McKinley County, created in 1901 and named for President William McKinley, sits in north-western New Mexico along the Arizona border. Its seat, Gallup, has long been a crossroads for Native American art and culture. The county’s population is predominantly Navajo and Zuni, giving the region deep cultural richness. Gallup, known as the “Indian Capital of the World,” features colorful murals, trading posts, and annual ceremonial parades celebrating tribal heritage. Surrounding communities include Zuni, Thoreau, and Tohatchi, surrounded by red-rock mesas and sandstone cliffs. The economy blends retail trade, crafts, and tourism along historic Route 66. Housing ranges from suburban homes in Gallup to traditional pueblo-style and modular houses in rural stretches. The area is mostly rural-urban mix, located 140 miles west of Albuquerque. Home prices average $200 000 – $270 000, and new construction runs $160 – $200 per sq ft. McKinley County offers diversity, history, and a proud artistic spirit amid New Mexico’s rugged canyonlands.