This is the official LinkedIn page for the City of Gallup, New Mexico Government. Gallup is the seat of McKinley County in the northwestern quadrant of New Mexico, USA. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is approximately 21,678. Founded in 1881 as a headquarters along the construction right-of-way for the southern transcontinental rail route, the town draws its name from David L. Gallup, a paymaster for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Gallup has a long association with the mining and railroad industries, although tourism has been most significant to the local economy in recent times. Due to its proximity to Monument Valley and other favorite Western settings for Hollywood’s movie moguls, Gallup’s El Rancho Hotel has played host to many legendary film stars such as John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Ronald Reagan. Also known as the "Indian Capital of the World", modern Gallup features a diverse culture with a significant portion (43%) of the local population being Native American. The predominant local tribes are Navajo, Hopi and Zuni. Gallup is home to many of the finest tribal artists in the U.S., practicing their talents in jewelry, weaving, pottery, painting, sculpture and other artistic endeavors. For the past several years in late June, Gallup has also hosted the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo.