Located in the Albuquerque Basin , the city is flanked by the Sandia Mountains to the east and the West Mesa to the west, with the Rio Grande and bosque flowing north-to-south through the middle of the city. The Albuquerque metropolitan area had , residents in , and forms part of the AlbuquerqueโSanta FeโLos Alamos combined statistical area , which had a population of 1,, Albuquerque is a hub for technology, fine arts, and media companies.
Petroglyphs carved into basalt in the western part of the city bear testimony to a Native American presence in the area dating back many centuries.
The Tanoan and Keresan peoples had lived along the Rio Grande for centuries before European colonists arrived in the area that developed as Albuquerque. By the s, there were around 20 Tiwa pueblos along a mile 97 km stretch of river from present-day Algodones to the Rio Puerco confluence south of Belen. Of these, 12 or 13 were densely clustered near present-day Bernalillo , and the remainder were spread out to the south.
Two Tiwa pueblos lie on the outskirts of present-day Albuquerque. Both have been continuously inhabited for many centuries: Sandia Pueblo was founded in the 14th century, [ 16 ] and Pueblo of Isleta is documented in written records since the early 17th century. The historic Navajo , Apache , and Comanche peoples were likely to have set camps in the Albuquerque area, as there is evidence of trade and cultural exchange among the different Native American groups going back centuries before European arrival.
Albuquerque developed primarily for farming and sheep herds. It was a strategically located trading and military outpost along the Camino Real. After gaining independence in , Mexico established a military presence here.
