Gallup, New Mexico is surrounded by ghosts -- not the spooky, "raise the hair on the back of your neck" type ghosts, but rather, more than a dozen ghost towns. While some have a few buildings, perhaps a mine shaft and some ruins, other have been totally obliterated and taken over by the sagebrush, leaving nothing more than their memories and a few rolling tumbleweeds.

What happened to all of those towns? Why did they begin and why did they end?

For the first half of the 20th century, McKinley County was largely supported by plentiful coal mining. In fact, for a while, Gallup was called "Carbon City."  Much of the early population were those European, Oriental, Mexican and westward-seeking American workers who sought employment in the mines, as well as building the rails. Many of these early towns were coal mining company towns, with little more to support their economies other than the mining itself. In many cases, the town's banks and stores were owned by the mining companies. So, when the mine shut down, so did the town.

Though McKinley County was created in 1889 and named in honor of President William McKinley, many of these towns didn't begin until after the turn of the century. Even Gallup, the largest city in the county, was not incorporated until 1891. In 1901, Gallup became the county seat.

Camp Heaton, New Mexico in the early 1900s. Hard to believe a camp this size has absolutely disappeared from the face of the earth. Photo courtesy Denver Public Library.

Heaton, New Mexico

Heaton, also called Camp Heaton, was a coal-mining company town in Heaton Canyon, about 3 miles northeast of Gallup. Its post office opened in 1909 and closed in 1922. The coal mine at Heaton was operated by the Gallup American Coal Company. The community was founded in the early 1900's, and was abandoned when the mine closed. Nothing remains of Heaton today as its buildings were moved to nearby Gamerco, which was also ran by the Gallup American Coal Company.

Some Remnants:

Gamerco

Mentmore

Totally Gone:

Clarkville

Heaton

Navajo