Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gift Basket Delivery, Gifts, Flowers, Balloons and Presents Delivered to Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, New Mexico: Gorgeous City on the Rio Grande

Known as "The Duke City," Albuquerque, New Mexico is located in Bernalillo County on the Rio Grande. Its population was estimated at around 471,856 as of 2003. The town is called "The Duke City" after Fernandez de la Cueva, the Duke of Alburquerque, who was viceroy of New Spain. The original Spanish town, founded in 1706, was enlarged in 1880 due to the expansion of the Santa Fe Railroad toward the west. The new town was incorporated in 1890. After World War II, Albuquerque began to grow rapidly. Many industries are attracted to its popular metropolitan area today.

Industry and Culture of Albuquerque

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico. It is also a center for livestock, farming and timber. There are various industries including food-processing factories, lumber mills and high technology companies.

Universities and colleges in or around the area include the University of New Mexico, Pima Medical Institute, Parks College and the University of Phoenix-Albuquerque. The town has a minor league baseball team called the Isotopes. The Cibola National Forest headquarters is also located in Albuquerque as well as the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. The city and surrounding areas are known for being a health resort because of the wonderful climate.

Famous People in Albuquerque

Some famous residents include Mike Judge, animator of Beavis and Butt-head; Ronnie Lott, football player; Neil Patrick Harris, actor. Albuquerque was also the location of filming for the movies Silkwood, Outrageous Fortune, Off the Map and Rent.

Albuquerque Festivities

Among the festivities in Albuquerque are a Balloon Fiesta, the Gathering of the Powwow and the New Mexico State Fair. The Balloon Fiesta (http://www.balloonfiesta.com/) is the largest in the world with more than 1,000 balloons. The Gathering of Nations Powwow is an event where Native Americans gather for dancing, a trade market and street fair. Miss Indian World is chosen and crowned at each yearly event. The River of Lights, or Holiday Light Fest, is a time when Albuquerque becomes illuminated with small lights. The Albuquerque Botanic Garden and the Rio Grande are beautiful during this time. This festival lasts one month. The town also has a Festival of the Arts and a Folk Festival.

Albuquerque Attractions

There's plenty to do when visiting Albuquerque, from beautiful scenery to interesting places. At the Petroglyph National Monument, tourists can view around 15,000 prehistoric rock images along the West Mesa volcanic canyon just outside of Albuquerque. For those who are interested in Indian culture, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center reveals the history of Pueblo people with artifacts, exhibits and demonstrations. Albuquerque has several other museums in and around the area, including the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the National Atomic Museum and the Albuquerque Museum.

Tourists love to stroll through the old town of Albuquerque to see architecture from the 18th century, adorable shops and the interesting Rattlesnake Museum. For nature lovers, there are the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. The Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Aquarium and Cliff's Amusement Park each offer fun for the entire family. Albuquerque also offers waterparks, great golf courses and a ski area.

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