fast growing community that
retains and cherishes its small-town
atmosphere. A city with good, clean light
manufacturing and service jobs amid
well-planned, quiet neighborhoods.
Called "The City of Vision," Rio Rancho is a
town that works. Rio Rancho's determination
and drive received national and
international recognition when Intel Corp.
announced plans for a 1.8 billion dollar
expansion (the largest single industrial
construction project in this decade in the
U.S.) at its computer microprocessor
manufacturing plant in Rio Rancho.
Rio Rancho won the Intel expansion over six
other states and several foreign countries
that had tried vigorously to win the prize.
Taylor Ranch
Established less than 20 years ago, the
Taylor Ranch area was originally designed to
be a bedroom community of only 1000 homes.
As time has gone by, the area has proven to
be so popular with families and young
professionals, that it has grown to nearly
5000 homes.
Taylor Ranch has long been considered one of
Albuquerque's most desirable west side
communities, with a variety of some of the
best home builders in New Mexico, and many
of the amenities sought after by most
homeowners including quiet streets, and
abundance of large park areas for soccer,
baseball, and other activities. It's easy to
ride your bicycle or walk from your home to
any of these parks along the many
city-maintained bike/walking trails that
meander through the area.
Since Taylor Ranch is within the city limits
of Albuquerque, it is served by city police,
fire protection, water and sewer systems.
Excellent primary schools and a new middle
school make quality living a reality for the
growing family. Add to that, easy access to
shopping and transportation systems, and you
have a community that is truly complete.
Corrales
Corrales is a community located along a
six-mile stretch of Corrales Road #(NM46).
Once part of the Alameda Land Grant, one
still can find productive farms and
orchards. Today the area is a mixture of the
old and new. Spanish homesteads are side by
side with solar adobe homes. The residents
enjoy the atmosphere and consequently side
roads are unpaved and gardens and animals
abound. Many professionals who live in
Corrales chose to do so because of its
old-world Spanish Adobe charm and the
privacy of country living within a close
proximity to the city. Volunteers keep the
community functioning...the village even
built their own adobe library. Excellent
restaurants, art galleries, small shopping
centers, and the famed Adobe Theater draw
visitors from throughout the area.
Sandia Heights
Sandia Heights is located on the west face
of the Sandia Mountains in the Foothills,
the very far NE corner of Albuquerque. The
style and landscaping is similar to the
homes in Placitas; Southwestern contemporary
being the norm. North America's longest Tram
starts in the Sandia Heights and traverses
the west face of the Sandia Mountains to an
altitude of 10,800 feet at the crest.
Los Ranchos De Albuquerque
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is an
incorporated village which is surrounded by
the city in the North Valley. The town
contains excellent examples of ancient and
modern adobe buildings. In 1980, residents
digging a swimming pool discovered a
significant archaeological site which
confirms that Indians settled in the
Albuquerque thousands of years ago.
Santa Fe
The charming city of Santa Fe, only 50 miles
north of Albuquerque, claims the distinction
of having the oldest capitol building in the
United States, the Palace of the Governors,
built in 1610. This internationally famous
city, which is also the capital of New
Mexico, is perhaps best known as a cultural
and culinary mecca, with over 200
restaurants and countless galleries. Santa
Fe is known as the third largest art center
in the United States, behind New York and
Los Angeles.
Santa Fe was recently recognized as one of
the top three destinations for vacation and
resort travelers. It is also the primary or
secondary home for many of Hollywood and
California's elite. With its uniqueness and
desirability, Santa Fe demands the highest
average sale price per home in the state of
New Mexico, approaching $200,000.
Areas To the South
Three small communities, Los Lunas, Belen
and Bosque Farms, also serve many people
working in the Albuquerque area. Located
15-25 miles south of Albuquerque, these
communities offer a more rural environment.
Pueblos Of the Rio Grande
There are approximately 15 different pueblos
located within 50 or 60 miles of
Albuquerque, each with its own culture and
uniqueness. If you want to learn more about
the Native American communities in the area,
this is absolutely the best place to start.
Albuquerque's Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
is owned and operated by the pueblos of New
Mexico. On exhibit at the center are
samplings of arts and crafts from pueblos
from all over the state. Also available are
materials and guides to help you decide
which pueblo to visit. Visiting these
pueblos is always a pleasure. They each have
their own distinction. |
