ABOUT RIO RANCHO:
This is where we personally live. Rio Rancho is an exciting up-and-coming city that is so appropriately nicknamed "The City of Vision." Just a one-hour drive from the state capitol and nation's art capitol, Santa Fe, and a hop, skip, and a jump from Albuquerque, Rio Rancho offers for many a convenient location. Either here or close-by you will find great biking, bowling, majestic mesas, gaming, and the world-class luxury resort - the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. Rio Rancho is situated on a higher elevation than the majority of Albuquerque, therefore surrendering stunning city, valley, and mountain views. We have researched Rio Rancho's history and paraphrased it here for you:
Rio Rancho is the fastest growing community in New Mexico. It offers the "quality of life" features to entice both industry and individuals looking to relocate. The magnificent view of the Sandia Mountains, the warm summer days and cool evenings, and the mild winter temperatures are just a few of the enticements. Add low land costs, affordable housing, quality education, and a community with positive attitudes and you will understand why Rio Rancho is continuing to boom well into the future.
In the early 1960's the AMREP Corporation purchased 55,000 acres of land on the outskirts of Albuquerque, originally called Rio Rancho Estates. This was the beginning of the City of Rio Rancho. AMREP marketed the area to residents in the Midwest and Eastern states. Home building began in 1962; many of the first residents were middle-income retirees. In 1966, the 100th family moved to Rio Rancho Estates and by 1977 the population had grown to 5,000. In 1971 AMREP purchased and platted an additional 35,000 acres. Rio Rancho Estates is now 92,000 acres and larger, geographically, than the City of Albuquerque! Today's largest employer in Rio Rancho, Intel Corporation (who manufactures microchips), came to New Mexico in 1980 with fewer than 25 employees. The following year, Rio Rancho was incorporated and its population had reached 10,000. Many other corporations followed Intel's lead - relocating facilities to Rio Rancho: Bank of America, Sprint PCS, JC Penney, Victoria's Secret, US Cotton, and most recently Hewlett Packard to name a few. Today's population is over 85,000. With a new "City Center" just built and opened in 2008, Rio Rancho is setting the tracks to handle growth.
Population: Over 85,000
- NUMBER1EXPERT 
