Window Rock, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Window Rock
Tségháhoodzání
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Location in Apache County and the state of Arizona
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 Window Rock, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Window Rock, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arizona |
| County | Apache |
| Indian Reservation | Navajo Nation |
| Navajo Nation | Tsʼíhootso Navajo Chapter |
| Government | |
| • Type | St. Michaels Chapter Government |
| Area | |
| • Census-designated city Capital of the Navajo Nation |
5.29 sq mi (13.70 km2) |
| • Land | 5.29 sq mi (13.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,765 ft (2,062 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Census-designated city Capital of the Navajo Nation |
2,500 |
| • Density | 472.86/sq mi (182.56/km2) |
| • Metro | 6,336 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
86515
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| Area code | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-83720 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409610 |
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Window Rock, called Tségháhoodzání in the Navajo language, is a town in Arizona. It is the capital of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American tribe in the United States. It is large both in land size and in the number of people who are members.
Window Rock is home to the main government buildings of the Navajo Nation. These include the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Nation Supreme Court, and the offices for the President and Vice President. In 2020, about 2,500 people lived in Window Rock. However, during weekdays, the population can grow to around 20,000 when tribal offices are open.
The town is named after a special natural rock formation. This sandstone rock has a large hole, or "window," through it. Window Rock also has the Navajo Nation Museum, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park, and a memorial for the Navajo Code Talkers from World War II.
Contents
What's in a Name?
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Before 1936, this area was known to the Navajo people as Niʼ Ałníiʼgi. This means "Center of the World" and was a ceremonial name.
Later, a government official named John Collier wanted to make this the official name. But the Navajo people didn't like it and even made fun of it. So, the government decided to use the name of a local landmark instead. This landmark was a rock with a hole through it, which in Navajo is tségháhoodzání. This was then translated into English as Window Rock.
This special rock is north of the government buildings. It is important in the traditional Navajo Water Way Ceremony. Medicine men visit it to collect water for a ceremony that asks for plenty of rain.
People and Languages
In 2000, about 3,059 people lived in Window Rock. Most of the people living here, about 95.5%, were Native American.
Many families in Window Rock have children under 18 living at home. The average household had about 3 to 4 people. The median age of people in Window Rock was 27 years old.
| Languages (2000) | Percent |
|---|---|
| Spoke Navajo at home | 57% |
| Spoke English at home | 43% |
In 2000, more than half of the people in Window Rock spoke Navajo at home. The rest spoke English.
Where is Window Rock?
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Window Rock is located right on the border between Arizona and New Mexico. Some buildings are even just a few feet from the state line. Right across the border in New Mexico is a village called Tse Bonito, New Mexico.
The larger Window Rock area includes nearby communities like Fort Defiance and St. Michaels. It also includes smaller areas like Hunter's Point and the Summit in Arizona, and Tse Bonito in New Mexico.
Window Rock is part of the Defiance Plateau, a high, flat area of land.
Climate in Window Rock
Window Rock has a cooler climate than many other parts of Arizona. This is because it is located at a high elevation. The average lowest temperature in winter is between -10 and -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
| Climate data for Window Rock, Arizona (Window Rock Airport), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63 (17) |
70 (21) |
77 (25) |
83 (28) |
92 (33) |
101 (38) |
98 (37) |
97 (36) |
96 (36) |
86 (30) |
81 (27) |
66 (19) |
101 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 57.2 (14.0) |
61.7 (16.5) |
70.0 (21.1) |
77.1 (25.1) |
85.4 (29.7) |
93.6 (34.2) |
94.6 (34.8) |
90.5 (32.5) |
86.9 (30.5) |
78.8 (26.0) |
70.3 (21.3) |
59.7 (15.4) |
95.4 (35.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45.3 (7.4) |
49.2 (9.6) |
57.5 (14.2) |
64.8 (18.2) |
74.1 (23.4) |
85.4 (29.7) |
88.4 (31.3) |
84.6 (29.2) |
78.9 (26.1) |
67.8 (19.9) |
56.3 (13.5) |
45.6 (7.6) |
66.5 (19.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.9 (−1.2) |
34.2 (1.2) |
40.7 (4.8) |
46.8 (8.2) |
55.1 (12.8) |
65.2 (18.4) |
71.5 (21.9) |
68.5 (20.3) |
60.8 (16.0) |
49.2 (9.6) |
38.6 (3.7) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
49.2 (9.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14.4 (−9.8) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
23.8 (−4.6) |
28.8 (−1.8) |
36.2 (2.3) |
45.0 (7.2) |
54.7 (12.6) |
52.4 (11.3) |
42.7 (5.9) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
20.8 (−6.2) |
13.8 (−10.1) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −5.8 (−21.0) |
1.3 (−17.1) |
8.7 (−12.9) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
32.3 (0.2) |
43.4 (6.3) |
42.3 (5.7) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
17.9 (−7.8) |
5.0 (−15.0) |
−5.1 (−20.6) |
−9.6 (−23.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−23 (−31) |
−8 (−22) |
10 (−12) |
13 (−11) |
26 (−3) |
37 (3) |
35 (2) |
22 (−6) |
1 (−17) |
−5 (−21) |
−17 (−27) |
−25 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.04 (26) |
0.87 (22) |
0.66 (17) |
0.46 (12) |
0.57 (14) |
0.28 (7.1) |
1.78 (45) |
1.85 (47) |
1.34 (34) |
0.92 (23) |
0.75 (19) |
0.83 (21) |
11.35 (288) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 10.6 | 10.9 | 7.0 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 7.0 | 76.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Learning in Window Rock
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Window Rock is part of the Window Rock Unified School District. This district serves the communities of Fort Defiance and St. Michaels.
Schools in Window Rock include:
- Window Rock Elementary School
- Tséhootsooí Middle School
- Window Rock High School (located in Fort Defiance)
There is also a private Catholic school called Saint Michael Indian School. It teaches students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It was started in 1902. Another school, Hilltop Christian School, offers classes from pre-kindergarten to 6th grade.
The Saint Michaels Association for Special Education, Inc. (SMASE) is also in the area. It is a non-profit school that helps people of all ages with disabilities.
Fun Things to Do
Tourism is important to Window Rock. Many visitors come because it is close to national parks and important Navajo sites. It is also a central place for people in the region to shop and do business.
Window Rock is near several interesting places:
- Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
- Diné College
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park
- Gallup, New Mexico
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The first Navajo Tribal Museum opened in 1961. It was in a small building at the Window Rock Tribal Fairgrounds. In 1997, a new, special building was built for the museum. It looks like a traditional Navajo hogan (home).
The Navajo Nation Museum has many old items and treasures from the Navajo people. Next to it, the Navajo Nation Library offers many books and resources about Navajo history, language, and traditions. The museum is open Monday through Friday and is free to visit.
The Navajo Tribal Zoo opened in 1963. It showed animals found on the reservation, like bears and coyotes. Today, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park has many plants and animals native to the Four Corners area. You can see animals like elk, mule deer, Mexican gray wolf, black bear, cougar, and golden eagle. The zoo is open Monday through Saturday and is free for everyone.
Ch'ihootso Indian Market Place
The Ch'ihootso Market Place is a place where many artists sell their work. You can find Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and other local arts and crafts. The market is open every day from early morning until evening.
Getting Around Window Rock
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Window Rock is connected by Arizona State Route 264 and Indian Route 12.
The town also has its own airport, the Window Rock Airport. This airport is open to the public and is owned by the Navajo Nation.
For local travel, the Navajo Transit System operates buses from Window Rock. These buses serve the community and connect to other parts of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Nation, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
Businesses in Window Rock
Window Rock has several shopping centers, including Diné Bashas' and Lowe's Market. The Navajo Nation Shopping Center Enterprise also helps local businesses. Some of these businesses include Navajo Arts And Crafts Enterprise, Caffeinated Ape, and Shima Grill & Catering.
Culture and Events
Many events happen throughout the year in the Window Rock area. These include:
- Fourth of July Celebration & PRCA ProRodeo
- Navajo Nation Fair
- Navajo Nation Treaty Day Celebration
- Navajo Nation Prayer Day
- Megabucks Bull Riding
See also
In Spanish: Window Rock para niños
