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Continental Divide, New Mexico facts for kids

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Continental Divide, New Mexico
Post office in Continental Divide, March 2018
Post office in Continental Divide, March 2018
Continental Divide, New Mexico is located in New Mexico
Continental Divide, New Mexico
Continental Divide, New Mexico
Location in New Mexico
Country United States
State New Mexico
County McKinley
Area
 • Total 2.44 sq mi (6.31 km2)
 • Land 2.44 sq mi (6.31 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
7,176 ft (2,187 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 187
 • Density 76.80/sq mi (29.65/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
87312
Area code(s) 505
GNIS feature ID 2806714

Continental Divide is a small, quiet community in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. It's not a city or a town with its own local government. Instead, it's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are part of a larger county.

Where is Continental Divide?

Continental Divide is located in New Mexico. It sits right along Interstate 40, a major highway. The community is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east-southeast of a larger town called Gallup.

This area is special because it's on Campbell Pass. This is a low point along the Continental Divide of the Americas. The Continental Divide is like a giant imaginary line that runs through North and South America. It separates the rivers that flow to the Pacific Ocean from those that flow to the Atlantic Ocean. The community even has its own post office with the ZIP code 87312.

How Many People Live Here?

According to the 2020 census, 187 people live in Continental Divide. This makes it a very small community.

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 187
U.S. Decennial Census

Schools in the Area

Students living in Continental Divide attend schools that are part of the Gallup-McKinley County Public Schools district. The schools they go to are Thoreau Elementary School, Thoreau Middle School, and Thoreau High School.

Roads and Travel

Several important roads help people get around Continental Divide and connect it to other places.

Major Highways

  • I-40 (NM).svg Interstate 40: This is a very important highway that runs across the United States.
  • US 66 (NM historic).svg Historic U.S. Route 66: This famous old road used to be a main way to travel across the country.
  • New Mexico 122.svg New Mexico State Road 122: This is a state road that helps connect local areas.
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