In 1706, Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, then governor of New Mexico, moved 30 families from Bernalillo to a spot some 15 miles south on the Rio Grande where the pasturage was better. He named this community after the Duke of Alburquerque, then Viceroy of New Spain. With a nice sense of diplomatic delicacy, the Viceroy renamed it San Felipe de Alburquerque (the first R was dropped later), in limited deference to King Philip V of Spain. He also named one of the first structures, a church (still standing), San Felipe de Nerí.

Catholic missionaries began to build churches in the area and inadvertently brought diseases that afflicted the Pueblo Indians. The settlers fought with the Native Americans for many years, but Albuquerque now celebrates the cultural heritage of groups like the Pueblo, the Anasazi, and other tribes.

The pasturage that the governor chose proved good, and by 1790, the population had grown to almost 6,000 (a very large city for New Mexico at the time). Today, Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico.

Albuquerque was an important US military outpost from 1846 to 1870. In 1880, when a landowner near the Old Town refused to sell, the Santa Fe Railroad chose a route 2 miles east, forming a new town called New Albuquerque. It wasn't long before the new town had enveloped what is still called "Old Town," now a popular tourist shopping area.

Surrounded by mountains, Albuquerque continues to grow. The largest industry is Sandia National Laboratories, a laboratory engaged in solar and nuclear research and the testing and development of nuclear weapons. More than 100 firms are engaged in electronics manufacturing and research and development.

Dry air and plentiful sunshine (76 percent of the time) have earned Albuquerque a reputation as a health center. Adding to that reputation is the Lovelace Medical Center (similar to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota), which gave the first United States astronauts their qualifying examinations. The University of New Mexico is also located in Albuquerque.

Local attractions like the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and several nearby vineyards make it a place for all to visit and enjoy. To be sure, the culture is an active one, and the people of Albuquerque enjoy as many outdoor activities as they can fit into their schedules.