The Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is a quiet rural area of the North Valley region of Bernalillo County. Seven miles from downtown real estate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over six thousand residents of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque homes appreciate serene panoramic vistas, a variety of birds and wildlife, and a rich history. The Rio Grande River flows to the west and the Sandia Mountains, in all of their glory, rise on the eastern side of the Village.
Today’s homes in Albuquerque ’s modern Village of Los Ranchos—the one that incorporated in 1958—are a stylish take on Spanish influences. But the community’s roots go back at least 2,500 years. During the Spanish Colonial period, adobe villages and agricultural settlements flourished until water issues put much of the land out of commission. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District was formed to implement drainage and flood control improvements. In due time a vast system of levees, ditches, laterals, drains, and canals serviced the wonderful Los Ranchos de Albuquerque NM homes and land.
The improvements not only helped the farmers. Soon land development and a population explosion in the Albuquerque region gave rise to many of the beautiful neighborhoods we see today. One interesting historical influence to note is the pattern of long narrow lots typical of North Valley where extended Hispanic families have strong ties to the land and have continued to occupy these areas for generations.
Necessity being the mother of invention, the “lineas” or “tripas” as they are called, have been handed down from early Hispanic settlers who passed land parcels to their descendants in equal parts. Inherited land needed to have access to waterways and roadways to be of value. So the land was divided into long strips, each provided with these amenities.
The historic Guadalupe Trail reveals samples of the lineas. With a keen eye, a visitor can spot them in the commercial district of downtown Los Ranchos. Speaking of downtown, the main north/south streets are Rio Grande Boulevard and 4th Street. Fourth Street, designated a scenic byway due to its historic Route 66 and El Camino Real roots, is the main street. Rio Grande Boulevard meanders along the Rio Grande River and Bosque past the lovely agricultural districts.
A former incarnation of today’s village was called San Jose de Los Ranchos. When New Mexico became a U.S. territory, the community became the county seat of Bernalillo County circa 1850 to 1854. Many of the older plazas and communities are designated historical areas today. Residents may live here for ten years before they hear the chapters of colorful history that has been handed down.
For more information about available homes in the area, contact Maria Pumilia at (505) 450-5507.
