Gallup, New Mexico is a small city of 21,000 just outside the border of the Navajo Nation. It also borders on the Hopi and Zuni Reservations. Due to its location it serves as the commercial center for the different tribe. It takes its name from a paymaster and executive of the the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad when it pushed through town in the late 1800s, not from what a horse does when you say "Giddiup".
It contains a small shopping mall, several supermarkets, many restaurants of questionable quality and most importantly a Wallymart. The Wallymart (Wallmart) is the busiest in terms of volume per square foot in the state of New Mexico and one of the busiest in the country. This is due to the fact that so many people from the various reservations do the bulk of their shopping there. On the first of each month when paychecks, tribal checks, and welfare checks are issued it is near impossible to find a parking space there. Wallmart is popular because of the few groceries that are found on the reservation and the prices are substantially lower than on the reservation. A weekend trip to Gallup is almost a tradition in the Navajo Nation.
Depending on whom you talk to Gallup is either hick quaint small town or Sodom and Gomorrah. It is the closest town with alcohol sales for all the reservations. It also has gambling and places to find members of the opposite sex with questionable reputations. It also is on old route 66 and many business employ the "Route 66" in their names. Just five years ago they changed a state highway that ran north through town from Highway 666 to Highway 491. This was due to the number 666 being associated with the devil in some New Testament writings. In fact, prior to the change it was called "The Devils Highway" and thought to be unlucky for those who traveled it.
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