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Rio Rancho, New Mexico
City
Seal
Nickname: "The City of Vision"
Location within Sandoval County
Rio RanchoLocation within New MexicoShow map of New MexicoRio RanchoLocation within the United StatesShow map of the United States
Coordinates: 35°17′10″N 106°40′14″W / 35.28611°N 106.67056°W / 35.28611; -106.67056
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Counties	Sandoval, Bernalillo
Founded	1961
Incorporated	1981
Government
• Mayor	Gregg Hull (R)
Area
• City	103.62 sq mi (268.38 km)
• Land	103.36 sq mi (267.70 km)
• Water	0.26 sq mi (0.67 km)
Elevation	5,509 ft (1,679 m)
Population
• City	131,852
• Density	1,006.63/sq mi (388.66/km)
• Metro	910,950 (Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (Mountain)
ZIP Codes	87124, 87144, 87174
Area code	505
FIPS code	35-63460
GNIS feature ID	2410954
Primary Airport	Albuquerque International Sunport ABQ (Major/International)
Secondary Airport	Double Eagle II Airport KAEG (Public)
Website	www.rrnm.gov

Rio Rancho (Spanish: Río Rancho) is the largest and most populous city in Sandoval County, part of the expansive Albuquerque metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. A small portion of the city extends into northern Bernalillo County.

It is the third-largest city in New Mexico, and one of the most rapidly growing. As of the 2020 census, Rio Rancho had a population of 104,046. The name Rio Rancho derives from Los Ranchos, the Spanish colonial ranches established along the Rio Grande in the Albuquerque Basin, and throughout historic Nuevo México. There were large ranches also in neighboring Corrales. Since the late 20th century, it has developed as a suburb of Albuquerque.

History

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The great majority of the territory of Rio Rancho was originally part of the Town of Alameda Grant, which was founded by Spanish colonial settlers in 1710. It was acquired by the United States in 1848, after it defeated Mexico in the Mexican-American War. (Mexico had been independent of Spain since 1821.) The ranches were used for cattle and sheep.

By the early 20th century, much of the land grant had been divided and sold to land investment companies. Its proximity to the city of Albuquerque made it a prime area for suburban development in the post-World War II period. In 1961 Amrep Corporation purchased 55,000 acres (22,000 ha) and created a housing development called "Rio Rancho Estates". The first families moved into this development in the early 1960s.

Amrep contracted with Ezio Valentini, one of the original developers of Cape Coral, Florida, to design and implement a marketing plan to encourage land sales. He organized dinner-parties for prospective customers in northern states through offices in 14 states. Migrants were attracted to this area, and the population grew ten-fold between 1970 and 1980. The City of Rio Rancho was incorporated in 1981. The opening of a large Intel Corporation plant in 1981 generated numerous jobs and had positive economic effects for the city.

Since the 1990s, Rio Rancho has taken steps to become more independent from neighboring Albuquerque. It established a separate public unified school district and library system. It is seeking to attract more businesses to the area, so that residents might live and work here.

In the early 21st century, the city worked to create a center: the Downtown City Centre development included a new city hall, a new University of New Mexico West and Central New Mexico Community College campus, and the Santa Ana Star Center. The sports and live event arena opened in October 2006. City Hall opened in September 2007.

Demographics

2020 census

Of 18,995 households, 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were not families; 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was distributed as 29.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for city was $47,169, and for a family was $52,233. Males had a median income of $39,162 versus $27,385 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,322. About 3.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

Rio Rancho lies in the Albuquerque Basin to the west of the Rio Grande, which is a boundary on the northeast corner of the city. An escarpment lies to the west of the city limit.

Rio Rancho is bordered by Albuquerque to the south, the Santa Ana Pueblo to the north, with the town of Bernalillo and village of Corrales to the east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 103.7 sq mi (268.5 km), of which 103.4 square miles (267.7 km) is land and 0.31 sq mi (0.8 km), or 0.31%, is covered by water.

Climate

Rio Rancho is in an arid climate due to its location in the rain shadow of the Sandia Mountains to the east and the Continental Divide to the west. Rio Rancho receives 8.90 inches (226 mm) of precipitation annually on average. The western portion of the city receives slightly more rain and snowfall due to its higher elevation than that of the more densely developed eastern portion of Rio Rancho.

Economy

The Intel Corporation is by far the largest employer in Rio Rancho. The services, retail, and government sectors are also major components of the local economy.

Rio Rancho is the site of Intel's Intel Fab 11X, one of the largest semiconductor fabrication plants in the world. The fully automated, $2 billion facility opened in 2002 and was the first Intel plant to manufacture 300 mm silicon wafers, which can hold almost twice as many chips as the standard 200 mm wafers. Fab 7, Intel's original Rio Rancho plant which opened in 1980, closed in 2002, but was converted into a test facility in 2005.

In 2005, Rio Rancho became the first U.S. city to offer citywide voice-over-WiFi (VoWiFi) service. Many residents complained that the service did not live up to their expectations.

Several call centers are located in Rio Rancho. Walmart opened in early summer of 2006 in Rio Rancho, and was a catalyst for related commercial retailers to locate nearby.

An Albuquerque-based incubator and co-working space "FatPipe" opened a satellite office in Rio Rancho. It is intended to spur business innovation and startups within the city.

Taxation

In 2010 the City Council passed an automatic annual increase in water rate, equivalent to 25% over a five-year period.

Housing and development

In the aftermath of the collapse of the 2008 housing bubble, foreclosure activity increased in the city. The economies of Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia counties suffered markedly in the late 2000s recession.

As of the late 2010s, housing had entirely recovered. A number of new housing developments were restarted. Real estate sales were robust in 2020 in many areas of Rio Rancho, driven by low interest rates and relatively low housing prices ($250,000 - $350,000 for most new construction).

Tourism

In 2017, Rio Rancho hosted the National Speleological Society's annual convention.

The city constructed A Park Above, a structure in the south of the city for youth recreation.

Government

Elected officials

Mayor Gregory Hull ran at-large for mayor in 2014. He was re-elected for a second term in March 2018 and a third term in March 2022. City council members are elected from six single-member districts. The judge for the Municipal Court is also elected.

Politics

Rio Rancho is the site of the Sandoval County Municipal Courthouse. It serves as a hub for judicial affairs in the county.

Education

The University of New Mexico has a satellite campus in Rio Rancho devoted to health sciences.

Central New Mexico Community College also has one of its eight campuses in Rio Rancho's downtown area, within walking distance of the UNM campus.

Rio Rancho Public Schools serve students in most of Rio Rancho. Rio Rancho has two major public high schools:

• V. Sue Cleveland High School (opened in 2009)
• Rio Rancho High School (opened in 1997)

Other schools include:

• Mountain View Middle School
• Eagle Ridge Middle School
• Lincoln Middle School
• Rio Rancho Middle School
• Independence High school
• Vista Grande Elementary School
• Enchanted Hills Elementary School
• Cielo Azul Elementary School
• Colinas Del Norte Elementary School
• Sandia Vista Elementary School
• MLK Elementary School
• Maggie Cordova Elementary School
• Joe Harris Elementary School
• Rio Rancho Cyber Academy

Portions of Rio Rancho in Sandoval County extend into the Jemez Valley Public Schools school district. Sections of Rio Rancho in most of Bernalillo County are zoned to Albuquerque Public Schools. A portion of the Rio Rancho Public School District extends into Bernalillo County.

In addition, Rio Rancho has two public charter schools called The ASK Academy and Cyber Academy, serving grades 6–12. They both focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Media

Rio Rancho is home to the Albuquerque metro area's only oldies-format radio station, KDSK (AM). It moved into this market in March 2015 and licensed its newest FM signal, 92.9 FM, to Rio Rancho in April 2016. The station is named "Rio Rancho Radio". The station features Rio Rancho area events and airs a weekly talk/discussion show on Sunday mornings with the Mayor of Rio Rancho (now Greg Hull). The station signal, broadcast on three frequencies (92.7 FM, 93.7 FM, and 1240 AM), serves the entire Albuquerque metro area, and six counties in central and western New Mexico. Residents also have access to television and radio broadcasts from Albuquerque.

The weekly Rio Rancho Observer is the local newspaper. Residents may also subscribe to the daily newspaper Albuquerque Journal, which has a localized weekly version called Rio West.

Rio Rancho is served by a government-access television channel available only through the city's only cable television provider Cable ONE. This channel shows all of the government meetings multiple times.

Transportation

Albuquerque's transit department, ABQ RIDE, operates a bus route (251 Albuquerque-Rio Rancho Rail Runner Connection) connecting Rio Rancho with the New Mexico Rail Runner Express station at Journal Center.

In late January 2011, ABQ RIDE extended two additional routes (96 Crosstown Commuter and 155 Coors Blvd), and introduced an additional route (551 Jefferson/Paseo Del Norte Express) into Rio Rancho. The northern terminus of these routes is at Southern Blvd and Unser Blvd.

The Rio Metro Regional Transportation District operates Rio Transit, a door-to-door paratransit service for senior citizens 55 years of age and older, and disabled adults 18 years of age and older, for residents of Rio Rancho. The service is operated from the Meadowlark Senior Center, and provides service Monday-Friday from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. Riders must register with the service prior to using it and reserve time slots well in advance.

Rio Metro RTD also operates a commuter bus route serving the Enchanted Hills neighborhood in Rio Rancho. This service connects residents of Enchanted Hills to the US 550 New Mexico Rail Runner station and provides service during the morning and evening commutes. Rio Metro Bus connections are available at the US 550 Rail Runner station for Zia Pueblo, San Ysidro, Canon, and Jemez Springs. A Rio Metro commuter bus route provides service to and from the Cuba NM area, with a Park and Ride designated at Home Depot, which is located near the corner of NM 528, NM 550. Rio Metro's website and schedules may be viewed at: www.riometro.org

Sports

Rio Rancho was home to the New Mexico Scorpions minor-league ice hockey team, which relocated from Albuquerque in 2006, until the team ceased operations in 2009. The Scorpions played at Santa Ana Star Center.

In the spring of 2008, the Star Center became the home of the New Mexico Wildcats indoor football team. They lasted two seasons, folding at the conclusion of 2009.

Starting in fall of 2010, the Star Center was home to the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League and the New Mexico Mustangs of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The Mustangs' NAHL membership was transferred to Richfield, Minnesota, in 2012. The New Mexico Thunderbirds announced in July 2011 that the team was sold to the Cleveland Cavaliers and will be moved to Canton, Ohio, for the upcoming season.

Since 2015, Rio Rancho has been the location of the Duke City Gladiators, a professional indoor football team. They play home games at the Santa Ana Star Center, with whom they signed a five-year contract.

Notable people

• Alan Branch, NFL player
• Craig Brandt, member of the New Mexico Senate
• Jason Harper, engineer and member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
• Norio Hayakawa, activist and ufologist
• Joshua Hernandez, member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
• Tim Lewis, member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
• Sean McPherson, former member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
• Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, librarian and author
• Blake Swihart, MLB catcher
• Richard V. Thomas, former member of the Wyoming Supreme Court
• Chris Williams, NFL and CFL wide receiver

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
3. ^ "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
4. "Home - City of Vision Civitan Club".
5. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/rioranchocitynewmexico
6. "Rio Rancho Profile". City of Rio Rancho. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
7. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Rio Rancho city, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau.
8. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Rio Rancho city, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau.
9. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Rio Rancho city, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Rio Rancho city, New Mexico". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
11. "Average Weather for Rio Rancho, New Mexico". The Weather Channel. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
12. "FatPipe - Rio Rancho". Retrieved October 29, 2019.
13. Utilities Commission – May 18th, 2010. Riorancho.granicus.com. Retrieved on August 15, 2013.
14. Interactive Map: The Economy Where You Live, from NPR.
15. NAIOP) speakers: Residential growth exploding in RR, RR Observer
16. "A Park Above | The Official Site of Rio Rancho, NM". rrnm.gov. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
17. "2017 NSS Convention". 2017 NSS Convention. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
18. "The City of Rio Rancho, Office of the City Clerk: Enrollment Breakdown as of 03/01/2018" (PDF). Rio Rancho Elections. February 1, 2018. p. 16. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
19. "Rio Rancho Campus :: UNM Health Sciences Center | The University of New Mexico". hsc.unm.edu. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
20. "Rio Rancho Campus". CNM. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sandoval County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bernalillo County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
23. Richfield, Minnesota team granted membership to NAHL | North American Hockey League. NAHL (December 21, 2012). Retrieved on August 15, 2013.

External links

• City of Rio Rancho official website
• Rio Rancho Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Rio Rancho Economic Development Corporation
• Rio Rancho Observer

v t e City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
History	History Timeline
Areas	Barelas Downtown Downtown Neighborhood Huning Highlands International District Martineztown-Santa Barbara Nob Hill Old Town San Jose Silver Hill South Broadway West Mesa
Metropolitan area	Albuquerque (Principal city) Belen Bernalillo Bosque Farms Corrales Cuba Encino Estancia Isleta Village Proper Jemez Springs Jemez Pueblo Laguna Pueblo Los Lunas Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Peralta Moriarty Mountainair Pueblo of Isleta Pueblo of Sandia Village Rio Communities Rio Rancho San Felipe Pueblo San Ysidro Santa Ana Pueblo Santo Domingo Pueblo South Valley, New Mexico Tijeras Willard Zia Pueblo
Transportation	Albuquerque International Sunport Double Eagle II Airport Alvarado Transportation Center
Landmarks	Albuquerque Biological Park ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden Albuquerque Museum of Art and History New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Old Albuquerque HS Old Post Office Petroglyph National Monument San Felipe de Neri Church
Education	Albuquerque Public Schools Coronado ES Monte Vista ES Albuquerque HS Cibola HS Del Norte HS Eldorado HS Highland HS La Cueva HS Manzano HS Sandia HS Valley HS Volcano Vista HS West Mesa HS Amy Biehl Charter HS Native American Comm Acad NM Sch f/t Blind & Vis Imp ABQ preschool NM Sch f/t Deaf ABQ preschool Public Academy for Performing Arts St. Pius X HS University of New Mexico template Closed Albuquerque Indian School Bataan Military Academy
Media	Albuquerque Journal
People	Notable residents
Politics	Tim Keller, Mayor City Council Mayors
Culture	Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Bernalillo County North Valley Rio Rancho South Valley Atrisco Heritage Academy HS, Kirtland Air Force Base, and National Museum of Nuclear Science & History are adjacent to but outside of the city limits. Rio Grande HS and Sandia Peak Tramway are near but not in the city limits.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
County seat: Bernalillo
City	Rio Rancho‡
Towns	Bernalillo Edgewood‡
Villages	Corrales Cuba Jemez Springs San Ysidro
CDPs	Algodones Cañon Cochiti Cochiti Lake Jemez Pueblo La Cueva La Jara La Madera Peña Blanca Placitas Ponderosa Pueblo of Sandia Village Regina Rio Rancho Estates San Felipe Pueblo San Luis Santa Ana Pueblo Santo Domingo Pueblo Torreon Zia Pueblo
Unincorporated community	Counselor
Indian reservations	Cochiti Pueblo‡ Jemez Pueblo Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation‡ Kewa Pueblo Laguna Pueblo‡ Navajo Nation‡ San Felipe Pueblo San Ildefonso Pueblo‡ Sandia Pueblo‡ Santa Ana Pueblo Santa Clara Indian Reservation‡ Zia Pueblo
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
New Mexico portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
County seat: Albuquerque
Cities	Albuquerque Rio Rancho‡
Town	Edgewood‡
Villages	Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Tijeras
CDPs	Barton‡ Carnuel Cedar Crest Cedro Chilili Edith Enclave Isleta Kirtland AFB Manzano Springs‡ North Valley Paa-Ko Pajarito Mesa Paradise Hills Ponderosa Pine San Antonito Sandia Heights Sandia Knolls Sandia Park Sedillo South Valley
Other communities	Alameda Cañoncito Isleta Pueblo Zuzax
Indian reservations	Isleta Pueblo Laguna Pueblo‡ Navajo Nation‡ Sandia Pueblo‡
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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Cities	Alamogordo Albuquerque (Metropolitan Area) Aztec Artesia Bloomfield Carlsbad Clovis Corrales Deming Española Farmington Gallup Grants Hobbs Kirtland Las Cruces Las Vegas Los Alamos Los Lunas Lovington Portales Raton Rio Rancho Roswell Ruidoso Santa Fe Silver City Socorro Sunland Park Taos Tucumcari
Counties	See: List of counties in New Mexico Bernalillo Catron Chaves Cibola Colfax Curry De Baca Doña Ana Eddy Grant Guadalupe Harding Hidalgo Lea Lincoln Los Alamos Luna McKinley Mora Otero Quay Rio Arriba Roosevelt San Juan San Miguel Sandoval Santa Fe Sierra Socorro Taos Torrance Union Valencia
New Mexico portal

• Rio Rancho, New Mexico
• Cities in New Mexico
• Cities in Sandoval County, New Mexico
• Cities in Bernalillo County, New Mexico
• Albuquerque metropolitan area
• Populated places established in 1961
• 1961 establishments in New Mexico