About Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is the largest and fastest growing city in the state of New Mexico. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County, and is located in the central part of the state, split by the Rio Grande river. The city had a total population of 448,607 as of the 2000 census. The metropolitan area has a population of roughly 750,000 and includes the city of Rio Rancho, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. ABQ (as it is locally known; also the code for the city's airport) is located where the Interstate highways I-40 and I-25 meet in an interchange which locals refer to as the "Big I."

Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico (UNM) and Kirtland Air Force Base as well as Sandia National Laboratories and Petroglyph National Monument. The Sandia Mountains run along the eastern side of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande flows through the city north to south. Albuquerque's climate is usually sunny and dry, averaging no more than 10-12 inches (250 to 300 mm) of precipitation per year.