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New Mexico›McKinley County
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Black HatNM

A town of 2.

Population
2
Census survey, 2020–24
Land area
1 sq mi

Is Black Hat a good place to live?

100% of residents live below the poverty line in Black Hat, above both the New Mexico town median (21%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Black Hat has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

2 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Gallup · 15 mi
Getting set up

Moving to Black Hat: who provides what

Black Hat is unincorporated, so McKinley County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerNavajo Tribal Utility Authority16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesMcKinley CountyMcKinley County provides services here
SchoolsGallup-McKinley County SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn New Mexico you can register online until 28 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereMcKinley County ClerkMcKinley County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code8651586515 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 27, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Black Hat.

Natural hazards

Very low risk in Black Hat, with inland flooding at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 83% of U.S. communities.

17risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
17Very low riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingCold wavesLightning
Full pageBlack Hat’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery low riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters8 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready1.4 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Black Hat has four seasons and pleasant summers

Black Hat has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. At 86°F, Black Hat’s July high is below New Mexico’s towns (93°F) and close to U.S. towns (85°F).

34″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter19–44°
Spring32–63°
Summer53–84°
Fall35–65°
Sep 28
typical first frost
May 29
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageBlack Hat’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 86°, January lows 18°Rain & snow34″ of snow a winter · 11 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.5° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

How healthy Black Hat is

Black Hat beats the New Mexico average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 20. 24% of adults smoke cigarettes in Black Hat. Only 3 of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Black Hat.

Black HatNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)24%14%14%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)22%16%17%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)36%23%14%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)32%26%19%
32 measures vs. New Mexico
3 better9 too close to call20 worse
What stands outBlack HatNM
Fewer uninsured adults12.9%15.6%
Fewer adults who have had cancer6.7%7.4%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth30.8%14.2%
Gallup Indian Medical Center
15.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageBlack Hat’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby15.6 miles to an ER · Gallup Indian Medical CenterHow adults are doingMore adults lacking emotional supportEvery CDC estimateBetter than NM on 3 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Outdoors

0% of Black Hat is conserved land

1.2 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.

0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 665 acres
1.2 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
Full pageBlack Hat’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map1.2 miles of trail, mappedPick a walkPick a walkConserved land0% conserved · 0 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Black Hat?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Black Hat

13pages on Black Hat
The big questions
HealthBetter than NM on 3 of 32 CDC measuresNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 17% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
Outdoors1 mi of trails · 0% conserved landPlacesAttractions10 nearby · Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park 5 miLibraryOffice of Navajo Nation LibraryColleges
The story
Climate86° summer highs · 34″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Black Hat; the nearest are

University of New Mexico-Gallup CampusCommunity college · Public · Gallup16 mi$2,906 in-state tuitionNavajo Technical UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Crownpoint45.9 mi$4,346 in-state tuition

About 0 of every 100 Black Hat residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

About Black Hat

Census-designated place in New Mexico, United States

Black Hat is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
1.0 sq mi
Elevation
7,011 ft

Questions about Black Hat

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Black Hat, NM a good place to live?

Black Hat has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. A town of 2.