housing "American Indian Reservation Households Crowded in 1990" (02/07/95)

            EMBARGOED UNTIL:  FEB. 7, 1995 (TUESDAY)

Public Information Office                              CB95-22
301-457-2794
301-457-4067 (TDD)

Robert Bonnette
301-763-8553

      SEVERE CROWDING PLAGUED ONE-FIFTH OF AMERICAN INDIAN
      RESERVATION HOUSEHOLDS IN 1990, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS

     EMBARGOED UNTIL:  FEB. 7, 1995 (TUESDAY) - Nearly one in 
five (18 percent) American Indian households on reservations were
severely crowded (more than 1.5 persons per room) in 1990.  The
comparable figure for the nation as a whole was 2 percent.  This
information is being released today in a new statistical brief
entitled, "Housing of American Indians on Reservations" (SB/94-
32), from the Commerce Department's Census Bureau.

     One-third of the 112,000 American Indian households on
reservations were considered crowded (more than one person per
room) in 1990.  The comparable figure was only 5 percent for all
households nationally.

     "American Indian households on reservations typically had
large numbers of people living in relatively small houses in
1990," says Robert Bonnette of the bureau's housing office.  "For
instance," Bonnette continues, "American Indian households on  
reservations contained a median of 3.65 persons, compared with
only 2.29 persons for all households nationally.  Also, homes on
reservations had only 4.4 rooms, nearly a whole room less than
the national median of 5.3."  

     Among the nation's 48 largest reservations (500 or more
American Indian households), median household size was as low as 
2.49 people for the Osage Reservation and as high as 4.47 for the
Zuni Pueblo.  Median home size varied from just 3.1 rooms for the
Navajo to 5.3 rooms for the Mescalero Apache and Nez Perce.

     The brief also contains information on homeownership rates
and age of householder for American Indian households on the 
48 largest reservations.

     This statistical brief is one of a series that uses data
collected in the 1990 Census of Population and Housing to examine
housing characteristics of American Indian households on
reservations and their associated trust lands.

                               -X-
ŒEditor's Note:  EMBARGOED UNTIL:  FEB. 7, 1995 (TUESDAY) -
media representatives may obtain copies of the brief from the
bureau's Public Information Office by telephone:  301-457-2794,
fax:  301-457-3670, or e-mail:  pio@census.gov.  Non-media orders
should go to the bureau's Customer Services Office on 
301-763-INFO(4636).