Zuni Pueblo (also Zuñi Pueblo,
Zuni: ''Halona Idiwan’a'' meaning "Middle Place") is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP) in
McKinley County,
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...
, United States. The population was 6,176 as of the
2020 Census.
It is inhabited largely by members of the
Zuni people.
Geography
The community is within the
Zuni Indian Reservation or Pueblo of Zuni in southwestern McKinley County, south of
Gallup, the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
, and east of the
Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
border. It is bordered to the east by the smaller community of
Black Rock.
New Mexico State Road 53 passes through Zuni Pueblo and Black Rock, leading east to
Ramah and southwest (along with
Arizona State Route 61) to
U.S. Route 191.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the Zuni Pueblo CDP has a total area of , all land.
The
Zuni River passes through the community, running southwest to join the
Little Colorado River near
Hunt, Arizona.
A significant landmark of Zuni Pueblo is the
Dowa Yalanne, a
mesa covering approximately rising just outside of the community to the southeast.
Climate
Demographics
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 6,367 people, 1,488 households, and 1,334 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 1,622 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.03%
Native American, 2.12%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 2.01%
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino, 0.03%
African American, 0.03%
Asian, 0.30% from
other races, and 0.49% from two or more races.
There were 1,488 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were
married couples living together, 31.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.3% were non-families. 9.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.26 and the average family size was 4.54.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 34.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $22,559, and the median income for a family was $22,067. Males had a median income of $18,345 versus $18,635 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the CDP was $6,908. About 40.0% of families and 43.0% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 49.7% of those under age 18 and 41.7% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Library
The Zuni Public Library opened in 1975.
Community
According to Zuni Pueblo's website, "many of Zuni Pueblo's events are open to the public", and "religious dances and activities" occur in the Middle Village area.
Zuni Pueblo is described as an "artist colony", with the main industry being
stone fetish carving, inlay silverwork, pottery, and other artwork.
It is on the
Trails of the Ancients Byway, one of the designated
New Mexico Scenic Byways.
[Trail of the Ancients.](_blank)
New Mexico Tourism Department. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
Education
Zuni Public Schools, established in 1980, operates schools serving the community. Prior to 1980 it was in the
Gallup-McKinley County Schools.
Zuni High School is the zoned high school.
St. Anthony School, Zuni (K-8), of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup, is in Zuni Pueblo. The school began operations on September 3, 1923. The Sisters of Saint Francis of Perpetual Adoration operated the school. Its initial enrollment was 43.
Infrastructure
Tribally-run A:shiwi Transit connects Zuni Pueblo and
Black Rock with
Gallup.
File:ZuniPueblo1850.jpg, Zuni 1850 illustration
File:First terrace of Zuni, New Mexico, showing ladders and utensils, 1879 - NARA - 542442.tif, First terrace of Zuni in 1879
File:ZuniPueblo.jpg, Zuni Pueblo, 1873, by Timothy H. O'Sullivan
File:Milwaukee Public Museum April 2023 030 (Land of Sun- The Southwest--Village Life, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico).jpg, ''Village Life, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico''
History
The first contact with Spaniards occurred in 1539 in the ancient village of
Hawikku when
Esteban, an
Arab/Berber of Moroccan origin, entered Zuni territory seeking the fabled "
Seven Cities of Cibola" and when
Marco da Nizza, an Italian
franciscan
The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...
, reached Zuni Pueblo and called it ''Cibola''.
Halona Pueblo
The Halona Pueblo, also known as Zuni Pueblo, is located 36 miles south of
Gallup, New Mexico on NM 32 & NM 53. The
pueblo dates from before 1539, which was when Europeans first visited New Mexico. It was one of the original six pueblos of the
Zuni people. The
Fray Marcos de Niza expedition, led by
Estevan the Moor, arrived to the area in 1539; most of its party were killed by the Zunis.
Coronado's expedition a year later was disappointed not to find great wealth. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 1975.
[
The Old Zuni Mission, or Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Light), on Old Mission Dr. at is the building depicted in one photo with NRHP nomination.
Hawikuh Ruins is a National Historic Landmark 12 miles away.
Zuni-Cibola Complex, a National Historic Landmark District, was proposed as a National Park.][ With ]
See also
* List of census-designated places in New Mexico
* Zuni Indian Reservation
* Zuni people
References
External links
Pueblo of Zuni
- official site
Zuni Department of Tourism
Timothy H. O'Sullivan, photographer
American Southwest, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary
{{authority control
Pueblo
Census-designated places in New Mexico
Census-designated places in McKinley County, New Mexico
Native American history of New Mexico
Pueblo great houses