Shiprock, New Mexico

Shiprock (Navajo: Naatʼáanii Nééz) is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, on the Navajo reservation. The population was 8,156 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Shiprock is named after the nearby Shiprock rock formation. It is home to the annual Northern Navajo Fair, held every October. It is also home to a campus of Diné College (formerly Navajo Community College), a tribally controlled community college with seven other campuses across the Navajo Nation. It is the site of a Chapter House for the Navajo, a Bureau of Indian Affairs agency, an Indian Health Service hospital, and a branch of Farmington Public Library.

Shiprock is a key road junction for truck traffic and tourists visiting the Four Corners, Mesa Verde, and the Grand Canyon. The town lies at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and U.S. Highway 491(formerly U.S. Highway 666.) Despite its location at the confluence of two substantial roads and close to many tourist locations the town is notable for having no hotels or motels, the nearest options being in Farmington, New Mexico to the East and Cortez, Colorado to the North.

Geography

Shiprock is located at (36.792789, -108.687294)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 16.2 square miles (42 km²), of which 15.9 square miles (41 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) (2.10%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 8,156 people, 2,184 households, and 1,847 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 513.6 people per square mile (198.3/km²). There were 2,594 housing units at an average density of 163.3 per square mile (63.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 2.17% White, 0.16% African American, 96.74% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

There were 2,184 households out of which 52.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 28.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.06.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 38.6% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,523, and the median income for a family was $24,951. Males had a median income of $24,032 versus $17,328 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $7,967. About 38.3% of families and 39.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.2% of those under age 18 and 47.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Central Consolidated Schools serves Shiprock as well as other communities in western San Juan County.

In Film

Paramount's 1994 film Pontiac Moon starring Ted Danson was partially shot here.

It was one of the filming locations for the 1994 crime film Natural Born Killers.

The 2002 film "Rocks With Wings", directed by Rick Derby, follows the Navajo members of the Lady Chieftains, the girls' basketball team from Shiprock High School, as they struggle with a new (black) coach, their own expectations, and those of their community and the "Anglo" world around them.

References

1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.