Albuquerque, city in central New Mexico. Albuquerque is the seat of Bernalillo County and is located on the Río Grande. The city's sunny weather and low humidity have made it a vacation spot, and its Native American and Spanish colonial heritage give it a unique character. The largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque is a transportation, trade, and high-technology manufacturing center. A principal employer is Sandia National Laboratories, a government center for nuclear energy, and environmental research and development. Kirtland Air Force Base, site of the National Atomic Museum, is located nearby and is important to the economy. Many state and federal agencies have offices in the city, and it is the headquarters for Cibola National Forest. Air transportation is provided through Albuquerque International Sunport.
The old quarter of Albuquerque has broad plazas, flat-roofed adobe houses, and Spanish colonial buildings. The new quarter has lofty office buildings, modern hotels, and fashionable stores. Albuquerque is the seat of the University of New Mexico (1889), Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (1970), the College of Santa Fe at Albuquerque (1985), and a technical college. Among the city's many museums are the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, featuring paleontologic and geologic displays; the Albuquerque Museum, with extensive art, history, and science exhibits; and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, with displays on Pueblo history and contemporary arts. The historic Old Town district contains the Church of San Felipe de Neri (1793).
