1960 Map of Albuquerque West

About this map

Old Town and the historic Town of Atrisco Grant anchor this 1960s study of a city in the midst of mid-century expansion. The urban footprint of Albuquerque is shown pushing westward across the Rio Grande, as indicated by the purple revision overlays that mark new residential developments and schools like Rio Grande High School. This period captures a landscape in transition where traditional irrigation features such as the Arenal Main Canal and Atriso Ditch still weave through old settlements like Armijo and Los Duranes, even as modern infrastructure like the West Mesa Airport and industrial Gravel Pit sites begin to define the valley floor. Educational and religious institutions are particularly dense here, ranging from the Our Lady of Mt Carmel Monastery to the Harwood Park Girls School, reflecting the deep-seated cultural foundations of the Bernalillo County community during this era of rapid growth.