Estancia Valley Communities

Torrance County

From the up-and-coming art community in Mountainair to the expanding commercial and industrial base in Moriarty, Torrance County, New Mexico provides a wealth of choices for enterprises of all sizes and types. The county’s system of Interstate and major secondary roads provides effective access to major markets throughout the state and the Southwestern U.S., making it an attractive location for manufacturing and distribution operations. A combination of rural, small-town, and modern development patterns afford a wide variety of options for enterprise siting, and the broad variety of residential opportunities ensure that the specific living needs of all members of an organization can be satisfied. Torrance County has something for everyone, whether it’s the hills and trees of the western part of the county or the wide open spaces to the east. A plethora of recreational opportunities, from hiking and skiing in the nearby Manzano and Sandia Mountains to soaring and general aviation in the valley, make the county an attractive place to live, work, and play. Very reasonable land prices and low tax rates – all within convenient driving distance of the state’s largest metropolitan area – make Torrance County an excellent location for your business.

Torrance County is home to five incorporated communities – Encino, Estancia, Moriarty, Mountainair, and Willard. Public and private health care facilities are located at a number of locations throughout the county and in nearby Edgewood, and the County’s proximity to Albuquerque ensures that services in all areas of medical practice are readily available to all residents and workers in Torrance County.

Thanks to the short distance to Albuquerque via Interstate Highway 40, Torrance County has become an attractive option for those seeking larger properties but desiring the amenities associated with a metropolitan area and its outlying communities, and growth in the area has attracted manufacturers, technology enterprises, retail establishments, restaurants, financial institutions, national supermarket and drugstore chains, consulting firms, and other ventures to Torrance County. Expansion of the Moriarty Municipal Airport – soon to include a new crosswind runway – has made Torrance County a prime location for aviation-related businesses and provides an excellent environment for general aviation activities as well as soaring/gliding enterprises. Much of Torrance County is served by high-speed internet service providers, ensuring that your operation’s communication and data transfer needs can be satisfied by the existing infrastructure.

• Torrance County web site

Edgewood

Incorporated in 1999, the Town of Edgewood is one of central New Mexico’s up-and-coming communities. Located less than 20 minutes on Interstate 40 from the state’s largest metropolitan area, Edgewood provides an attractive balance of amenities and atmosphere. The Town’s commercial zoning district, part of which is located along the longest remaining stretch of historic Route 66, is home to supermarkets, national drug store chains, several modern service stations, fast-food and full-service restaurants, banks, professional offices, dental and medical practices, automobile dealerships, and a variety of shops and other businesses.

Edgewood’s close proximity to technology-oriented assets such as the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Sandia Laboratories Corridor (Sandia National Laboratories, Kirtland Air Force Base, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Sandia Technology Park) make it an ideal location for technology and professional services enterprises. The Sandia Laboratories Corridor employs over 20,000 high-tech professionals, of which 9% live in the Edgewood area. This has given the area an attractive flavor for technology-based ventures, as a 30-acre technology park is in the development stages for enterprises associated with highspeed communications and associated companies. State-of-the- art broadband options for internet access are available in Edgewood and throughout the entire surrounding area. Very reasonable property tax rates, the availability of substantial amounts of commercial real estate, and a focus on economic development combine to make it easy to bring your operation to Edgewood.

Edgewood also provides exceptional opportunities for quality of life that exceeds other mountain communities. Open space preservation and the institution of a system of trails promote activities such as hiking, cycling, skating, and horseback riding, and just minutes away are other outdoor activities including hiking in the Sandia National Wilderness, Wildlife West Nature Park, skiing at the Sandia Peak Ski Area, gliding/soaring and general aviation at one of three area airports.

Edgewood is well-served by the Moriarty Municipal Schools, ranked in the top five school districts in New Mexico, and a plethora of private educational facilities. Edgewood is within a few minutes of a variety of postsecondary institutions, including the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute, and a number of private colleges and universities.

• Town of Edgewood, New Mexico web site
• Virtual Tour: Edgewood, New Mexico Main Intersectiono
• Virtual Tour of Edgewood, New Mexico's Sandia Air Park

 

Estancia

Located at the heart of the Estancia Valley just south of Moriarty, Estancia (which means "resting place") is rich in history and character. Throughout recorded history, Estancia has been a popular stopping point for regional travelers, thanks to its clean, springfed lake. The area has been historically associated with agriculture, including cattle ranching and farming. The town has been the county seat since 1905, and was incorporated in 1909. For over two decades in the early part of the 20th century, it was home to the headquarters of the New Mexico Central Railway. Growth during these years was largely responsible for the current physical configuration of the town, which is primarily a grid pattern of smaller residential properties, with commercial development – including restaurants, filling stations, and a variety of other commercial enterprises – largely concentrated along or near the town’s main thoroughfare, 5th Street (U.S. 41). The Town of Estancia has made the visual attractiveness of the commercial district and preservation of a small-town atmosphere a high priority. Present-day residential development in the area includes larger lots surrounding the town and throughout the surrounding countryside.

In many ways, Estancia may be considered the area’s most aggressive community with respect to providing amenities to residents and businesses. The town is served by municipal water and sewer systems, curbside trash removal, and a natural gas utility. Estancia boasts a newly-completed, $1 million public library. Arthur Park, with its lake, provides area residents and visitors with fishing, picnicking, and other recreational opportunities. The town is poised the first community in the Estancia Valley to build a community recreation center with a swimming pool. Estancia is also home to the Torrance County Fairgrounds and rodeo arena, as well as a baseball park. Public transportation includes regularly-scheduled bus service to Moriarty. The town also owns the Estancia Municipal Airport, located just east of the Town of Estancia.

Estancia’s many advantages also include very reasonably priced real estate, relatively low taxes, close proximity to Interstate Highway 40 via a major secondary highway (U.S. 41), clean air and water, medical services available through public and private providers, an excellent school system, and convenient access to metropolitan Albuquerque.

 

Moriarty

Just 35 miles east of Albuquerque and situated where the Great Plains and the Southern Rockies meet, Moriarty extends a hearty welcome to businesspeople, tourists, and home seekers alike. With its municipal airport, low real estate prices, high-quality, skilled labor force, and a supportive community, Moriarty possesses a host of advantages for new and relocating businesses. Moriarty’s business district is home to supermarkets, banks, hotels, fast-food and full-service restaurants, modern service stations and travel centers, professional services firms, medical practices, and a wide variety of other enterprises.

Ask area residents about their school system, but make time to listen because they are justifiably proud of the teachers, administrators, facilities, and most of all the students. Academic excellence is the hallmark of the Moriarty Public School system, rated at the top by the State of New Mexico.

Moriarty Municipal Airport is located 2 miles southeast of the city and only 40 miles from the Albuquerque International Airport. Complete with a 24-hour fuel stop, Moriarty’s airport is a favorite with both recreational and commercial users, from ultralight and glider enthusiasts to commercial jet certification testing operations. Large parcels of land surrounding the runway provide an ideal location for airplane manufacturers and suppliers. Situated near the center of the state, the Moriarty Municipal Airport offers an ideal location as a starting point for travel to a wide variety of destinations as well as convenient access to the state’s largest metropolitan area.

The Moriarty Industrial Park is a 40-acre planned business / industrial complex adjacent to Interstate 40 near the east end of the City of Moriarty. It is zoned for light and heavy industry, and commercial office space. Lots are available for long or short term lease at attractive rates. Sites may be combined in virtually any configuration to meet your requirements.

• City of Moriarty web site
• 3D Virtual Tour of Route 66, Moriarty, New Mexico
• 3D Virtual Tour of Municipal Airport, Moriarty,New Mexico

Mountainair

Located at the southern end of the Manzano Mountains, Mountainair is home to the Salinas National Monument and the historic Shaffer Hotel. This central New Mexico town – named for its cool, summer breezes – has attracted artists, conservationists, and other enterprises to create a vibrant, attractive mix of commerce, natural beauty, and unique atmosphere. Recently identified as one of New Mexico’s most recently-noticed treasures Mountainair has reinvented itself as a center for tourism, retreats, lecture series, and other activities that benefit from a unique and beautiful setting.

Mountainair’s downtown area is home to a variety of shops, hotels, indoor and outdoor galleries, restaurants, and other conveniences. Residential opportunities range from homes in town to large-lot, ecologically-friendly developments in the surrounding countryside, and the Mountainair area’s high end, luxury ranchettes have attracted a plethora of celebrities and corporate executives from all over the United States. The town’s location in Abo Pass, originally selected to take advantage of the building of the railroad line, provides convenient access to a number of other Estancia Valley communities including Willard and Belen, as well as Albuquerque to the northwest.

The ruins at Abo, Quarai, and Grand Quivira, all part of the Salinas National Monument, provide a unique view into the Southwest’s cultural and historic past. The Manzano Mountains afford a nearly endless supply of opportunities for outdoor sports, and the short drive to Interstate Highway 25 provides access to the Rio Grande and Bosque del Apache wildlife preserve, winter home to a multitude of migratory birds, including sandhill cranes, geese, herons, and egrets.

• Town of Mountainair web site