A Brief History of Gallup
In 1880, a paymaster for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, David L. Gallup, established headquarters along the construction right-of-way of the southern transcontinental route. The railroad workers began "going to Gallup" to get their pay; thus a town was born and named in 1881.
Today, Gallup is the home to about 20,000 people, and serves as a trading area for more than six times that number, or approximately 120,000 people. The City serves a steady stream of travelers who come to see some of the most unique and interesting wonders of the American Southwest.
