"The Community Is Known For Having A Steady Goods And Services Economy Through Both Prosperous And Lean Years"

The community of Gallup was founded as a railhead for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 1881 and quickly became a trade center and supplier of coal to keep the railroad running. Coal mining and railroad commerce made the community what it is today. Following the railroad came famous Route 66 and the ever curious tourist. The community was named for railroad paymaster, David L. Gallup, who established an office in 1880. The railroad workers, known as gandy dancers, would speak of going to Gallup to get paid. Thus the name came logically to this wonderful frontier town, and people have been coming to the community ever since. The village became official in 1881. Before the railroad, the Blue Goose Saloon and General Store served as a stagecoach stop prior to the 1880’s.

Gallup was a typical western town, including saloons, trade, and houses of the night. Nearby Fort Wingate held a contingent of federal soldiers that kept the peace on the frontier. Gallup grew commercially and soon became a trade center for Native Americans. The railroad selected Gallup as a Division Terminal in 1895 and for the next forty years coal mining and the railroad dominated the economics. During the early months of World War II, Fort Wingate became an ordinance depot. After the war, steam locomotives were phased out and diesel locomotives took their place. Eventually the railroad maintenance shops were moved, but railroad activity is still a vital part of daily life in Gallup. During the 1950’s the search for uranium blossomed in New Mexico and the discovery of uranium ore in McKinley County led to two mining booms. With the Three-Mile Island nuclear accident and the changing attitudes regarding nuclear power, the uranium mining efforts dwindled in the early 1980’s.