Albuquerque (/ ˈ æ l b ə k ɜːr k i / ⓘ AL-bə-kurk-ee; Spanish: [alβuˈkeɾke] ⓘ), [a] also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. [5] Founded in 1706 as La Villa de Alburquerque by Santa Fe de Nuevo México governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, and named in honor of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva ...