Gallup is called the "Indian Capital of the World", for its location in the heart of Native American lands, and the presence of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and other tribes.  Gallup is the undisputed Southwestern center for original American Indian art.  According to the 2000 census, Gallup's population is 93 percent Indian.

With a population of approximately 20,000 contemporary Gallup is a unique and colorful mix of vibrant enterprise and traditional Native America.  With genuine arts & crafts in rich abundance, the city's 110 trading posts, galleries and shops project a unique blend of Native-American and Hispanic culture.

One of the oldest towns in the United States, Gallup’s population can be traced back to 2500 BC with the settlement of the Anasazi in Canyon de Chelly. As the Anasazi population rose, so did trading in the area. White men began to populate the area in 1880 when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad began to push its way westward. The railroad paymaster, David Gallup, established a small company headquarters along the projected railroad right-of-way.  Rail workers soon began "going to Gallup" to collect their pay.  When the tracks were finally laid through the area in 1881, the new settlement was  formally named after the paymaster.  Gallup was incorporated as a town in 1891.  A local government was established and in 1901 it became the county seat of McKinley County.

For the first half of the twentieth century, the economy of the emerging town was largely supported by plentiful coal mining in the region. In fact, Gallup was called "Carbon City" for a time. The town's first inhabitants were those westward-seeking workers who sought employment in the mines and on the railroad.

In December 17, 1937, a Gallup icon was born when the El Rancho Hotel was built by the brother of the movie magnet, D.W. Griffith. The hotel quickly became the temporary home for many Hollywood stars as well as a stopping point for tourists drive on old Route 66. During its heyday, the El Rancho Hotel hosted Ronald Reagan,
 Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn and Kirk Douglas, among many others. Today, visitors can still enjoy the Old West charm of this historic hotel, now on the National Historic Register.

With a population of approximately 20,000 contemporary Gallup is a unique and colorful mix of vibrant enterprise and traditional Native America.  With genuine arts & crafts in rich abundance, the city's 110 trading posts, galleries and shops project a unique blend of Native-American and Hispanic culture. The numerous trading posts, shops and galleries make the town the Southwestern center for original Native American Indian Art.
 
Indoor and Outdoor Marketplace and the Ceremonial Showroom present the country's most complete and varied displays of genuine Indian fine arts, including Navajo rugs, kachinas, jewelry, pottery, basketry, leather and bead work, paintings, sculpture, and a special juvenile division. A selection of artists demonstrate the creation of various arts and crafts. Special events include five all-Indian professional rodeos, all Indian contest Pow-Wow and world famous Ceremonial Indian Dances, a ceremonial Queen Contest, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday downtown parade. America's only all-Indian non-mechanized parade. 

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McKinley County was created as a U.S. Territorial county on February 23, 1899 and named for William McKinley, 25th President of the United States. The County Courthouse address is P. O. Box 1268, Gallup, NM 87301. Phone (505) 863-6866

The history in the 1913: the center of a large agricultural mining and grazing district and is the distributing center of supplies for the Indian reservations of the Navajos and Zunis in New Mexico and the Hopis in Arizona and also for the numerous trading posts located on the reserves. It is adjacent to the great mining district of the American Steam Block Coal and general use, 50,000 tons of coal are mined and shipped daily, 6 new shafts are now being sunk and the output of coal will be increased to 100,000 tons per day in 1913. Hundreds of carloads of wool sheep and cattle are shipped annually. Thousands of tourists stop here annually and visit the many historical scenes near the city.

  San Juan County, New Mexico - north
  Sandoval County, New Mexico - east
  Cibola County,      New Mexico - south
  Apache County,    Arizona        - west