Zuni Indian Reservation
Encyclopedia
The Zuni Indian Reservation is the homeland of the Zuni tribe of Native American
s. It lies in the Zuni River
valley and is located primarily in McKinley
and Cibola
counties in western New Mexico
, about 150 miles (241.4 km) west of Albuquerque
. There are also several smaller non-contiguous sections in Apache County, Arizona
, northwest of the city of St. Johns. The main part of the reservation borders the state of Arizona
to the west and the Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation
to the east. The main reservation is also surrounded by the Painted Cliffs
, the Zuni Mountains
and the Cibola National Forest
. The reservation's total land area is 723.343 sq mi (1,873.45 km²). The population was reported at 7,758 inhabitants in the 2000 census
.
The Zuni Tribe also has land holdings in Catron County
, New Mexico and Apache County
, Arizona, which do not border the main reservation.
Also on the main reservation are the Hawikuh Ruins
. The ancient Zuni pueblo of Hawikuh was the largest of the Seven Cities of Cibola
. It was established in the 13th century and abandoned in 1680. It was also the first pueblo seen by the Spanish explorers. The African scout Estevanico
was the first non-Native to reach this area.
The largest town on the reservation is Zuni Pueblo, which is seat of Tribal government. Also on the reservation are the towns of Black Rock
and Pescado. There is a branch campus of the University of New Mexico
located in Zuni.
The Zuni Tribe is governed by an elected governor, lieutenant governor, and a six member Tribal Council
with elections being held every four years. The governor is the administrative head of the Tribal Council, which is the final decision-making body on the reservation. The council oversees finances, business decisions, taxes and contracts.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s. It lies in the Zuni River
Zuni River
The Zuni River, a tributary of the Little Colorado River, has its origin in Cibola County, New Mexico, at the Continental Divide, flowing generally in a southwesterly direction through the Zuni Indian Reservation to join the Little Colorado River in eastern Arizona...
valley and is located primarily in McKinley
McKinley County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*15.2% White*0.5% Black*75.5% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*4.6% Other races*13.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and Cibola
Cibola County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*41.8% White*1.0% Black*41.0% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*12.5% Other races*36.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
counties in western New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, about 150 miles (241.4 km) west of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. There are also several smaller non-contiguous sections in Apache County, Arizona
Apache County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*23.3% White*0.2% Black*72.9% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, northwest of the city of St. Johns. The main part of the reservation borders the state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
to the west and the Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation
Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation
The Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation is a non-contiguous section of the Navajo Nation lying in parts of west-central Cibola and southern McKinley counties in New Mexico, USA, just east and southeast of the Zuni Indian Reservation. It has a land area of 230.675 sq mi , over 95 percent of which is...
to the east. The main reservation is also surrounded by the Painted Cliffs
Painted Cliffs
Painted Cliffs is an irregular line of cliffs which extend southwest from Mount Picciotto and mark the southeast edge of Prince Andrew Plateau. Named by the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition because of the colored sedimentary and igneous rock layers exposed on the face of the...
, the Zuni Mountains
Zuni Mountains
The Zuni Mountains are a mountain range in Cibola County of northwestern New Mexico. The range is located largely in the Cibola National Forest, lying south of Interstate 40 from southeast of Gallup to southwest of Grants. The range is about sixty miles long and forty miles wide...
and the Cibola National Forest
Cibola National Forest
The Cibola National Forest is a United States National Forest in western and central New Mexico, USA. The forest also manages four National Grasslands that stretch from northeastern New Mexico eastward into the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. It is administered by the United States Forest...
. The reservation's total land area is 723.343 sq mi (1,873.45 km²). The population was reported at 7,758 inhabitants in the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
The Zuni Tribe also has land holdings in Catron County
Catron County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.8% White*0.4% Black*2.7% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*3.7% Other races*19.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, New Mexico and Apache County
Apache County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*23.3% White*0.2% Black*72.9% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona, which do not border the main reservation.
Also on the main reservation are the Hawikuh Ruins
Hawikuh Ruins
Hawikuh Ruins, or Hawikuh is a National Historic Landmark located 12 miles southwest of Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, on the Zuni Indian Reservation...
. The ancient Zuni pueblo of Hawikuh was the largest of the Seven Cities of Cibola
Quivira and Cíbola
Quivira is a place first mentioned by Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in 1541, who visited it during his searches for the mythical "Seven Cities of Gold". The location and identity of the "Quivirans" has been much debated over a wide area, including Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri...
. It was established in the 13th century and abandoned in 1680. It was also the first pueblo seen by the Spanish explorers. The African scout Estevanico
Estevanico
Estevanico , "Black Stephen", "Esteban", "Esteban the Moor", "Estevan", "Estebanico", "Stephen the Black", "Stephen the Moor", "Stephen Dorantes" after his owner Andres Dorantes, and "Little Stephen") was the first known person born in Africa to have arrived in the present-day continental United...
was the first non-Native to reach this area.
The largest town on the reservation is Zuni Pueblo, which is seat of Tribal government. Also on the reservation are the towns of Black Rock
Black Rock, New Mexico
Black Rock is a census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,252 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Black Rock is located at ....
and Pescado. There is a branch campus of the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
located in Zuni.
The Zuni Tribe is governed by an elected governor, lieutenant governor, and a six member Tribal Council
Tribal Council
A Tribal Council is either: an association of Native American bands in the United States or First Nations governments in Canada, or the governing body for certain tribes within the United States or elsewhere...
with elections being held every four years. The governor is the administrative head of the Tribal Council, which is the final decision-making body on the reservation. The council oversees finances, business decisions, taxes and contracts.