A Melting Pot

  The county seat of McKinley County is Gallup, a town whose population has stabilized at about 22,000.
It is a very cosmopolitan town, probably the most cosmopolitan in New Mexico. The population is about 1/3 Indian and 1/3 Mexican. The population is only 6% white, or Anglo. The rest of the population has a heavy concentration of Asians. There is a sizable Palestinian population in Gallup.
  The town's location near several Indian Reservations makes it an economic center for a wide area. The WalMart in Gallup is the highest grossing WalMart store in the nation due to its drawing area from nearby Indian Reservations. The  economy is also heavily influenced by service related businesses that draws customers from Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 491.  Indian trade is a leading  economic mainstay and trading posts are located all over town.
  Gallup is a town that has a bad reputation by many people. It has frequently been called "The drunk driving capital of the world." and quite a few other unsavory names and it was criticized by Navajo author Leslie Silko in her book "Ceremony" for its slums, but I have explored Gallup extensively and I like the town. It has character. I really care less about its reputation because it is a town with great architecture, a scenic location and very nice people. I have always enjoyed my stays there. There are alot of hilly streets in town. The town has a rather unique layout in the fact that it is about 12 miles long, from east to west, but never more than 2 miles from north to south. That is the oldest part of town, most of the town is much narrower, only half a mile wide in places.
  Yes there is an extensive problem with poverty in Gallup, but the whole county has that problem and Gallup is wealthier than the rest of McKinley County is.
  Gallup was founded in 1881 when the railroad was being built through the area. most of the towns along this railroad were founded in 1881. Gallup started to develop along U.S. Highway 66 when it came through town. this was the beginning of the town making its livelihood from travelers.
  The western city limits of Gallup are only 15 miles from the Arizona border and it is 137 miles west of Albuquerque.