Albuquerque, New Mexico

1945Manhattan Project and Sandia Labs: The atomic bombs were designed at nearby Los Alamos, and after the war, Sandia National Laboratories was established in Albuquerque to engineer nuclear weapons. The labs remain the city's largest employer.

1706Spanish Colonial Founding: Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdés founded La Villa de Alburquerque as a Spanish colonial settlement along the Rio Grande, naming it after the Viceroy of New Spain, the Duke of Alburquerque.

1926Route 66 Comes Through Albuquerque: The establishment of Route 66 along Central Avenue brought a wave of automobile travelers and commerce through Albuquerque, creating the iconic neon motel strip that defined mid-century American road culture.

1972First Balloon Fiesta: The first Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta launched 13 balloons from a shopping mall parking lot. It grew into the world's largest balloon event, becoming the city's signature attraction.

1880Railroad Arrives: The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reached Albuquerque but bypassed the old town, creating 'New Town' two miles east — which became modern downtown Albuquerque.

1940Kirtland Air Force Base Established: Kirtland Army Air Field opened and grew into one of the largest military installations in the country, housing nuclear weapons storage and Air Force research facilities.

1960Intel and Tech Corridor: Albuquerque attracted major technology employers including Intel's largest manufacturing facility, Honeywell, and numerous defense contractors, diversifying beyond military dependence.

1847U.S. Captures Albuquerque: American forces under General Stephen Kearny captured Albuquerque during the Mexican-American War without resistance, beginning the transition from Mexican to American territory.

1975Microsoft Founded: Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque to be near the MITS Altair computer company. Microsoft operated from Albuquerque until moving to Washington in 1979.

2008Breaking Bad Premieres: The hit TV series Breaking Bad, set and filmed entirely in Albuquerque, brought global attention to the city and created a tourism industry around filming locations.