This was especially true for geographic regions. If a neighborhood got to a newspaper reporter and said, "We want you to call this area Flatland Heights," then it was tagged as such. If no community group stepped forward, the scribe would leave it up to a name given on a map or supplied by a developer. That's how we ended up with Sweetwater Hills and Echo Ridge. But sometimes a name is chosen in relation to where readers come from. That, I suspect, is how Albuquerque's West Side got its name. It's also where the term "East Mountains" comes from.

Both were so named to describe something to people in Albuquerque, and the names stuck. With the West Side, there isn't much complaint; its residents live in Albuquerque and have no problem with the name — it's admirably descriptive.

No such luck with the term "East Mountains."

For the record, the Telegraph uses "East Mountains" to refer to communities within the Sandia, San Pedro, Manzanito and Manzano mountains. Villages within those areas are identified as such, as in Cedar Crest and Tajique. There are certainly gray areas with the boundaries of the East Mountains, such as Sedillo Hill. But as shorthand, we use the term Estancia Valley and East Mountains when we talk about our community as a whole.

I've been confronted several times about the name East Mountains. It's Albu-centric, is the comment I get most. To us who live here, the east mountains are really the Pedernals, those small mounds on the eastern ridge of the Estancia Valley.

As editor of the newspaper, folks tell me, I should change that in the paper. Why not call the East Mountains something else if you truly care about our communities?

I've had suggestions that the paper should thumb our noses at Albuquerque and simply call the East Mountains the West Mountains. That doesn't necessarily work either, especially if you live in those mountains. If you live in the Manzanos, you may consider yourself in the south mountains (or possibly north mountains if your starting point is the Los Pinos Mountains south of Abo). Or maybe you live in Golden, which lies between the Sandias and San Pedro Mountains. What would that be called?

In addition, the residents of the East Mountains (See? It's easy to use) may not care for the Estancia-centric term of the West Mountains.

So we stick with the term "East Mountains." It's not perfect, but when you say it, folks know where you mean.

That doesn't mean I'm not open to any other suggestions. If you have any, don't hesitate to contact me. Maybe we can come up with something that will catch on.

Looking for Estancia photos

The Telegraph is in the midst of putting together a special section to celebrate Estancia's 100th birthday.

We are looking for old photos of Estancia to run in the section and would appreciate the use of any that our readers may have. You can keep your photo, we'd just like to scan it and use it in the seciton. If you have anything you would like to share, contact our office.

Contact Rory McClannahan at 823-7102 or online at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .