Huning Highlands
Huning Highlands
Huning Highlands, also known as EDo or East Downtown, is a small, inner-city neighborhood in Albuquerque, just east of Downtown. It’s mostly residential and is known for its many Victorian and early 20th‑century houses. The area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Huning Highlands Historic District, and there is a commercial strip along Central Avenue (the old Route 66) and Broadway Boulevard.
Development and history
The neighborhood began to grow in 1880 after the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway arrived. Franz Huning and partners formed the New Mexico Town Company and helped bring railroad facilities to a site that became Downtown. Huning also owned land to the east in the Highlands, which gave the area its name. Civil engineer Walter Marmon laid out the streets, with Arno (named for Huning’s son), Walter, Edith, Broadway, and High Street. It became a popular place to live for many new residents, mostly Anglo‑American and European immigrants. The homes reflect Victorian styles such as Queen Anne and Italianate.
Protecting and restoring the neighborhood
From the 1920s to the 1970s, the area declined as wealthier residents moved outward. In 1978 the Huning Highlands Historic District was added to the National Register, and in 1980 the city created its first Historic Overlay Zone to protect historic properties and encourage restoration. This helped reduce blight and led to many restored homes, with conditions improving over time.
Today and amenities
Development has grown in the commercial area, including projects like Albuquerque High Lofts and Innovate ABQ, a technology campus. The neighborhood is served by Albuquerque Public Schools, with Longfellow or Eugene Field Elementary, Jefferson Middle, and Albuquerque High.
Transportation and location
The main streets are MLK Jr. Boulevard, Central Avenue, and Lead and Coal Avenues, with Broadway running north‑south. I‑25 is nearby to the east. Public transit includes the Albuquerque Rapid Transit Red and Green lines via the EDo station, plus several local bus routes. The Alvarado Transportation Center is just to the west.
Population snapshot
As of 2010, about 1,050 people lived in Huning Highlands. The community was roughly 51% non‑Hispanic white, 37% Hispanic, and the rest made up of American Indian, Asian, Black, and other or mixed-race residents.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:38 (CET).