Barelas
Encyclopedia
Barelas is an inner-city neighborhood of Albuquerque
, New Mexico
, located immediately south of Downtown
. It consists of the triangular area bounded by Coal Avenue, the BNSF railroad tracks, and the Rio Grande
. Originally a separate village, it was absorbed into Albuquerque during the railroad-fueled growth of the 1880s but still retains a distinct identity. The settlement was formally established in 1662, predating even Old Town
as the oldest neighborhood in the city. Although it was long one of Albuquerque's most economically distressed areas, Barelas has seen significant development since the opening of the National Hispanic Cultural Center
in 2000 and may be starting to experience gentrification
.
The neighborhood's main commercial area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
in 1807 as being "400 yards wide, but not more than three feet deep and excellent fording". A settlement was formally established there (on paper at least) by colonial governor Diego de Peñalosa
in 1662, though it remained largely unpopulated until the 19th century. The name Barelas is thought to come from a local landowner named Pedro Varela (or Barela), who had a ranch in the area.
Barelas in the late 1800s was a quiet agricultural community, with 309 residents listed in the 1870 Census and 350 in 1880. The village did see minor action during the American Civil War
, most notably during the Battle of Albuquerque
in April 1862. On that occasion, Union
troops in Barelas exchanged long-range artillery fire with a Confederate
position east of Albuquerque for several hours, with no casualties.
reached Albuquerque in 1880. In order to keep the route as straight as possible, however, the railroad planners chose to build the Albuquerque depot and some 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the actual town. This led to the immediate creation of a separate "New Town" adjacent to the depot and directly north of Barelas. Fueled by the presence of the massive Santa Fe Railway Shops
, Albuquerque's largest employer at the time, Barelas underwent a rapid transformation from quiet farming village to busy blue-collar neighborhood. By 1900 there were over 1,200 residents, many of whom worked for the railroad. Most of Barelas was incorporated into the City of Albuquerque in 1891, marking its end as a separate community.
Barelas saw increased prosperity after 4th Street, one of the main arteries through the neighborhood, was designated as part of U.S. Route 66
in 1926. The road was soon lined with filling stations, garages, and cafes catering to the steady stream of travelers passing through Barelas.
bypassed Barelas entirely. Traffic on 4th eroded further still when Interstate 25
supplanted U.S. 85 as Albuquerque's main north-south highway.
To make matters worse, the railroad shops closed in 1970, eliminating 1,500 jobs from Barelas. Then in 1974 a downtown section of 4th Street was closed to build Civic Plaza, cutting off the neighborhood's main artery. Isolated from the rest of the city and with its economic base in ruins, Barelas descended into poverty and crime.
, a $50 million project that brought visitors and capital back into the neighborhood. The opening of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Barelas Job Opportunity Center in 2001 has also furthered economic development in Barelas. Another potentially significant project for the neighborhood is the pending redevelopment of the former railyard complex, which has been vacant since the 1970s. As of 2011 this project is still in the planning stage but has already fueled land speculation in Barelas, raising the possibility of gentrification
.
In 1997, the commercial area along 4th Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as the Barelas-South Fourth Street Historic District.
and the BNSF railroad tracks south of Coal Avenue, which forms the boundary with Downtown
. The area claimed by the Barelas Neighborhood Association extends all the way south to Woodward Road, though south of Bridge Boulevard the neighborhood becomes primarily industrial rather than residential. Geographically speaking Barelas is somewhat isolated, with the railyard and river separating it from adjacent areas to the east and west.
. It has historically been one of the poorest neighborhoods in Albuquerque. In 2000, per capita income was $5,871, with 46.4% of the population below the poverty line and 20.5% of households receiving public assistance. The unemployment rate was 21.9%.
and U.S. Route 66
. Both took the same route through the neighborhood, following 4th Street south before turning west across the Barelas Bridge. Although both highways were later rerouted, 4th Street and Bridge Boulevard are still the primary thoroughfares in Barelas and the bridge remains an important link for local traffic.
Public transit in Barelas is provided by ABQ RIDE's 53 Isleta and 54 Bridge/Westgate city bus routes, which follow 8th Street and 4th Street respectively. Additional rail and bus connections are available a few blocks north of Barelas at the Alvarado Transportation Center
.
by Miguel del Aguila
. Commissioned for Albuquerque's Tricentennial celebration, the opera premiered on April 20, 2006 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
The vacant railyard complex in Barelas has become a frequently-used filming location. Movies filmed there include Beerfest
(2006), The Spirit
(2008), Gamer (2009), Terminator Salvation
(2009), and The Avengers (2012). The pilot episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles also used the railyard as a location.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, located immediately south of Downtown
Downtown Albuquerque
Downtown Albuquerque is the central business district of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is where a large number of the city's highrise buildings are located, as well as being the center of government and business for the region....
. It consists of the triangular area bounded by Coal Avenue, the BNSF railroad tracks, and the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
. Originally a separate village, it was absorbed into Albuquerque during the railroad-fueled growth of the 1880s but still retains a distinct identity. The settlement was formally established in 1662, predating even Old Town
Old Town Albuquerque
Old Town is a historic district in Albuquerque, New Mexico, dating back to the founding of the city by the Spanish in 1706. Today it is a popular shopping and tourist destination. Old Town comprises about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings grouped around a central plaza...
as the oldest neighborhood in the city. Although it was long one of Albuquerque's most economically distressed areas, Barelas has seen significant development since the opening of the National Hispanic Cultural Center
National Hispanic Cultural Center
The National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico is an establishment for preserving and promoting the culture of the Spanish-speaking world...
in 2000 and may be starting to experience gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
.
The neighborhood's main commercial area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Early history
The area now known as Barelas was originally the site of an important river crossing on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the main Spanish trade route through New Mexico. The crossing was described by Zebulon PikeZebulon Pike
Zebulon Montgomery Pike Jr. was an American officer and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named. As a United States Army captain in 1806-1807, he led the Pike Expedition to explore and document the southern portion of the Louisiana Purchase and to find the headwaters of the Red River,...
in 1807 as being "400 yards wide, but not more than three feet deep and excellent fording". A settlement was formally established there (on paper at least) by colonial governor Diego de Peñalosa
Diego de Peñalosa
Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa Briceño y Berdugo was the Lima-born governor of Spanish New Mexico in 1661–1664, following his appointment to replace Bernardo López de Mendizábal in 1660....
in 1662, though it remained largely unpopulated until the 19th century. The name Barelas is thought to come from a local landowner named Pedro Varela (or Barela), who had a ranch in the area.
Barelas in the late 1800s was a quiet agricultural community, with 309 residents listed in the 1870 Census and 350 in 1880. The village did see minor action during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, most notably during the Battle of Albuquerque
Battle of Albuquerque
The Battle of Albuquerque was a small engagement of the American Civil War in April 1862 between General Henry Hopkins Sibley's Army of New Mexico and a Union Army under Edward R. S. Canby.-Battle:...
in April 1862. On that occasion, Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
troops in Barelas exchanged long-range artillery fire with a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
position east of Albuquerque for several hours, with no casualties.
Boom years
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
reached Albuquerque in 1880. In order to keep the route as straight as possible, however, the railroad planners chose to build the Albuquerque depot and some 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the actual town. This led to the immediate creation of a separate "New Town" adjacent to the depot and directly north of Barelas. Fueled by the presence of the massive Santa Fe Railway Shops
Santa Fe Railway Shops (Albuquerque)
The former Santa Fe Railway Shops in Albuquerque, New Mexico, consist of eighteen surviving buildings erected between 1916 and 1924. The complex is located south of downtown in the Barelas neighborhood, bounded by Second Street, Hazeldine Avenue, Commercial Street, and Pacific Avenue...
, Albuquerque's largest employer at the time, Barelas underwent a rapid transformation from quiet farming village to busy blue-collar neighborhood. By 1900 there were over 1,200 residents, many of whom worked for the railroad. Most of Barelas was incorporated into the City of Albuquerque in 1891, marking its end as a separate community.
Barelas saw increased prosperity after 4th Street, one of the main arteries through the neighborhood, was designated as part of U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
in 1926. The road was soon lined with filling stations, garages, and cafes catering to the steady stream of travelers passing through Barelas.
Decline
Barelas suffered a series of economic setbacks in the mid-20th century, the first of which was the realignment of Route 66 in 1937. The new east-west route was 90 miles (144.8 km) shorter, but the rerouting of the highway from 4th Street to Central AvenueCentral Avenue (Albuquerque)
Central Avenue is a major east-west street in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which historically served as the city's main thoroughfare and principal axis of development. It runs through many of Albuquerque's oldest neighborhoods, including Downtown, Old Town, Nob Hill, and the University of New Mexico...
bypassed Barelas entirely. Traffic on 4th eroded further still when Interstate 25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
supplanted U.S. 85 as Albuquerque's main north-south highway.
To make matters worse, the railroad shops closed in 1970, eliminating 1,500 jobs from Barelas. Then in 1974 a downtown section of 4th Street was closed to build Civic Plaza, cutting off the neighborhood's main artery. Isolated from the rest of the city and with its economic base in ruins, Barelas descended into poverty and crime.
Renewal
Barelas has experienced a gradual resurgence since the late 1980s as demand for housing near Downtown has increased. A major turning point came in 2000 with the opening of the National Hispanic Cultural CenterNational Hispanic Cultural Center
The National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico is an establishment for preserving and promoting the culture of the Spanish-speaking world...
, a $50 million project that brought visitors and capital back into the neighborhood. The opening of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Barelas Job Opportunity Center in 2001 has also furthered economic development in Barelas. Another potentially significant project for the neighborhood is the pending redevelopment of the former railyard complex, which has been vacant since the 1970s. As of 2011 this project is still in the planning stage but has already fueled land speculation in Barelas, raising the possibility of gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
.
In 1997, the commercial area along 4th Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the Barelas-South Fourth Street Historic District.
Geography
The neighborhood occupies a roughly triangular region between the Rio GrandeRio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
and the BNSF railroad tracks south of Coal Avenue, which forms the boundary with Downtown
Downtown Albuquerque
Downtown Albuquerque is the central business district of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is where a large number of the city's highrise buildings are located, as well as being the center of government and business for the region....
. The area claimed by the Barelas Neighborhood Association extends all the way south to Woodward Road, though south of Bridge Boulevard the neighborhood becomes primarily industrial rather than residential. Geographically speaking Barelas is somewhat isolated, with the railyard and river separating it from adjacent areas to the east and west.
Demographics
Barelas has around 3,700 inhabitants, roughly two thirds of whom are HispanicHispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
. It has historically been one of the poorest neighborhoods in Albuquerque. In 2000, per capita income was $5,871, with 46.4% of the population below the poverty line and 20.5% of households receiving public assistance. The unemployment rate was 21.9%.
Transportation
Barelas was formerly served by two major highways, U.S. Route 85U.S. Route 85
U.S. Route 85 is a north–south United States highway that runs for in the Mountain - Northern Plains states of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, connecting with Mexican Federal Highway 45...
and U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
. Both took the same route through the neighborhood, following 4th Street south before turning west across the Barelas Bridge. Although both highways were later rerouted, 4th Street and Bridge Boulevard are still the primary thoroughfares in Barelas and the bridge remains an important link for local traffic.
Public transit in Barelas is provided by ABQ RIDE's 53 Isleta and 54 Bridge/Westgate city bus routes, which follow 8th Street and 4th Street respectively. Additional rail and bus connections are available a few blocks north of Barelas at the Alvarado Transportation Center
Alvarado Transportation Center
The Alvarado Transportation Center is a multimodal transit hub located at 100 1st Street SW in Downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.The complex was built as a hub for Albuquerque's regional transit system and as a replacement for Albuquerque's previous bus depot and train station...
.
Places of interest
- National Hispanic Cultural CenterNational Hispanic Cultural CenterThe National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico is an establishment for preserving and promoting the culture of the Spanish-speaking world...
- Rio Grande Zoo
- Santa Fe Railway ShopsSanta Fe Railway Shops (Albuquerque)The former Santa Fe Railway Shops in Albuquerque, New Mexico, consist of eighteen surviving buildings erected between 1916 and 1924. The complex is located south of downtown in the Barelas neighborhood, bounded by Second Street, Hazeldine Avenue, Commercial Street, and Pacific Avenue...
- Tingley FieldTingley FieldTingley Field was a baseball stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which served as the home of professional baseball in Albuquerque from 1937 to 1968...
(demolished)
National Register of Historic Places
In addition to the Barelas-South Fourth Street Historic District, there are a number of individual NRHP properties in Barelas:- Coronado SchoolCoronado School (Albuquerque, New Mexico)Coronado School is a historic elementary school in the Barelas neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Built in 1936–37 as a Public Works Administration project, it is the city's third-oldest operating elementary school...
- Charles W. Lewis Building
- Newlander Apartments
- Shoup Boardinghouse
- Superintendent's House, Atlantic & Pacific Railroad
- West San Jose School
In popular culture
Barelas was the setting for Time and Again Barelas, a three-act operaOpera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
by Miguel del Aguila
Miguel del Aguila
Miguel del Águila is an Uruguayan-born American composer of contemporary classical music.-Life:After studies in his native Montevideo, Águila moved to the United States in 1978, where he graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music...
. Commissioned for Albuquerque's Tricentennial celebration, the opera premiered on April 20, 2006 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
The vacant railyard complex in Barelas has become a frequently-used filming location. Movies filmed there include Beerfest
Beerfest
Beerfest is a 2006 beer-themed comedy film by the comedy group Broken Lizard. Along with the regular members of Broken Lizard, other actors who appear in the movie include Will Forte, M. C. Gainey, Cloris Leachman, Kendra C...
(2006), The Spirit
The Spirit (film)
The Spirit is a 2008 American superhero noir film, written and directed by Frank Miller and starring Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film is based on the newspaper comic strip The Spirit by Will Eisner...
(2008), Gamer (2009), Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed by McG and starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The fourth installment in the Terminator series, the film is set in 2018 and focuses on the war between Skynet and humanity, with the human Resistance fighting...
(2009), and The Avengers (2012). The pilot episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles also used the railyard as a location.