Gallup
Towns are scarce in many parts of western New Mexico. The sprawling region has a startling beauty, a beauty so startling that, to some, it seems inhospitable to human inhabitants. But over the years, in mountains and desert basins, hardy souls have established towns and coaxed them to survive.
Gallup, founded in 1881 as a railhead for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, not only survives but also flourishes. Today’s population is roughly 21,000.
Many people consider Gallup the Indian Capital of the World for its spot in the heart of Native American lands, near the Arizona border on the southern edge of the vast Navajo reservation, and for the presence of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and other tribes. During the annual Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, Navajo, Apache, and Pueblo parade through town in traditional masks and headdresses, and it is a celebration of how this small community’s strength is woven of many cultural strands.
Gallup is immortalized in American pop culture. If its streets and storefronts look familiar, perhaps you’ve seen them in one of the many western movies shot here during the 1930s and 1940s. And if you’re a fan of rock and roll, you’ve no doubt heard Gallup named in the lyrics of Bobby Troup’s “Route 66,” which celebrates the “kicks” waiting all along the famous U.S. Highway that sill runs through Gallup.
Gallup residents enjoy streets that never clog with traffic jams and that lead to fantastic weekend destinations like Bluewater Lake, skiing resorts near Flagstaff, national forests and parks, and a high desert trail system. Colorado skiing is only two hours away.
Many residents, though, find their greatest rewards right outside their doorstep. Gallup’s small size makes it easy to get involved in community resources such as the local public radio station, KGLP, and other volunteer opportunities that make a difference in its friendly and diverse neighborhoods.