BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF RIO RANCHO

Originally, the city of Rio Rancho was marketed to retirees primarily on the east coast that offered land at reasonable prices which made Rio Rancho an attractive investment.  Most "pioneers" who came here in the late '60s and early '70s found that they were, indeed, pioneers in the true sense.  There were no schools, no markets to shop at, no churches to worship in, no paved roads and no traffic lights. 

Over the years, Rio Rancho has become one of the largest school districts in the state (with almost 18,000 students enrolled as of 8/11), for a total of 19 schools.

Although Rio Rancho has been its own school district for only 16 years, having broken away from Albuquerque (south of Northern Blvd.) and Jemez (north of Northern Blvd.), it was the investment from Intel that helped to build Rio Rancho High School.  When that became overcrowded just a few years ago, a new mid-high was built and a second high school, Cleveland, opened in the fall of 2009.  

Currently, the median age of all residents is 35. Amazing in that just 30 years ago this was considered a retirement community!  How times have changed!  And with change come challenges for the future.

We now enjoy a new “City Center” that houses the Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho City Hall, the campuses of UNM West and CNM and the forthcoming opening of the Sandoval Regional Medical Center in June 2012.  The construction of a new Hewlett-Packard call center there has become the new hub of businesses continuing to look at Rio Rancho to locate or relocate.

I welcome your comments.


Please e-mail me.

- Marilyn

Rio Rancho began as a small town outside of Albuquerque and has become one of the fastest growing communities in the southwest.

Rio Rancho is currently the third largest city in New Mexico.