McKinley County, New Mexico

County in New Mexico, United States

County in New Mexico

McKinley County

County

McKinley County Courthouse in Gallup

Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico

New Mexico's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 35°35′N 108°16′W﻿ / ﻿35.58°N 108.26°W﻿ / 35.58; -108.26
Country|  United States
State|  New Mexico
Founded| January 1, 1901
Named after| William McKinley
Seat| Gallup
Largest city| Gallup
Area

• Total

| 5,455.5 sq mi (14,130 km2)
• Land| 5,450 sq mi (14,100 km2)
• Water| 5.5 sq mi (14 km2)  0.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 72,902
• Density| 13/sq mi (5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts| 2nd, 3rd
Website| www.co.mckinley.nm.us

McKinley County is a county in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 72,902.[1] Its county seat is Gallup.[2] The county was created in 1901 and named for President William McKinley.[3] McKinley County is Gallup's micropolitan statistical area.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,455 square miles (14,130 km2), of which 5.5 sq mi (14 km2) (0.1%) are covered by water.[4]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* San Juan County \- north
* Sandoval County \- east
* Cibola County \- south
* Apache County, Arizona \- west

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 40
* U.S. Route 491
* New Mexico State Road 264
* New Mexico State Road 371
* New Mexico State Road 602

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Chaco Culture National Historical Park (part)
* Cibola National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1910| 12,963| | —
1920| 13,731| | 5.9%
1930| 20,643| | 50.3%
1940| 23,641| | 14.5%
1950| 27,451| | 16.1%
1960| 37,209| | 35.5%
1970| 43,208| | 16.1%
1980| 56,449| | 30.6%
1990| 60,686| | 7.5%
2000| 74,798| | 23.3%
2010| 71,492| | −4.4%
2020| 72,902| | 2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010[9]

### 2020 census

[edit]

McKinley County, New Mexico – Racial composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race (NH = Non-Hispanic) | % 2020[10] | % 2010[11] | % 2000[12] | Pop 2020  | Pop 2010  | Pop 2000

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 8.2%  | 10.3%  | 11.9%  | 5,946  | 7,384  | 8,902
Black alone (NH)  | 0.4%  | 0.4%  | 0.4%  | 323  | 317  | 287
American Indian alone (NH)  | 76%  | 73.3%  | 73.2%  | 55,401  | 52,402  | 54,742
Asian alone (NH)  | 1.3%  | 0.8%  | 0.4%  | 935  | 542  | 327
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 0%  | 0%  | 0%  | 34  | 17  | 25
Other race alone (NH)  | 0.2%  | 0.1%  | 0.1%  | 127  | 51  | 46
Multiracial (NH)  | 2.1%  | 1.8%  | 1.6%  | 1,525  | 1,306  | 1,193
Hispanic/Latino (any race)  | 11.8%  | 13.3%  | 12.4%  | 8,611  | 9,473  | 9,276

The most reported ancestries were:[13]

* Navajo (61.9%)
* Zuni (9.9%)
* Mexican (9%)
* English (2.8%)
* German (2.3%)
* Irish (2.1%)
* Spanish (1.3%)[14]
* Filipino (1%)

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, 71,492 people, 21,968 households, and 16,219 families resided in the county.[15] The population density was 13.1 inhabitants per square mile (5.1/km2). The 25,813 housing units had an average density of 4.7/sq mi (1.8/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 75.5% Native American, 15.2% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% Black or African American, 4.9% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.3% of the population.[15]

Of the 21,968 households, 46.2% had children under 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.2% were not families, and 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.22, and the average family size was 3.82. The median age was 30.7 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,335 and for a family was $37,345. Males had a median income of $31,527 versus $26,236 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,932. About 26.6% of families and 33.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.0% of those under 18 and 31.3% of those 65 or over.[17]

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[18] 74,798 people, 21,476 households, and 16,686 families were living in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). The 26,718 housing units had an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.72% Native American, 16.39% White, 0.46% Asian, 0.40% African American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.47% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. About 12.40% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 21,476 households, 46.0% had children under 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 22.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were not families. About 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.44, and the average family size was 3.99.

In the county, the age distribution was 38.0% under 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100.0 females 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,005, and for a family was $26,806. Males had a median income of $26,963 versus $21,014 for females. The per capita income for the county was $9,872. About 31.9% of families and 36.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under 18 and 31.5% of those 65 or over. The county's per capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States.

McKinley County is one of only 38 county-level census divisions of the United States where the most spoken language is not English and one of only three where it is neither English nor Spanish; 45.75% of the population speak Navajo at home, followed by English at 38.87%, Zuñi at 9.03%, and Spanish at 5.72%.

## Communities

[edit]

### City

[edit]

* Gallup (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Buffalo Springs
* Chi Chil Tah
* Rehoboth
* Smith Lake
* Whitehorse

### Census-designated places

[edit]

For purposes of census-data collection, organization and analysis, the United States Census Bureau has devised 44 census-designated places since 1980 within McKinley County.

* Becenti
* Black Hat
* Black Rock
* Bluewater
* Borrego Pass
* Brimhall Nizhoni
* Catalpa Canyon
* Church Rock
* Continental Divide
* Crestview
* Crownpoint
* Crystal (part)
* Fort Wingate
* Gamerco
* Haystack
* Homer C Jones
* Iyanbito
* Jamestown
* Manuelito
* McGaffey
* Nakaibito
* Navajo
* Ojo Encino
* Pinedale
* Pinehaven
* Prewitt
* Pueblo Pintado
* Purty Rock
* Ramah
* Red Rock Ranch
* Rock Springs
* Sagar
* Sundance
* Thoreau
* Timberlake (part)
* Tohatchi
* Tse Bonito
* Twin Lakes
* Vanderwagen
* White Cliffs
* Williams Acres
* Yah-ta-hey
* Zuni Pueblo

## Education

[edit]

Locally controlled public schools in most of McKinley County are run by Gallup-McKinley County Schools, the local school district, and include Crownpoint High School, Gallup Central High School, Gallup High School, Hiroshi Miyamura High School, Navajo Pine High School, Ramah Middle / High School, Thoreau High School, Tohatchi High School, and Tse Yi Gai High School.[19] Areas in and around the Zuni reservation are in the Zuni Public School District,[20] which operates Zuni High School.

Two Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) boarding schools are in the Fort Wingate area: Wingate Elementary School,[21] and Wingate High School. The BIE also operates a K-8 school, Pueblo Pintado Community School, in Pueblo Pintado,[22] and a K-6 school, Baca /Dlo'Ay Azhi Community School.[23] Additionally, a tribal school affiliated with the BIE, Ch'ooshgai Community School, is located in Tohatchi.[24]

## Politics

[edit]

During its early history from 1912 to 1928, McKinley County voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election. From 1932 onward, the county, with its large Native American majority, has strongly backed Democratic candidates in all but three presidential elections that were national landslides for the Republican Party.

Democratic strength in the county lies in most of Gallup and the Navajo and Zuni Reservations, which cover a large majority of the county's land area. The community of Ramah has previously been one of the only Republican-leaning parts of the county. In 2024 the county saw the strongest shift toward the Republican party of any county in New Mexico, along with Guadalupe, Mora, and Rio Arriba Counties. Parts of southern Gallup and the Thoreau area flipped to a Republican majority, and many parts of the Navajo and Zuni Reservations experienced shifts as well along with most other rural areas.[25]

United States presidential election results for McKinley County, New Mexico[26] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 9,364  | 36.20%  | 15,711  | 60.74% | 792  | 3.06%
2020 | 7,801  | 29.45%  | 18,029  | 68.07% | 656  | 2.48%
2016 | 5,104  | 23.52%  | 13,576  | 62.55% | 3,023  | 13.93%
2012 | 5,546  | 25.29%  | 15,841  | 72.24% | 542  | 2.47%
2008 | 6,382  | 27.50%  | 16,572  | 71.41% | 253  | 1.09%
2004 | 7,351  | 35.64%  | 13,051  | 63.28% | 221  | 1.07%
2000 | 5,070  | 31.93%  | 10,281  | 64.75% | 528  | 3.33%
1996 | 4,470  | 28.79%  | 10,124  | 65.21% | 932  | 6.00%
1992 | 4,720  | 30.39%  | 9,405  | 60.56% | 1,406  | 9.05%
1988 | 5,694  | 36.81%  | 9,595  | 62.04% | 178  | 1.15%
1984 | 6,557  | 44.78%  | 7,915  | 54.05% | 171  | 1.17%
1980 | 7,329  | 56.66% | 4,869  | 37.64%  | 736  | 5.69%
1976 | 4,617  | 39.83%  | 6,856  | 59.14% | 120  | 1.04%
1972 | 5,366  | 49.74% | 5,124  | 47.49%  | 299  | 2.77%
1968 | 4,376  | 45.71%  | 4,491  | 46.91% | 706  | 7.37%
1964 | 2,965  | 29.65%  | 6,913  | 69.13% | 122  | 1.22%
1960 | 4,262  | 43.08%  | 5,599  | 56.60% | 32  | 0.32%
1956 | 4,450  | 56.97% | 3,331  | 42.64%  | 30  | 0.38%
1952 | 3,091  | 49.80%  | 3,097  | 49.90% | 19  | 0.31%
1948 | 2,109  | 40.96%  | 2,995  | 58.17% | 45  | 0.87%
1944 | 1,547  | 41.14%  | 2,210  | 58.78% | 3  | 0.08%
1940 | 1,701  | 40.19%  | 2,525  | 59.66% | 6  | 0.14%
1936 | 1,404  | 35.60%  | 2,526  | 64.05% | 14  | 0.35%
1932 | 1,373  | 39.35%  | 2,096  | 60.07% | 20  | 0.57%
1928 | 2,075  | 62.22% | 1,247  | 37.39%  | 13  | 0.39%
1924 | 1,653  | 51.24% | 1,150  | 35.65%  | 423  | 13.11%
1920 | 1,525  | 60.02% | 989  | 38.92%  | 27  | 1.06%
1916 | 669  | 54.57% | 550  | 44.86%  | 7  | 0.57%
1912 | 264  | 36.07% | 224  | 30.60%  | 244  | 33.33%

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to McKinley County, New Mexico.

* National Register of Historic Places listings in McKinley County, New Mexico

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "McKinley County, New Mexico". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "New Mexico: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". New Mexico Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
10. ^ "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020)". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
11. ^ "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010)". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
12. ^ New Mexico: 2000 (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 34–35.
13. ^ "Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
14. ^ Includes responses such as Spaniard or Spanish American.
15. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
16. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
17. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
19. ^ "Gallup-McKinley County Schools - High Schools". Gallup-McKinley County Schools. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
20. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: McKinley County, NM" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
21. ^ "Home". Wingate Elementary School. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
22. ^ "Pueblo Pintado Community School". Bureau of Indian Education. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
23. ^ "U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Education". BIE Schools Directory | Bureau of Indian Education. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
24. ^ "Ch'ooshgai Community School". Bureau of Indian Education. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
25. ^ Datar, Saurabh; Marcus, Ilana; Murray, Eli; Singer, Ethan; Lemonides, Alex; Zhang, Christine (January 15, 2025). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2024 Election". The New York Times.
26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.

Places adjacent to McKinley County, New Mexico

|  | San Juan County |

|
|

|  |
Apache County, Arizona |

McKinley County, New Mexico

| Sandoval County
|  |
| Cibola County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of McKinley County, New Mexico, United States

County seat: Gallup

City|

* Gallup

Map of New Mexico highlighting McKinley County

CDPs|

* Becenti
* Black Hat
* Black Rock
* Bluewater
* Borrego Pass
* Brimhall Nizhoni
* Catalpa Canyon
* Church Rock
* Continental Divide
* Crestview
* Crownpoint
* Crystal‡
* Fort Wingate
* Gamerco
* Haystack
* Homer C Jones
* Iyanbito
* Jamestown
* Manuelito
* McGaffey
* Nakaibito
* Navajo
* Ojo Encino
* Pinedale
* Pinehaven
* Prewitt
* Pueblo Pintado
* Purty Rock
* Ramah
* Red Rock Ranch
* Rock Springs
* Sagar
* Sundance
* Thoreau
* Timberlake‡
* Tohatchi
* Tse Bonito
* Twin Lakes
* Vanderwagen
* White Cliffs
* Williams Acres
* Yah-ta-hey
* Zuni Pueblo

Other
communities|

* Buffalo Springs
* Chi Chil Tah
* Rehoboth
* Smith Lake

Indian reservation|

* Navajo Nation‡
* Zuni Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* New Mexico portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of New Mexico

Santa Fe (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Census-designated places
* Cuisine
* Bizcochito
* Chile
* Culture
* Delegations
* Geography
* Government
* History
* Nuevo México
* Territory
* Landmarks
* Military
* National Guard
* Rough Riders
* Civil War
* World War II
* Music
* New Mexico music
* New Mexicans
* Hispanos
* Pueblos and Tribes
* Paleontology
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions
* Transportation

Society|

* Abortion
* Climate change
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Elections
* Gun laws
* Homelessness
* LGBT rights
* Literature
* Politics

Regions|

* Apachian zone
* Central New Mexico
* Chicoma Mountain
* Chihuahuan Desert
* Colorado Plateau
* Eastern New Mexico
* Llano Estacado
* Manzano Mountains
* Mogollon Plateau
* Northern New Mexico
* Permian Basin
* Rio Grande
* Rocky Mountains
* San Juan Basin
* San Luis Valley
* Sandia Mountains
* Shortgrass prairie
* Sangre de Cristo Mountains
* Wheeler Peak (highest point)
* Southwestern New Mexico

Cities|

* Alamogordo
* Albuquerque (Metropolitan Area)
* Aztec
* Artesia
* Bloomfield
* Carlsbad
* Clovis
* Corrales
* Deming
* Española
* Farmington
* Gallup
* Grants
* Hobbs
* Kirtland
* Las Cruces
* Las Vegas
* Los Alamos
* Los Lunas
* Lovington
* Portales
* Raton
* Rio Rancho
* Roswell
* Ruidoso
* Santa Fe
* Silver City
* Socorro
* Sunland Park
* Taos
* Tucumcari

Counties|

See: List of counties in New Mexico

* Bernalillo
* Catron
* Chaves
* Cibola
* Colfax
* Curry
* De Baca
* Doña Ana
* Eddy
* Grant
* Guadalupe
* Harding
* Hidalgo
* Lea
* Lincoln
* Los Alamos
* Luna
* McKinley
* Mora
* Otero
* Quay
* Rio Arriba
* Roosevelt
* San Juan
* San Miguel
* Sandoval
* Santa Fe
* Sierra
* Socorro
* Taos
* Torrance
* Union
* Valencia

New Mexico portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

35°35′N 108°16′W﻿ / ﻿35.58°N 108.26°W﻿ / 35.58; -108.26
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template