View source for Chinle, Arizona

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| native_name        =
| native_name_lang   =
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place]]
| image_skyline      = Chinlea&w.jpg
| image_map          = Apache_County_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Chinle_highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Apache County]] and [[Arizona]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Arizona#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Arizona##Location in the United States
| pushpin_label      = Chinle
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Arizona]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Apache County, Arizona|Apache]]
| area_total_km2     = 42.26
| area_total_sq_mi   = 16.32
| area_land_km2      = 42.19
| area_land_sq_mi    = 16.29
| area_water_km2     = 0.06
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03
| elevation_ft       = 5506
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 4573
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 108.38
| population_density_sq_mi = 280.71
| timezone           = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]]
| utc_offset         = -7
| timezone_DST       = [[Mountain Daylight Time|MDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -6
| coordinates        = {{coord|36|09|02|N|109|34|47|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 86503
| area_code          = [[Area code 928|928]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 04-12770
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2408029<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408029}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_04.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}

'''Chinle''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Apache County, Arizona]], United States. The name in Navajo means {{gloss|flowing out}} and is a reference to the location where the water flows out of the [[Canyon de Chelly]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Chinle Chapter| url=http://chinle.nndes.org/| publisher=Chinle Chapter of the Navajo Nation| access-date=May 13, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103235323/http://chinle.nndes.org/| archive-date=November 3, 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref> The population was 4,518 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0412770| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212180220/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0412770| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Chinle CDP, Arizona| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref>

== History ==
In the Spanish colonial period, Chinle was a base for both trade and war. After acquisition of this area by the United States following the Mexican–American War, relations between the peoples deteriorated in the 1860s.

The United States conducted a peace conference through their representative [[Kit Carson]] and the [[Navajo people]] in order to end the war between the Navajo and the U.S. The first [[trading post]] operated out of a tent and was established here in 1882. By 1885 a full-sized camp had developed.<ref name="Granger1960">{{cite book| author=Byrd H. Granger| title=Arizona Place Names| url=https://archive.org/details/arizonaplacename00barn| url-access=registration| access-date=November 20, 2011| year=1960| publisher=University of Arizona Press| page=[https://archive.org/details/arizonaplacename00barn/page/8 8]}}</ref>

The [[Chinle Boarding School]] was established in 1910 by the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]] (BIA). Khalil Anthony Johnson Jr., a PhD candidate at [[Yale University]], wrote an article in 2014 that said, with this school, the federal government "established a permanent presence in [Chinle]", and that the BIA "effectively governed the town thereafter."<ref name="Johnson 92–129 97">{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Khalil Anthony Jr.|title=The Chinle Dog Shoots: Federal Governance and Grass-roots Politics in Postwar Navajo Country|journal=[[Pacific Historical Review]]|volume=83|issue=1|date=February 2014|pages=92–129 [97]|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|doi=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92|jstor=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92}}</ref>

Initially anglicized as '''Chin Lee'''<!-- from what? does it related to Chinese workers or to Navajo? -->, the spelling of the name was changed to Chinle on April 1, 1941.<ref name="Granger1960"/>

Chinle serves as a gateway community for [[Canyon de Chelly National Monument]]. The monument was established in 1931 primarily to preserve the archaeological sites and record of ancient human history.  Canyon de Chelly is unique among the [[National Park Service]] units because the park is located entirely on Navajo tribal land, and it has a residential community in the canyon.

In the 1950s Chinle had a population with a variety of ethnicities, who tended to settle in separate areas. In addition to Navajo and non-Navajo Native Americans, there were [[Anglo#United States|Anglo]] white and Black people, and some of other races. The total population was under 200. Employees of the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]] (BIA), one of the major employers, and school employees lived in their own compounds. The [[Chinle Boarding School]] and a public health clinic were the other two major employers.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Khalil Anthony Jr.|title=The Chinle Dog Shoots: Federal Governance and Grass-roots Politics in Postwar Navajo Country|journal=[[Pacific Historical Review]]|volume=83|issue=1|date=February 2014|pages=92–129 [94]|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|doi=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92|jstor=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92}}</ref>

By the 1950s the community had an issue with numerous stray dogs, who were not neutered nor spayed. Chinle had no leash law.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Khalil Anthony Jr.|title=The Chinle Dog Shoots: Federal Governance and Grass-roots Politics in Postwar Navajo Country|journal=[[Pacific Historical Review]]|volume=83|issue=1|date=February 2014|pages=92–129 [108]|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|doi=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92|jstor=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92}}</ref> On April 8, 1956, BIA authorities rounded up and shot stray dogs without warning, leaving some remains at people's doorsteps. The community protested when another dog shooting was ordered on September 23, 1956.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Khalil Anthony Jr.|title=The Chinle Dog Shoots: Federal Governance and Grass-roots Politics in Postwar Navajo Country|journal=[[Pacific Historical Review]]|volume=83|issue=1|date=February 2014|pages=92–129 [92–93]|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|doi=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92|jstor=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92}}</ref> G. Warren Spaulding, the General Superintendent of the Navajo Agency, ordered the dog shot anyway, and did not notify the residents of his reason for rejecting their protest.<ref name="Johnson 92–129 97"/> Community outcry led to the installation of a [[gas chamber]] to euthanize unclaimed dogs.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Khalil Anthony Jr.|title=The Chinle Dog Shoots: Federal Governance and Grass-roots Politics in Postwar Navajo Country|journal=[[Pacific Historical Review]]|volume=83|issue=1|date=February 2014|pages=92–129 [124]|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|doi=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92|jstor=10.1525/phr.2014.83.1.92}}</ref>

Chinle's population was 150 in the 1960 census.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=1960 |title=Arizona |encyclopedia=World Book Encyclopedia |publisher=Field Enterprises Educational Corporation |location=Chicago |volume=A |page=557}}</ref>

In 2019, the television series ''[[Basketball or Nothing]]'', featuring Chinle High School's basketball team, premiered on [[Netflix]].

Gabrielle Durcharme of [[Cronkite News]] stated that the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona]] "was hard on the community."<ref>{{cite web|last=Durcharme|first=Gabrielle|url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/12/09/rez-ball-in-chinle-navajo-nation-community-rebounds-after-pandemic/|title=Rez ball rebirth in Chinle: Navajo Nation rebounds as pandemic takes its toll|publisher=[[Cronkite News]]|date=December 9, 2021|accessdate=March 18, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|41.6|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|41.5|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|disp=flip|2}}, or 0.16%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===
Chinle has a [[semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates|cold semi-arid climate]], BSk in the [[Köppen Climate Classification]].
{{Weather box|width=65%
|location = Chinle, Arizona ([[Canyon de Chelly National Monument|Canyon de Chelly]], 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1908–present)
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 70
|Feb record high F = 72
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 68
|year record high F = 
| Jan avg record high F = 57.3
| Feb avg record high F = 64.1
| Mar avg record high F = 74.6
| Apr avg record high F = 82.6
| May avg record high F = 91.3
| Jun avg record high F = 99.4
| Jul avg record high F = 100.9
| Aug avg record high F = 96.9
| Sep avg record high F = 92.4
| Oct avg record high F = 83.4
| Nov avg record high F = 69.8
| Dec avg record high F = 58.8
|year avg record high F = 101.8
|Jan high F = 43.8
|Feb high F = 50.6
|Mar high F = 60.7
|Apr high F = 68.9
|May high F = 79.0
|Jun high F = 90.0
|Jul high F = 92.9
|Aug high F = 89.7
|Sep high F = 82.7
|Oct high F = 69.9
|Nov high F = 55.5
|Dec high F = 43.3
|year high F = 68.9
|Jan low F = 19.0
|Feb low F = 23.6
|Mar low F = 29.2
|Apr low F = 35.8
|May low F = 43.7
|Jun low F = 52.5
|Jul low F = 60.2
|Aug low F = 58.8
|Sep low F = 49.8
|Oct low F = 37.5
|Nov low F = 26.5
|Dec low F = 19.6
|year low F = 38.0
| Jan avg record low F = 5.2
| Feb avg record low F = 10.3
| Mar avg record low F = 17.1
| Apr avg record low F = 22.9
| May avg record low F = 31.3
| Jun avg record low F = 40.1
| Jul avg record low F = 51.9
| Aug avg record low F = 51.4
| Sep avg record low F = 36.1
| Oct avg record low F = 24.2
| Nov avg record low F = 12.1
| Dec avg record low F = 5.0
|year avg record low F = 1.2
|Jan record low F = -32
|Feb record low F = -22
|Mar record low F = 1
|Apr record low F = 9
|May record low F = 10
|Jun record low F = 20
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 23
|Oct record low F = 10
|Nov record low F = -3
|Dec record low F = -27
|year record low F = 
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.76
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.73
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.65
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.48
|May precipitation inch = 0.51
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.27
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.07
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.30
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.85
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.83
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.58
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.72
|year precipitation inch = 8.75
|precipitation colour = green
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 0.6
|Dec snow inch = 1.5
|Jan snow inch = 1.1
|Feb snow inch = 0.9
|Mar snow inch = 0.6
|Apr snow inch = 0.1
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch= 4.9
|Jan precipitation days = 4.4
|Feb precipitation days = 4.5
|Mar precipitation days = 4.1
|Apr precipitation days = 3.1
|May precipitation days = 2.8
|Jun precipitation days = 1.8
|Jul precipitation days = 6.3
|Aug precipitation days = 7.0
|Sep precipitation days = 5.3
|Oct precipitation days = 4.1
|Nov precipitation days = 3.4
|Dec precipitation days = 4.6
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.1
| Nov snow days = 0.4
| Dec snow days = 1.1
| Jan snow days = 0.8
| Feb snow days = 0.6
| Mar snow days = 0.8
| Apr snow days = 0.1
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
|unit snow days = 0.1 inch
|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=fgz |title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = August 14, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Languages (2000) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results |title=Data Center Results |access-date=March 24, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525123705/https://apps.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results |archive-date=May 25, 2017 }}</ref> !! Percent
|-
| Spoke [[Navajo language|Navajo]] at home || 71.9%
|-
| Spoke [[English language|English]] at home || 28.1%
|}
{{US Census population
|align=left
|2020= 4573
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,366 people, 1,358 households, and 1,076 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|334.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,644 housing units at an average density of {{convert|102.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 6.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], <0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races.  1.8% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,358 households, out of which 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 30.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 3.84 and the average family size was 4.43.

In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 43.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,324, and the median income for a family was $26,182. Males had a median income of $25,321 versus $22,663 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $8,755.  About 40.4% of families and 43.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 52.6% of those under age 18 and 46.9% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
=== Primary and secondary schools ===
[[File:Chinlehighschool.jpg|thumb|[[Chinle High School]]]]
The area is served by [[Chinle Unified School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04001_apache/DC10SD_C04001_000.pdf|title=School District Reference Map (2010 Census): Apache County, AZ|work=[[2010 U.S. census]]|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 8, 2020}} – Chinle USD is depicted on pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04001_apache/DC10SD_C04001_001.pdf 1] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st04_az/c04001_apache/DC10SD_C04001_002.pdf 2].</ref>

Schools in the area and served by the district include Tsaile Elementary School (K-8), Many Farms Elementary School (K-6), Canyon de Chelly Elementary School (K-6), Chinle Elementary School (K-6), Mesa View Elementary School (K-6), Chinle Junior High School (7-8), and [[Chinle High School]] (9-12).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ade.az.gov/edd/NewDetails.asp?EntityID=4158&RefTypeID=1027|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122229/http://www.ade.az.gov/edd/NewDetails.asp?EntityID=4158&RefTypeID=1027|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 15, 2018|title=Public School Search|website=www.ade.az.gov|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref>

The [[Bureau of Indian Education]] (BIE) operates the Cottonwood Day School in an area with a Chinle postal address, {{convert|11|mi|km}} west of [[U.S. Highway 191]] on Navajo Route 4.<ref>"[http://www.bie.edu/cs/groups/xbie/documents/document/idc1-030567.pdf National Directory June 2015]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150619220714/http://www.bie.edu/cs/groups/xbie/documents/document/idc1-030567.pdf Archive]). [[Bureau of Indian Education]]. p. 16/44. Retrieved on June 16, 2015. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210730195112/https://www.ade.az.gov/edd/NewDetails.asp?EntityID=87924&RefTypeID=1173 Address]: "Navajo Route #4, 11 miles west of Hwy 191, 26 miles, Cottonwood"</ref>

The Chinle Boarding School, a [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]] (BIA) school, was formerly in Chinle until 1976, when it moved to Many Farms, though initially it had the same name post-move.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chinle School in New Home|newspaper=[[The Gallup Independent]]|place=[[Gallup, New Mexico]]|date=July 30, 1976|page=3}} – [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81530953/for-many-farms-arizona-and-chinle-arizo/ Clipping] from [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> The name later changed to [[Many Farms Community School]] (MFCS).<ref name=Silversmith>{{cite web|last=Silversmith|first=Shondioin|url=https://navajotimes.com/entertainment/2012/1212/121312ray.php|title=Historian hopes to find artists from Chinle Boarding School|newspaper=[[Navajo Times]]|date=December 13, 2012|accessdate=July 15, 2021|quote=[...]which has since been renamed to Many Farms Community School[...]}}</ref>

=== Tertiary education ===
A branch of the [[Diné College]] is located here as well as a branch of [[Northern Arizona University]] and [[Navajo Technical University]].

==Health==
The [[Navajo AIDS Network]] is based in Chinle. Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Center Chinle IHS is a full-service Healthcare facility operated by the US Indian Health Service. It includes a hospital, emergency services, outpatient clinic, pharmacy, dental clinic and other health-related services. These services are reserved for Native Americans except in emergencies. The pharmacy is not open to the general public.

[[File:Chinlejunction.jpg|thumb|The Junction Restaurant in Chinle]]

==Government==
Several Federal, County and Navajo tribal agencies are located in town.  The local government is located at the Chinle Chapter House.  The Chapter House serves as a town hall with a Chapter President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer as elected officials.

Other departments include the Navajo Police Department, Navajo Housing Authority, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Navajo Parks and Recreation, Apache County Office, Indian Health Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Park Service.

==Nearby attractions==
* [[Canyon de Chelly National Monument]]
* [[Hubbell Trading Post]] National Historic Site

== Notable people ==
{{See also|Category:People from Chinle, Arizona}}
* [[Keats Begay]], Navajo painter, was born in Chinle.
* [[Jeremiah Bitsui]], actor was born in Chinle.
* [[Shawna Ann Claw]], Navajo Nation Council member<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Becenti |first=Arlyssa D. |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Navajo women make historic gains in elections, increase influence on tribal council |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/12/06/navajo-women-increase-influence-on-tribal-council-after-elections/69701804007/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Robert Draper (painter)|Robert Draper]], Navajo painter<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hagerty|first=Donald J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iWvqAAAAMAAJ|title=Canyon de Chelly: 100 Hundred Years of Painting and Photography|date=1996|publisher=G. Smith|isbn=978-0879057053|page=99|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Megalyn Echikunwoke]], Nigerian-American actress was raised in the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200608210859.html |website=AllAfrica |title=Nigeria: Megalyn Echikunwoke – Mega-Talent Doing Nigeria Proud! |access-date=December 8, 2016 |date=August 29, 2006 |first=Abdulkareem Baba |last=Aminu}}</ref>
* [[Carl Nelson Gorman]] was a Navajo code talker during World War II.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|last=Thomas, Jr.|first=Robert|date=February 1, 1998|title=Carl Gorman, Code Talker In World War II, Dies at 90|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/01/us/carl-gorman-code-talker-in-world-war-ii-dies-at-90.html|access-date=September 15, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* [[R.C. Gorman]], artist and printmaker, son of Carl Nelson Gorman.
* [[Russell Means]], Native American activist<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = St. Martin's Press| isbn = 978-0312136215| last = Means| first = Russell| author2 = Marvin J Wolf| title = Where white men fear to tread: the autobiography of Russell Means| location = New York| date = 1995| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/wherewhitemenfea00mean}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Arizona}}
* [[List of census-designated places in Arizona]]
* [[Chinle Formation]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Chinle, Arizona}}

{{Apache County, Arizona}}
{{Communities of the Navajo Nation}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Apache County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Arizona]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Navajo Nation]]
[[Category:Arizona placenames of Native American origin]]