Bernalillo, New Mexico

{{Distinguish|Bernalillo County, New Mexico}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Bernalillo, New Mexico |settlement_type = Town |nickname = |motto =  |image_skyline = Bernalillo New Mexico Town Hall.jpg |imagesize = 275px |image_caption = Bernalillo Town Hall, May 2009 |image_flag = |image_seal =  |image_map = Sandoval_County_New_Mexico_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Bernalillo_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location of Bernalillo, New Mexico |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |pushpin_map = USA |pushpin_relief = yes |pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States |pushpin_label = Bernalillo  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = New Mexico |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Sandoval  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Jack Torres |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1695  |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_35.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2024}}</ref> |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 13.717 |area_land_km2 = 13.619 |area_water_km2 = 0.099 |area_total_sq_mi = 5.296 |area_land_sq_mi = 5.258 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.038  |population_as_of = 2020 |population_est = 9114 |pop_est_as_of = 2023 |pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/> |population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/> |population_total = 8977 |population_density_km2 = 669.2 |population_density_sq_mi = 1733  |timezone = MST |utc_offset = −07:00 |timezone_DST = MDT |utc_offset_DST = −06:00 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_m = 1540 |elevation_ft = 5053 |coordinates = {{coord|35|18|50|N|106|33|08|W|region:US-NM_type:city|display=inline,title}} |postal_code_type = ZIP Code |postal_code = 87004 |area_code = 505 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 35-06970 |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2411678<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411678}}</ref> |blank2_name = Sales tax |blank2_info = 6.94%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/new-mexico/cities/bernalillo.html|title=Bernalillo (NM) sales tax rate|access-date=June 16, 2024}}</ref> |website = {{URL|https://www.tobnm.gov/}} |footnotes = }}

'''Bernalillo''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|ɜːr|n|ə|ˈ|l|iː|j|oʊ}}) is a town in and the county seat of Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The population was 8,977 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Bernalillo_town,_New_Mexico?g=160XX00US3506970 |publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 16, 2024}}</ref>

Bernalillo is part of the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

==History== ===Wine Festival=== In the 1620s, the wine grape was introduced to Bernalillo by the Catholic priests and Spaniards. The wine industry grew rapidly since. Families were making their own wine and the vineyards were flourishing. The market dipped due to drought and floods. Slowly over time, the wine industry came back into Bernalillo and has sustained its health today, becoming a tradition and staple within the town itself.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

The town has embraced its wine heritage and hosts the New Mexico Wine festival yearly during each Labor Day. The event brings in people from all of New Mexico as well as tourists. The event has served as an economic development project for the area as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.townofbernalillo.org/about.htm |title=Town of Bernalillo |access-date=September 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119173615/http://www.townofbernalillo.org/about.htm |archive-date=November 19, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography== Bernalillo lies in the Rio Grande Valley of the Albuquerque Basin on the east bank of the Rio Grande. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|5.296|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|5.258|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.038|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 2.34% is water<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 1223 |1950= 1922 |1960= 2574 |1970= 2016 |1980= 2988 |1990= 5960 |2000= 6611 |2010= 8320 |2020= 8977 |estyear=2023 |estimate=9114 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 16, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2024}}</ref> {{increase}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/> | align = right }}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, there were 8,977 people, 3,563 households, and 2,367 families residing in the town.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A06970&in=state%3A35|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bernalillo%20town,%20New%20Mexico%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1837.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The median age was 45.7 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 3.6% were under 5 years of age, and 25.0% were 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Bernalillo town, New Mexico |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/bernalillo-town-new-mexico/160-3506970/ |access-date=June 16, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.5 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/> 99.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.5% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A06970&in=state%3A35|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 3,801 housing units, of which 6.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 3,563 households in Bernalillo, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.0% were married-couple households, 17.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A06970&in=state%3A35|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 3,964 || 44.2% |- | Black or African American || 67 || 0.7% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 594 || 6.6% |- | Asian || 72 || 0.8% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 6 || 0.1% |- | Some other race || 2,201 || 24.5% |- | Two or more races || 2,073 || 23.1% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 5,730 || 63.8% |}

===2000 census=== As of the 2000 census, there were 6,611 people, 2,309 households, and 1,724 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1436.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,473 housing units at an average density of {{convert|537.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 60.17% White, 0.74% African American, 3.92% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 31.34% from other races, and 3.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 74.75% of the population. Most of these are descendants of colonial Spanish and Mexican settlers in the area from the 16th through the 19th century.

There were 2,309 households, out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,864, and the median income for a family was $36,286. Males had a median income of $27,417 versus $22,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,100. About 13.9% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over. ==Education== Most of Bernalillo is in the Bernalillo Public Schools district. Some is in the Jemez Valley Public Schools district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st35_nm/schooldistrict_maps/c35043_sandoval/DC20SD_C35043.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sandoval County, NM|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 9, 2022}}</ref> The former operates Bernalillo High School.

==In popular culture== Anton Docher, who became known as "The Padre of Isleta", first served as a priest in Bernalillo after coming as a missionary to the United States from France. He later served for decades in Isleta.<ref>Leo Crane. ''Desert Drums: the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, 1540-1928.'' Rio Grande Press: 1972</ref>

Bernalillo Courthouse is the setting for the marriage between Jimmy "Saul Goodman" McGill and Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul.

Bernalillo is mentioned several times in Willa Cather's 1927 novel ''Death Comes for the Archbishop''.

Sam Shepard's play ''The Late Henry Moss'' is set "on the outskirts of" Bernalillo.

Bernalillo is mentioned and is the scene of part of the action in Ben Sanders book "American Blood" Allen and Unwin 2015

==Gallery== <gallery widths="150" heights="180" class="center"> File:Bernalillo church.jpg|Historic Santuario de San Lorenzo, Bernalillo File:Santuario de San Lorenzo.jpg|Entrance, Santuario de San Lorenzo File:Kuaua ruins, Coronado State Monument, 1940.jpg|Kuaua ruins, Coronado State Monument, 1940 File:Downtown Bernalillo Rail Runner station, Bernalillo NM.jpg|Downtown Bernalillo Rail Runner station, Bernalillo File:Pueblo Style House - Coronado State Monument.JPG|Pueblo Style House - Coronado State Monument File:US Route 550 with Sandia Mountains (32133362550).jpg|US Route 550 with Sandia Mountains </gallery>

==See also== {{portal|New Mexico}} * List of municipalities in New Mexico

==References== {{reflist|22em}}

==External links== {{wikivoyage|Bernalillo}} {{commons category-inline|Bernalillo, New Mexico}}

Category:Towns in Sandoval County, New Mexico Category:Towns in New Mexico Category:County seats in New Mexico Category:Albuquerque metropolitan area Category:New Mexico populated places on the Rio Grande