NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION

McKinley County

McKinley County is situated in the southwest portion of the Colorado Plateau region and shares a common border with San Juan County to the north and Cibola County to the south. The County's land base is over 60 percent Indian Reservation, and the population of approximately 75,000 is over 70 percent Native American. The only municipality is Gallup, which serves as County Seat and contains nearly one-third percent of the County population. The County is home to portions of the Navajo Nation and the Pueblo of Zuni. Prominent geographic features include the southeastern range of the Chuska Mountains, extensive cliff formations known as the "Red Rocks" and the Zuni Mountains.

City of Gallup

Climate
Average Temperatures and Precipitation

Education

The Gallup-McKinley Public School District has 33 public schools dedicated to "growing students to be productive citizens in a multicultural society." Serving approximately 13,620 students, the public schools of Gallup also serve the surrounding municipalities. Providing students with the education they need to compete in today's rapidly changing, dynamic work environments. Offering a variety of extra-curricular clubs, athletics and organizations, Gallup schools try to provide ample activities for local students. Many local organizations, including the police department, host athletic opportunities geared towards students' positive management of students' leisure time.

Private Schools in the Gallup area include:

Gallup Catholic School
Rehoboth Christian School
St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School
Crown Point Christian School
The Christian School
Hilltop Christian
St Francis
Wildcat Christian
St Anthony Indian School, Inc.
Zuni Christian Mission School

Parks and Recreation

Rock climbing is a popular sport in McKinley County, with a multitude of sites at the Mentmore Rock Climbing Area. Hiking through Pyramid Rock Trail and Church Rock Trail can be tiring, but the awe-inspiring panoramic view of the desert is well worth it.

Bandera Volcano, 800 ft. in depth, arose in volcanic fury some

10,000 years ago. It is one of the finest examples of an erupted volcano in the country, and also one of the most accessible. The Red Rock Balloon Rally is a hot-air balloon race held annually each December. Every year, the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial provides four days and five evenings of Native American Culture and features Navajo crafts.

Arts and Culture

Navajo and other tribes' work are displayed each year at the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial - the country's most complete and varied displays of genuine Indian fine arts including: Navajo rugs, kachinas, jewelry, pottery, leather and bead work, paintings, sculpture and other visual art, and a separate youth division. Featured artists are selected to demonstrate the creation of various pieces of art. Opens at 10 a.m. daily.

Spanning four days and five nights, the Ceremonial features a number of events including:

•  Visual art showcases
•  Five all-Indian professional rodeos
•  All-Indian Pow-Wow Competition
•  World-famous Ceremonial Indian Dances
•  Ceremonial Queen contest
•  American's only all-Indian non-mechanized parade (Downtown on Thurs., Fri., Sat.)
•  Daily Performing Arts
•  Indian Foods
•  Hands-on Activities
•  Educational Programs

Craft working is a large part of Gallup's economy. Indian art has reached new heights in McKinley County, being featured having evolved into a fine art that invokes new material and styles while retaining traditional motifs and skills. A unique characteristic of our area is that the Navajo language is spoken by 45% of our residents at home, while English is only spoken by about 35%. We are one of the only areas in all of the United States with such a diverse blend of people: Indian, Anglo and Hispanic.

Route 66 runs through the City of Gallup and is even mentioned in the song Route 66. This historic road offers not only speedy transportation but also museums showcasing American automotive culture. "A purists road," Route 66 offers a unique experience for anyone who wants a chance to relive history.

Gallup offers a variety of dining opportunities from the Rr 66 Drive-In to the Ranch Kitchen and a wealth of international cuisines. Offering a unique blend of Tex-Mex, Southern, Continental and ethnic cuisines, Gallup, NM has something for any taste. For a list of dining options in Gallup, please visit this link.

Each week, residents enjoy the Art Crawl, a showcase of the latest works from local artists. Relax at the Historic El Rancho Hotel, which is listing on the National register of historic places. Constructed for actors working in the area, El Rancho allows for a peek into the Golden Era of Western movies as a former retreat for stars such as: John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. The Gallup Downtown Mural Project offers a unique way to relive the city's history. Breathing new life into the downtown area, this project is working to revitalize our downtown streets.

Gamerco

Once a coal-mining town, now primarily residential, Gamerco has a historical "ghost town" district that displays the ruins of the production facilities that were closed in the 1960s. Located on Highway 666, this town just north of Gallup offers residential property at prices below the national average.