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Lane Webb Dirt Work, in the heights - Call 238-0249

Named in 1706 after the Viceroy of Spain, Fernandez de la Cueva, Duque de Albuquerque, the Albuquerque area was first visited in 1598 by the Spaniard don Juan de Onate who went further North in an effort to establish a Northern Capitol for the Kindom of New Spain (Mexico). He and Catholic missionaries explored up the Rio Grande, with churches being established eventually in the Pueblos of Isleta and Sandia in the Albuquerque area. Many natives died as the result of diseases brought in by the Spaniards. Farms or "estancias" were developed, scattered around the area. New Mexico was divided into the Rio Arriba (upper river) and Rio Abajo (lower river) administrative areas. About this time, the natives rose up against the Spaniards who were using them as forced labor and demonstrating excessive religious intolerance. The Spanish colonists were driven out in that uprising but 12 years later an army returned to re-conquer the area. Diego de Vargas was appointed by Spain as the new Governor of New Mexico. The succeeding Governor, Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, established the new "villa" of Albuquerque in April of 1706. Today Albuquerque and its suburbs (Rio Rancho, Paradise Hills, Corrales, the South Valley, and Bernalillo) is fast filling up the entire basin and the West Mesa in front of the Sandia Mountains. The Isleta and Sandia Pueblos own large, Vegas-style casinos with big-name shows on the North and South ends of town. Although Santa Fe is the state capital, Albuquerque is ground zero for New Mexico residents because it has all the major facilities, largest hospitals, two air force bases, an international airport, and more in this centralized megalopolis that serves the entire state. The sky is usually still very clear because most of the industry is clean and associated with high-tech scientific research and development. There are strict fire buring controls in place during the winter to avoid smog. Everyone in the state looks to Albuquerque as their major city for that which they cannot find in their smaller towns. Local input about the region is encouraged, email us.

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