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So have you spent any time in Bernalillo other than driving through? Some of the nicest people my wife and I have encountered in the 4+ years since we moved here have been in Bernalillo. That includes total strangers who take the time to say hi to us on the street, in parking lots and shops; store clerks and owners who treat us like real people rather than just someone to extract money from; etc. This is very different from the last two places we lived, CA and KY, and reminds us a lot of the Alaskan town we grew up in.
Our perception of Bernalillo is down to earth folks, mostly native New Mexicans of one flavor or another, who may not have a lot of material goods but are thankful for what they do have, especially family, and who treat you great if you treat them the same.
Not too much. I believe you, it's just hard to envision because that's not what I see when I'm there. But again, I know you can't truly know much about a community until you've spent a lot of time there.
Yep, same here! I like to describe myself as "too brown to be white, too white to be brown"
but yeah, I'm dark complected but my birth certificate has says I'm "white"
I live in northern RR but I'm a fan of Bernalillo and spend a lot of my time there rather than joining the lock-step parade down 528 and Coors. Bernalillo is interestingly located between the Santa Ana and Sandia pueblos and Placitas and RR. It is the first stop for some folks coming south out of Santa Fe. I've met some of the friendliest folks there and some of the most interesting. There is a friendly atmosphere whether you are at the Range, Kaktus Brewing, Flying Star or Abuelitas...or wherever. That's not even counting the festivals and fiestas. Back in 1706, folks from Bernalillo were so friendly that they went ahead and settled Albuquerque for the rest of you.
Yep, same here! I like to describe myself as "too brown to be white, too white to be brown"
but yeah, I'm dark complected but my birth certificate has says I'm "white"
For several decades now, when asked my ethnicity (census etc), I ALWAYS respond with, "New Mexican."
Central New Mexico's answer to northern NM hispanic mountain towns but colonized by hippies and artists, but now overrun by wealthy newcomers who build huge houses on every hilltop and hillside. Still, quite nice.
6. Cedar Crest
Where people too poor or too weird for Placitas built.
7. Far Southwest (Westgate Heights, Atrisco)
Semi-rural, hispanic version of North Valley. Lots of cool properties, but a mixed reputation.
8. Downtown & Nob Hill
Albuquerque's pseudo-urban lifestyle offering. Skews more liberal than most of the city. Where hipsters and other middle class subcultures congregate.
9. Corrales
Like Los Ranchos but on the other side of the river. Once isolated but now overshadowed by RR.
From a Midwest gringo (after his first year in NM) that lives 2 hrs W of ABQ but spends a lot of time there:
1. Far NE Heights (Tramway area)----Very nice, and a unique ABQ twist on the LA-Orange County vibe
2. Los Ranchos----like exurban Chicago or Cleveland, but in the city proper and with horses in the front yard
3. Westside (Paradise Hills, Ventana Ranch, Taylor Ranch)----lots of houses w/bars on the windows (without the need for it)
starter homes, starter families, starter vehicles, starter everything
4. Rio Rancho (Applebees and Walgreens etc etc etc). When the "Welcome to Rio Rancho" signs show new housing development signs (Pulte Homes this way!) instead of the State HS champions or the Rotary club, you know you're in Sprawl Land
5. Placitas-----the rest of NM but just outside of ABQ (and really shouldn't be on this list----not really ABQ though driveable)
6. Cedar Crest-----I've only been here in NM a year....where da heck is that? (Bet I'm not the only one)
7. Far Southwest (Westgate Heights, Atrisco)------lots of Mexican restaurants and liquor stores.
8. Downtown & Nob Hill-----hip, urban, fun. With a touch of Route 66 and "college town" thrown in.
9. Corrales-----like Los Ranchos w/o ABQ schools?
10. Southeast-----way underrated. Many jewels in the rough, and close to UNM and the Heights.
4. Rio Rancho (Applebees and Walgreens etc etc etc. When the "Welcome to Rio Rancho" signs show new housing development signs (Pulte Homes this way!) instead of the State HS champions or the Rotary club, you know you're in Sprawl Land
Rio Rancho only has one Applebees and Albuquerque has six. Correct me if I'm wrong...
Quote:
Originally Posted by kpl1228
5. Placitas-----the rest of NM but just outside of ABQ (and really shouldn't be on this list----not really ABQ though driveable
A lot of the other places listed are not really ABQ...
6. Cedar Crest-----I've only been here in NM a year....where da heck is that? (Bet I'm not the only one)
Cedar Crest is in the East Mountain(s) area of the Albuquerque metro. As the name implies this is the area east of Albuquerque on the other side of the Sandias. It usually refers to the areas north of I-40 outside of Tijeras Canyon, but sometimes places in the canyon itself and south of I-40 are considered part of the East Mountains as well. Those places south of I-40 such as Escabosa and Chilili seem to have a pretty strong identity of their own apart from the East Mountain communities, though, so it's rare to have them be referred to as the East Mountains.
Other places in the East Mountains include Sandia Park, Tijeras and Edgewood.
Edgewood is an incorporated place which lies mostly (if not completely) within Santa Fe County. Because of this it is not officially part of the Albuquerque MSA but rather the Santa Fe MSA. But Edgewood is a classic bedroom community for Albuquerque, with most of its residents commuting to Albuquerque for work and other activities.
Certainly I think Edgewood is more of a suburb of Albuquerque than say Moriarty, yet Moriarty and the rest of Torrance County is officially part of the Albuquerque MSA. Moriarty and other places in Torrance County such as Mountainair and Estancia seem to be much less reliant on Albuquerque for things than Edgewood, but apparently enough people commute to Bernalillo County from those places to keep it as part of the Albuquerque MSA.
Quote:
9. Corrales-----like Los Ranchos w/o ABQ schools?
Actually, Corrales is the only part of the Sandoval County portion of APS to have remained with the district when Rio Rancho broke away to form its own district in 1994. Until then the southern portion of Rio Rancho was within APS and the northern portion was served by the Jemez Valley school district. Back then that northern portion was much less populated, though, with Enchanted Hills, etc. not yet developed. APS students in Corrales attend Corrales Elementary School, Taylor Middle School and Cibola High School.
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