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1981 Map of Gallup

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Gallup
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad corridor anchors the southern edge of this McKinley County landscape, connecting the regional hub of Gallup with industrial and military sites like Gamerco and the expansive Fort Wingate Army Depot. North of the tracks, the terrain shifts into the Navajo Indian Reservation, a high-desert expanse of mesas and deep washes such as Tohatchi Wash and Coyote Wash. The map records a complex network of trading posts and post offices, including the Tohatchi Trading Post and Coyote Canyon (Brimhall PO), which served as vital community centers in this period.

Industrial activity is evident at Coal Mine Hill and the Black Jack Mine No 1, reflecting the area's resource-based economy. To the east, the Continental Divide winds through the high country near Dalton Pass, while landmark formations like Navajo Church and Church Rock rise above the Puerco River valley. The map also captures the early boundaries of Chaco Canyon National Monument on the eastern fringe, documenting the intersection of modern infrastructure and ancient geography.