City of Rio Rancho website. 

Rio Rancho Sportsplex

Population: 51,765 Area: 72.3 Square Miles (2001)

Before incorporation in 1981, Rio Rancho was an AMREP Southwest housing development known as Rio Rancho Estates. The first houses in the area were built in the 1960's. Considerable growth occurred during the1970's, and by 1980 the community had 10,000 inhabitants.

During the 1980's, much of the emphasis by AMREP Southwest was to provide affordable housing in the greater Albuquerque area market. AMREP dominated this market segment for a number of years. During the 1990's, a wider variety of housing was constructed and other builders have entered the Rio Rancho market.

Homes in Rio Rancho

Prior to 1980, many of the area's residents were retirees or people from out-of-state. In the1980s, the demographics of the community changed with a large influx of first-time home buyers and families. The location of an Intel Corporation computer chip manufacturing plant brought several thousand jobs to the City in the mid-1980's and had a major impact on the community.

Throughout the 1990s the City continued to grow and become more diverse. In 2000, Rio Rancho accounted for 58 percent of the population of Sandoval County. In addition, nearly 20,000 persons worked in or near the City which accounted for nearly three-fourths of employment located in the County.

The Rio Rancho economy has four main components: Manufacturing, Retailing, Services, and Government (Schools). In 2000, there were about 6,000 manufacturing jobs in or near the City; these jobs were principally in the area of electronic components. The retail and services sectors are split between jobs that serve business and those that serve local residents. A significant portion of the services sector is made up of a growing number of telemarketing firms. In 2000, there were over 3,800 retail jobs in the City. The service sector accounted for about 3,500 jobs, many of which would be classified as "high-tech." The government sector had about 2,200 jobs.

Major employers in or near Rio Rancho

• Intel Corporation - Electronics manufacturing
• Sprint Personal Communication Services
• Rio Rancho Public Schools
• Victoria's Secret Catalog
• City of Rio Rancho
• J.C. Penney Telemarketing Center

Industrial parks in Rio Rancho

• New Mexico Business Tech Center at NM 528 and Northern Boulevard
• Industrial Park East on the east side of NM 528 near Northern Boulevard
• Corrales North Business Tech Center at NM 528 and NM 45

1980 Median Age (Census): 35.1 (CDP)
1990 Median Age (Census): 31.6
2000 Median Age (Census): 35.1

2000 Average Household Size (Census): 2.70

Median Household Income

1989 (Census): $31,512 (105% of the U.S. median)
1999 (Census): $47,169

Government

A mayor and six councilors are elected for four-year staggered terms.

Utilities

• Water: City of Rio Rancho
• Source of Water: Ground water
• Sewer: City of Rio Rancho
• Solid Waste: Collection and disposal is provided by a private company
• Electric: Public Service Company of New Mexico
• Natural Gas: Public Service Company of New Mexico
• Telephone: QWEST

Transportation

•  Air: Available at Albuquerque International Airport
• Intercity Bus: Available in Albuquerque
• Train: Available in Albuquerque
• Transit: There is a park and ride lot for commuting to Albuquerque

Services

• Police: City of Rio Rancho
• Fire: City of Rio Rancho
• Parks: The City maintains parks, pools, recreation centers, a Senior Center and a City auditorium.

Education

• Rio Rancho is within the Rio Rancho Public School District.
• The Technical-Vocational Institute, TV-I, offers classes at a site provided by Intel.
• New Mexico Highlands University has a branch campus in Rio Rancho.