Life in Placitas
Placitas, one of New Mexico’s oldest communities, is a picturesque, unincorporated village in Sandoval County, situated at the foot of the Sandia Mountains close to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Formed by the Las Huertas land grant in 1745, this large tract of land was divided among 21 founding families. Today, descendants of the original families still live here, giving the community enviable historical continuity.
Placitas means “little plazas”, the cultural centers of the early Spanish villages. The charm, beauty, space and quiet of Placitas are being discovered by people who enjoy the feel of a small community with easy access to more urbanized areas. Concerts and art exhibits occur frequently within the village of Placitas. When residents want to participate in the cultural life of either Albuquerque or Santa Fe, they can either take the short drive or hop on the Rail Runner, which provides frequent train service from Bernalillo (just down the hill) to both cities.
Close to Placitas are the Sandia Mountains, the Jemez range, the Ortiz and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Many piñon-covered hillsides or “cerrillos” around Placitas provide endless vistas to these extraordinary mountain ranges.
