Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico (population 850,000 in metro area), at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, is a fast growing city with a laid-back, slightly bohemian character and a very diverse mix of cultures, including Hispanic, Anglo and Indian.   The city was founded as a Spanish military outpost in 1706 and was designed with a central plaza surrounded by government buildings (today the section is called "Old Town").  Famed Route 66 runs through the city, and roadside structures from the highway's heyday still remain.  In the 1960s and 1970s, Albuquerque suffered through a period of decline, but today the downtown is revitalized and becoming an urban hot spot, attracting artists and others who can no longer afford pricey Santa Fe.