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McKinley County, New Mexico facts for kids

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McKinley County
McKinley County Courthouse in Gallup
McKinley County Courthouse in Gallup
Official seal of McKinley County
Seal
Map of New Mexico highlighting McKinley County
Location within the U.S. state of New Mexico
Map of the United States highlighting New Mexico
New Mexico's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  New Mexico
Founded January 1, 1901
Named for 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
 • Estimate 
(2019)
71,367
 • Density 13/sq mi (5/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districts 2nd, 3rd

McKinley County is a county in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 71,367. Its county seat is Gallup. The county was created in 1901 and named for President William McKinley.

McKinley County is Gallup's micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,455 square miles (14,130 km2), of which 5,450 square miles (14,100 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (0.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
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%
2019 (est.) 71,367 −0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2016

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 71,492 people, 21,968 households, and 16,219 families living in the county. The population density was 13.1 inhabitants per square mile (5.1/km2). There were 25,813 housing units at an average density of 4.7 per square mile (1.8/km2). 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.

Of the 21,968 households, 46.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.2% were non-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.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,335 and the median income 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 age 18 and 31.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

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. Areas in and around the Zuni reservation are in the Zuni Public School District, which operates Zuni High School.

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de McKinley para niños

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