These days, just outside of many larger American cities, rural areas are quickly vanishing, turning into suburbs. As they do rural lifestyles are often relegated to distant memory. Bosque Farms, a charming 4-square-mile rural village in Central New Mexico, is that rare place where the pattern is different.

Incorporated in 1974, Bosque Farms Village is beloved for successfully combining suburban and rural venues and values. Just 20 minutes (about 18 miles) south of downtown Albuquerque, Bosque Farms, NM real estate for sale beckons with a relaxed, rural village atmosphere while its residents enjoy having big city amenities available when they want them.

Bosque Farms has a rich history. Originally part of a Spanish land grant from 1716, it was called Bosque del Pino (Forest Pines), or Los Pinos. The village lies along the course of the famous Camino Real (the Royal Road) which follows the Rio Grande. It was originally a connector between the trading centers scattered throughout the Rio Grande valley.

During the Great Depression in the 1930s the New Mexico Rural Rehabilitation Corporation bought the land and subsequently sold it to the federal Resettlement Administration in 1935. The RA renamed the land Bosque Farms and resettled Dust Bowl refugees here. After poor soil conditions led to poor agricultural results, the resettled families that stayed took up dairy farming and up through the 1960s, this was community’s main agricultural industry.

Today, while Bosque Farms has gradually become more residential, it remains connected to its rural and farming heritage. One still sees large swaths of alfalfa fields which in decades past provided dairy forage. Today, only one active dairy farm continues to operate in Bosque Farms, but a significant portion of the alfalfa, along with the newer grass fields, serve as grazing grounds for the many horses to be found here. In short, the rural character of Bosque Farms is still easy to see but it has changed forms.

Shopping and Dining


Although Bosque Farms, NM real estate for sale is found in a small town, it does offer some shopping and dining options, and of course, since it is close to the Albuquerque metropolitan area, a world of options is only minutes away. Some popular local retailers include Brenda’s Fashions for women’s clothing and accessories; Peddlers Corner Antique Mall; Say It With a Basket for flowers, gifts and specialty food; Gold Box Jewelers and Lodis Beads for jewelry; Cobra Communications & Sk8 Boarding Co. for mobile phones and skate goods; Raven’s Hollow Games for hobbies, toys and comics; Branden’s Video & Music for videos and video game rental; Jan’s Custom Leather; and Nature’s Way Compost for gardening and nursery supplies.

For dining options, popular choices include Sopa’s Restaurant, Benny’s Mexican Kitchen, Southwest Grill, and Teriyaki Express, plus several burger joints highlighted by Blake’s Lota Burger.

Parks and Recreation


Bosque Farms does not have its own parks department but it does have a Community Center with a large, grassy picnic area with two concrete benches. Users are invited to bring their own tables and chairs and to set up gas or charcoal grills. The community center features two large meeting rooms, one of which has a small stage. For children and for fun at all ages, abundant park facilities are available in surrounding communities of Peralta and Las Lunas. Nearby Albuquerque has numerous parks, highlighted by its BioPark Zoo. The Sandia Mountains, and the foothills leading to them, provide a year-round playground for outdoor enthusiasts.

Living


As of 2012, Bosque Farms population is about 3,900 and has been stable for years. The median home cost of Bosque Farms NM real estate for sale is $202,500. Bosque Farms properties cover a range from suburban single family homes to houses with acreage and horse farms. At four square miles, this is a small community, and one that values its rural heritage and open spaces, but with Albuquerque so close it is ideal for employment, entertainment and dining options.

Schools, Health, Transportation


For elementary school, Bosque Farms children in grades Kindergarten through 6th Grade attend Bosque Farms Elementary. Middle school children (7th & 8th grade) and high school students (9th through 12th Grade) attend schools administered by the Los Lunas Public Schools.

Bosque Farms is home to a number of physician’s offices and dental practices. For acute care, Albuquerque offers University of New Mexico Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital and the Lovelace Hospital. The Heart Hospital of New Mexico is an excellent facility for cardiac concerns.

For drivers, New Mexico 47, known here as Bosque Farms Road, passes through town, while Highway 314 (Coors Blvd.) is immediately west on the other side of town. Interstate 25 is also just a short drive from Bosque Farms making travel to Albuquerque and points north (or south) a breeze. For flights, Albuquerque International Sunport is a very convenient 16 miles, or 25 minutes driving time, northwest of Bosque Farms.