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THINKING ABOUT RELOCATING TO ALBUQUERQUE?

We look forward to having you as our neighbor!

We believe that Albuquerque is a delightful place to live, work and raise a family. And after learning more about all our community has to offer, we hope you’ll agree! Our relocation package contains invaluable information for you to use when considering a move to our land of enchantment!

On behalf of the 5,656 members of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, we would like to thank you for your interest in becoming our neighbor. Albuquerque is a city rich in history and culture – and scenery so unique, it is unlike any other community in the world. From the virtually year-round sunshine to the mountain vistas, the best way to discover all the treasures our region has to offer is to experience them firsthand. So come visit us! Look around. Explore our neighborhoods, our stores, our cultural attractions and our schools. Meet our people and enjoy our distinctive Southwestern hospitality. And while you’re here, if you need further assistance in making Albuquerque your home, please stop by the Chamber office and let us know how we can help. We are located at 115 Gold St. S.W. in the downtown area.

Relocation Package:

The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce has a great package for anyone interested in relocating to our community and state. It contains:

• Albuquerque Economic Development
• Apartment Guide—A directory for the apartment shopper
• Central New Mexico Economic Guide – The Chamber’s official guide filled with economic information of the Albuquerque Area
• City Map – An up-to-date map of the Greater Albuquerque Area
• Images of Albuquerque – The Chamber’s relocation guide
• New Mexico Labor Market Review – From the New Mexico Department of Labor
• New Mexico Magazine
• Quick Guide to Senior Services – Active adult & retirement communities
• Real Estate Guide – Photos & description of properties for sale
• School information for the Albuquerque Area
• The New Mexico Transportation Map—The Official Highway Map of New Mexico
• Wage Information for Job Seekers
• Plus extras from businesses in the area!

The entire Relocation Package is shipped via US Priority Mail, every Tuesday and Thursday for only $25.00, including shipping/handling.

Please click here to order copies or email us at vrios@abqchamber.com on how to order, or call (505) 764-3721 to order your Relocation Package today.

 

ALBUQUERQUE’S HISTORY

Albuquerque is a city of contrasts. Nestled between the towering Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley, the city of Albuquerque is rich with culture and heritage, breathtaking landscape and equipped with vibrant energy that's indispensable to a fast-growing city. Year after year residents flock to the city to enjoy Albuquerque's quality of life and developing business environment. The city continues to grow its infrastructure, enhance its business policies and expand its outlook for current and future business prospects. The population continues to grow as well to accommodate the evolving environment. Albuquerque has grown from 5,000 residents at the onset of the railroad era in the 1880s to more than 550,000 in the year 2000, in the metro area alone. New Mexico ranks as the 12th state in the nation for growth, due in large part to the rapid population growth of the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Albuquerque is also a center for tourism, attracting skiers, museum-goers, balloonists, and adventure-seekers of all kinds. Albuquerque's temperate climate, large number of sunny days, proximity to both mountains and rivers and central location along both old Route 66 and, later, Interstate 40 have been drawing people to Albuquerque for years. Some have stayed for a few days, some for a lifetime, but nearly everyone who's ever been here has wonderful things to say about the city.

Albuquerque, founded in 1706 with 18 families, was not incorporated until 1891. But much earlier than the 1890s, Albuquerque and its economy were drastically evolving. From agriculture and transportation to healthcare and technology, Albuquerque's economic base was constantly changing. Long before the railroad, Albuquerque was the sheep-herding center of the West. In the 1850s and 1860s, following the annexation of New Mexico to the United States, the sheep raising industry boomed. Miners in California and Colorado fueled a demand that lead to the raising of hundreds of thousands of sheep across the mesas outside the city. The economic impact of sheep-herding and wool trade would prove to be valuable well into the next century. As the city approached the 20th century, the arrival of the railroad (1880) brought forth new economic opportunity. Initiated by railroad planners, New Albuquerque or New Town became home to the largest repair facility between Kansas and California. Albuquerque was quickly beginning to resemble most western boomtowns, equipped with everything from saloons and a horse-drawn streetcar system to a red-light district.

With the boom, came an influx of immigrants of all descents. Albuquerque was now home to a growing mix of Pueblo Indians, Hispanics, Europeans, African Americans and Chinese. As with any growing city, Albuquerque began to expand its infrastructure and services to include a school system, electricity, water works and telephones. As with present-day Albuquerque, the climate was a draw for those seeking refuge in a dry, sun-filled environment. But near the turn of the century, Albuquerque's climate was touted as "healing" and had "lung-ers" coming from far and wide flocking to the state. Before long, 1/3 of the city's population consisted of those suffering from tuberculosis or other respiratory diseases or those caring for them.  It was through this that more than a dozen sanitariums were born, offering healthcare for ailing residents. Two institutions, Southwest Presbyterian Sanitarium and St. Joseph Sanitarium endured the discovery of treatment for tuberculosis. Today, they exist as Presbyterian Healthcare Services and St. Joseph Healthcare, which was recently purchased by Ardent Healthcare and will be operating under the name Sandia Healthcare.
   
Transportation and government followed the healthcare era. Albuquerque was selected as a stop on the first transcontinental air route in the 1920s and Route 66 brought the first transcontinental motorists through the city. The 1940s were a time of rapid growth with a US Army airfield constructed east of the city. Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories would then lay the foundation for decades of nuclear research and technological advances. Kirtland AFB currently has more than $4 billion in fiscal impact to Albuquerque, Bernalillo Country and New Mexico annually and is the state's largest employer with the majority being civilians associated with Sandia Labs and the Air Force. Both research and technology would play significant roles in Albuquerque's future into the 21st century.

Now, as Albuquerque continues to develop a globally competitive economic region, the city is on the map and continues to be a favorite among expanding and relocating companies and a "place to watch" as it proceeds to climb the high-tech ladder.

 

ALBUQUERQUE’S RANKINGS

Albuquerque is consistently receiving top rankings from a variety of sources.

 

Here is a sample of the latest!

 

Top Ten in the Nation for Being a Healthy Community

August 2009 - According to Outside Magazine, we're #6 in the nation for folks seeking healthy communities with strong economies where they can bike, run, paddle, hike, and ski

 

One of the Best Cities in the Nation

July 2009 – According to Kiplinger, our sunny skies, strong renewable energy industry, and promising growth potential scored us the #2 position on the 2009 Best Cities list.

 

Top 10 Places to Live

June 2009 – According to the U.S. News and World Report, citing our clear skies, trails, and strong economy.

 

Top 5 City For Dogs

June 5, 2007 - According to a study by Men's Health magazine, Albuquerque is one of the friendliest places in the country for you and your dog.

 

Albuquerque Named a Top 10 City for Movie-Making

January 31, 2007 - MovieMaker magazine has named Albuquerque the No. 4 best American city for making movies in its Winter 2007 edition.

 

Forbes: Best Places for Business and Careers - 1st Place

May 4, 2006 - According to Forbes, Albuquerque has the lowest business cost in the country. This factor, along with an educated population and rising household incomes helped boost our city to the #1 spot for business and careers.

 

Orbitz: Predicts Albuquerque will be Among Next 5 Future Travel Hotspots

July 25, 2006 - Orbitz' staff of travel experts is looking towards the future to provide travelers with insight about destinations that are sure to be some of the most popular within the next 5 years. Orbitz "Insider Staff Picks" predicts Albuquerque will be one of five outstanding locations that should be on everyone's must see list in the five years to come!

 

Bizjournals.com: America's Smartest Cities - 10th Place

June 12, 2006 - An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data done by Bizjournals.com reveals that Albuquerque ranks 10th among communities with the highest concentration of brainpower. The study analyzed the education levels of adults in thousands of communities.

 

Kiplinger's: Smart Places to Live - 3rd Place

June 2006 - Albuquerque was ranked #3 by Kiplinger's magazine as one of the "50 smart places to live in the country". The ranking is based upon average home price, reasonable cost of living, great quality of life and access to health care.

 

USA TODAY: Six Destinations to Keep on Your Radar for 2006

January 11, 2006 - USA TODAY picked Albuquerque as one of their six travel destinations to watch for 2006.

 

Additional Honors:

 

New Mexico Has Sixth Highest Concentration of Tech Workers in the Nation, American Electronics Association, April 2006

 

Albuquerque Ranked on Milken List of Top 200 Best Performing Cities, Milken Institute, March 2006

 

Albuquerque One of America's 50 Hottest Cities, Expansion Management, January 2006

 

Yahoo! Names Albuquerque Among Cities With Good Work and Life Balance, Yahoo!, October 2005

 

Albuquerque Featured as Best Community for Young People, Newsweek, October 2005

 

Albuquerque Named 5th Best Real Estate Market and 4th Lowest City for Purchase Costs, Expansion Management, August 2005

 

NM Ranked 3rd Best State for Cost of Labor and 5th Best State for Manufacturing Growth, Business Facilities, July 2005

 

Albuquerque Inexpensive for Corporate Office Location, Expansion Management, July 2005

 

Albuquerque Featured on MSN as a Best City to Start a Business or Career, MSN, May 2005

 

National Magazine Names Albuquerque a Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metro, Expansion Management, May 2005

 

Albuquerque One of Top MSAs in the Nation That Saw Its Count of Businesses Grow, infoUSA, March 2005

 

New Mexico Ranked 5th in Nation for Economic Development from Nanotechnology, Lux Research, January 2005

 

Albuquerque Ranks 7th on America's 50 Hottest Cities List, Expansion Management, January 2005

 

VISITOR’S INFORMATION

The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, as a business advocacy and information organization, does not provide destination information for visitors to Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Convention and Visitor's Bureau has information about local events and other tourist information at their website. Click here to be taken to the Albuquerque Convention and Visitor's Bureau website.

And here are other useful area links:

City of Albuquerque Information

Bernalillo County Information

Old Town Information

State of New Mexico Information