A City Formed By Many Different Forces
The first Spanish explorers arrived in Albuquerque in
approximately 1540 under General Francisco de Coronado. In
1706, a group of colonists were granted permission by King
Philip of Spain to establish a new villa (city) on the banks of the
Rio Grande (which means big or great river). The colonists
chose a spot at the foot of the mountains where the river made
a wide curve, providing good irrigation for crops and a source
of wood from the bosque (cottonwoods, willows and olive
trees). The colony’s Governor, Francisco Cuervo y Valdez,
penned a letter to the Duke of Alburquerque back in Spain to
report their newly founded villa, named La Villa de
Alburquerque in honor of the Duke. Over the centuries the first
“r” was dropped, leaving Albuquerque spelled as it is today.
The first Spanish explorers arrived in Albuquerque in
approximately 1540 under General Francisco de Coronado. In
1706, a group of colonists were granted permission by King
Philip of Spain to establish a new villa (city) on the banks of the
Rio Grande (which means big or great river). The colonists
chose a spot at the foot of the mountains where the river made
a wide curve, providing good irrigation for crops and a source
of wood from the bosque (cottonwoods, willows and olive
trees). The colony’s Governor, Francisco Cuervo y Valdez,
penned a letter to the Duke of Alburquerque back in Spain to
report their newly founded villa, named La Villa de
Alburquerque in honor of the Duke. Over the centuries the first
“r” was dropped, leaving Albuquerque spelled as it is today.
Downtown Albuquerque
Old Route 66 Through Downtown Albuquerque
The Train Station
Journeys
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| March 2008 |
Albuquerque, New Mexico
