Thoreau is a census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,863 at the 2000 census. It is majority Native American, primarily of the Navajo Nation, as this community is located within its boundaries. Practically all residents pronounce the town's name like "thuh-ROO" and not like "thorough" or "throw." The ZIP code for Thoreau is 87323.