A Rio Grande Valley village that’s growing quickly
The Village of Los Lunas is in the Rio Grande Valley, east of the Manzano Mountains. This area was historically a farming community. Today, it's one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, both economically and in terms of population. Los Lunas has close to 20,000 residents and is about 24 miles south of the biggest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque, home to about 559,000.
More people are moving to Los Lunas because of the increasing number of job opportunities. An Amazon fulfillment center opened in 2023, bringing about 600 positions. Meta expanded its Facebook data center, adding about 400 jobs. The company also increased the availability of free Wi-Fi access in Valencia County and implemented new solar projects. An aluminum can sheet rolling mill and recycling center is scheduled to open in 2026 with nearly 1,000 jobs. Other major employers in Los Lunas are Walmart, Niagara Bottling and Wall Colmonoy, which manufactures metal products.
Los Lunas has several Opportunity Zone Areas, which offer tax cuts to promote economic success for low-income communities. The U.S. Department of Treasury added these designations in 2019, and they continue until 2029.
The village of Los Lunas is a tight knit community with the small town charm.
West Los Lunas is one of the fastest growing communities in New Mexico.
Amazon has provided a boost in jobs for Los Lunas residents with their distribution center.
Meta has developed a data center in Los Lunas brining tech jobs to the area.
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Interstate 25, Rio Metro buses and the Rail Runner Express
Interstate 25 and state Route 314 run through Los Lunas north-to-south. Both roads are used by commuters traveling to or from Albuquerque. Commuter rail is available, too, with Rio Metro's New Mexico Rail Runner Express from the Los Lunas Transportation Center. Belen is the sole stop to the south, and to the north, stops include Isleta Pueblo, Downtown Albuquerque and Downtown Bernalillo. The end of the line is Santa Fe, where many commute for state government jobs. There is a Park & Ride lot and reservable bicycle lockers by the Los Lunas station. Rio Metro bus service and the Dial-a-Ride program are also available in the village.
A proposed four-lane bridge across the Rio Grande River would add an interchange and two lanes on I-25 to reduce traffic. In late 2024, a recommended design was under consideration. Once started, construction would take about two years.
As Los Lunas expands, new housing opportunities are added
Some Los Lunas homes feature Pueblo Revival style or Spanish influences. Modern and traditional styles have a place as well. With more industry, more housing and development have been coming to Los Lunas. New 2020s construction includes homes in master-planned West Los Lunas developments like Cerro Vista. Another area with new homes is Meadow Lake, east of Los Lunas proper. Manufactured homes and multiacre lots are common in Meadow Lake.
As of late 2024, the median home price in Los Lunas over a year was $320,000, compared to the national median of $407,000. Prices range from the $200,000s for homes under 2,000 square feet to $1 million for those with more than double the square footage. Over 12 months, the average price was $506,000.
FBI data from the Los Lunas Police Department shows that the village's violent crime rate at the end of 2023 was slightly higher than the national rate and about 25% lower than the state rate. Property crime rates were nearly in step with the national numbers and 45% lower than statewide. Over the past five years, Los Lunas rates have gone up and down, with some of the spikes occurring during summer months.
New construction is ripe for the picking in West Los Lunas.
Residents of West Los Lunas enjoy views of the beautiful Sandia mountains to the north east.
Single family homes in the suburbs of Los Lunas.
Most yards in West Los Lunas are decorated with rock, gravel and low-water plants.
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Independent and big-box stores, the Los Lunas Farmers Market
There are a variety of locally owned businesses in Los Lunas. Restaurant highlights include New Mexican and Mexican cuisine, as well as other options. Additionally, many big-box retailers and well-known chains are along state Route 6, which runs east-to-west through Los Lunas as Main Street.
On the east side of the city, there is an Albertsons Market and a Smith's grocery store. The Los Lunas Farmers Market is held seasonally on Tuesday evenings at Heritage Park, also on the east side. The produce at the farmers market has been verified as New Mexico-grown.
In the western reaches of Los Lunas, the rural features rev up. The Southwest Livestock Auction is a place to buy cattle and attend rodeos and concerts. Nearby, the Valencia County Cowboy Church is a house of worship in a barn-like building. In addition to regular services, which are open to all, the church has held junior rodeos and equestrian events.
Rutilio's carne fries with chile is one of the reasons Meadow Lake flock to the restaurant.
While shopping residents of Las Maravillas can stock up at Albertsons Market.
Smiths located in the Valencia - Y shopping center is convenient for Meadow Lake residents.
Los Lunas is home to the Cowboy Church, a gathering place for worship and more.
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Los Lunas recreational sites, El Cerro de Los Lunas
The city has dozens of recreational sites, including a youth center, little league fields and the Los Lunas Sports Plex. Riverside Park, one of the larger green spaces in the city, sits along the east banks of the Rio Grande River and includes a trail through the Rio Grande Bosque, a forest habitat known for cottonwood trees. The village offers a variety of activities, such as youth sports, dance, music and fitness classes.
With a name meaning "the hill of Los Lunas," El Cerro de Los Lunas is a nature preserve with trails through rocky terrain and desert wildlife, including hawks, rattlesnakes and lizards. Desert flowers that line the trails have vibrant blooms in the spring. The climate here is semi-arid, with minimal precipitation. It does get cold in the winter, and snowfall ranges from 2 to 6 inches.
A mother & daughter enjoy the many activities available at the Daniel Fernandez Rec Center.
The Los Lunas Sports Complex has many sports fields for residents to enjoy.
River Park has access to walking trails in the beautiful Bosque.
Take in the beautiful sights around the El Cerro de Los Lunas Trailhead.
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About 8,500 students attend Los Lunas Public Schools
The Los Lunas Public Schools system serves around 8,500 students across the city and surrounding communities. The district, which has been accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, earns a B grade from Niche. Several elementary schools are Apple Distinguished Schools, recognized by the tech company as centers for leadership and educational excellence. Besides high-end technology, the school system also invests in fresh and healthy food. Los Lunas Public Schools received $66,000 in state funding in 2023 in the effort to use locally grown produce in school lunches.
Sundance elementary school is Los Lunas' premier public elementary school.
Los Lunas Middle School has earned a C-plus rating from Niche.
Los Lunas High School provides many clubs and sports for their students to enjoy.
Ann Parish Elementary provides quality education for local students.
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Holiday celebrations and the King of the Hill races
The village hosts a variety of holiday celebrations, including a Fourth of July celebration that draws crowds of up to 6,000. It features food, live music, a car show and one of the state's largest fireworks displays. "That's one of the perks of being such a small community," says Matthew Jamarillo, the recreation supervisor for the Village of Los Lunas. "When there is something to do here, everybody knows about it and comes through." Many participate in the King of the Hill, a series of 5K, 10K and half-marathon races held at El Cerro de Los Lunas in March.
The Isleta Influence, and no, it's not 'Las Lunas'
Native American communities have inhabited the region for thousands of years. About 10 miles north of Los Lunas is the Isleta Pueblo, officially named the Pueblo of Isleta, according to a list on file with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. "They provide a very unique culture as well as entertainment for the area," says Anthony Tekala, cultural events coordinator at the center. The tribe operates a resort casino, a golf course, community centers and a recreational complex. "Isleta is also known for a tattoo festival, and the amphitheater is a big influence," Tekala says. Since 2013, the resort casino has had naming rights to an outdoor venue operated by Live Nation. Isleta Amphitheater accommodates 15,000 and offers season tickets for its concert series. The amphitheater is in the master-planned community of Mesa del Sol, about 20 miles north of Los Lunas.
Though one might assume the name Los Lunas is simply using the Spanish words for "the moons," the name is meant to honor the Luna family. One of the members was Domingo de Luna, an 18th-century landowner in the area. The Spanish article "los" is used instead of "las" with this type of usage. "I'd say about 90% of people call it 'Las Lunas' anyway," says Patricia Luczo, a tourism organization volunteer.
Additional writing by Julia Straka
Los Lunas borders the nearby Isleta reservation.
Los Lunas residents enjoy heading to the Isleta Golf Course for a round of 18.
The Isleta Resort and Casino is just outside of Los Lunas and is a great weekend getaway.
Just north of Los Lunas is the Isleta Amphitheater, a venue for popular concerts.
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