From New Town to the Nuclear Age

A brief chronology of the decade with recommended resources and some links to photos.

Standard Sources

Standard Sources

A Brief Chronology: 1950-1960

1950

Population 96,815

1950

Census tracts are set up for the city

1951

College of St. Joseph on the Rio Grande opens on the West Mesa

1952

Albuquerque passes an ordinance banning discrimination in public places based on race, creed, or ancestry

1952

Bataan Memorial Methodist Hospital opens

1952

Turquoise Lodge, state alcohol rehabilitation center, opens

1952

Street realignments create Lomas Boulevard out of portions of New York Avenue, Campus Boulevard, Las Lomas Road and Menaul Diagonal.

1953

First zoning ordinance compiled

1954

City’s first zoning ordinance published

1954

Los Griegos Library built

1954

Princess Jeanne Park Subdivision opens

1954

Simms Building completed at 4th and Gold SW

1955

Huning Castle demolished

1955

Clyde Tingley chooses not to run for re-election to City Commission

1956

250th Anniversary of Founding of Albuquerque celebrated

1956

Freeway alignments tentatively decided for I-25 and I-40

1956

First solar-heated commercial building, Bridgers and Paxton, built at 217 Truman NE

1957

Civic Auditorium dedicated

1957

City Commission zones Old Town  as Historic District

1958

Albuquerque declared an All America City by the National Municipal League and Life Magazine.

1958

Four Hills Village and Country Club subdivided

1959

Albuquerque’s first McDonald’s restaurant opens at Menaul and San Pedro

1960 Population 201,189
1960 Horizon Land Corporation purchases Black Ranch, the basis for Paradise Hills
1960 Los Altos golf course opens
1960 Clyde Tingley dies December 24th at age 79

Albuquerque Newspapers

Albuquerque Newspapers

Recommended Resources

1950-1959