CB00-FF.13 October 23, 2000
American Indian Heritage Month:
November 2000
To mark this observance, the U.S. Census Bureau has culled from previously
released reports on the American Indian and Alaska Native population the
following data:
Income and Poverty
- American Indians and Alaska Natives had a median household income of
$30,784, based on a three-year average (1997-1999). This is higher than
for African Americans ($26,608) and not statistically different from
Hispanics ($29,110), but lower than for non-Hispanic Whites ($43,287)
and Asians and Pacific Islanders ($48,614).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-158.html
- Based on a three-year average (1997-1999), the poverty rate for
American Indians and Alaska Natives was 25.9 percent. This is higher
than the poverty rates for non-Hispanic Whites (8.2 percent) and
Asians and Pacific Islanders (12.4 percent) but not statistically
different from the rates for African Americans (25.4 percent) and
Hispanics (25.1 percent).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-158.html
Health Insurance
- Based on a three-year average (1997-1999), 27.1 percent of American
Indians and Alaska Natives lack health insurance coverage. Their rate is
significantly higher than that of African Americans (21.6 percent),
Asians and Pacific Islanders (20.9 percent) and non-Hispanic Whites
(11.6 percent), but lower than that of Hispanics (34.3 percent).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-160.html
Voting
- Nationwide, it is expected there will be 1.6 million American Indians
and Alaska Natives of voting age on Election Day, Nov. 7, 2000.
California (240,000), Oklahoma (170,000), Arizona (159,000) and New
Mexico (103,000) will have the highest numbers of these.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-125.html
Households and Families
- Between July 1, 2000, and July 1, 2010, the Census Bureau projects that
the number of American Indian and Alaska Native households in the United
States will climb from 754,180 to 906,036.
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/nation/hh-fam/table4n.txt
- On July 1, 2000, according to projections made in 1995, 74 percent of
the nation's American Indian and Alaska Native households were family
households. Of these families, 65 percent were maintained by married
couples, 26 percent by women with no husband present and 9 percent by
men with no wife present. The typical American Indian and Alaska Native
family was made up of 3.57 people, larger than the average 3.12
people for families of all races.
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/nation/hh-fam/table4n.txt
Education
- In the fall of 1996, 134,000 non-Hispanic American Indians were
enrolled in the nation's colleges and universities, up from 84,000 in the
fall of 1980. Of these persons, about half attended two-year schools,
nearly 6 in 10 were women, more than 8 in 10 went to public schools
and more than 9 in 10 were undergraduates.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html
- During the 1995-96 school year, about 15,000 of the nation's American
Indians and Alaska Natives received college degrees -- either an
associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctor's or other professional.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html
Population Distribution
- The nation's American Indian and Alaska Native resident population
grew by 371,000 between April 1, 1990, and Aug. 1, 2000, to 2.4 million.
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt
- The American Indian and Alaska Native resident population has grown
more rapidly than the nation's population as a whole during the last
decade -- 17.9 percent versus 10.7 percent between April 1, 1990, and
Aug. 1, 2000.
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt
- Despite its steady growth over the last 10 years, the nation's American
Indian and Alaska Native population remained at 0.9 percent of the
total population on Aug. 1, 2000.
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt
- The nation's American Indian and Alaska Native resident population is
young, with an estimated median age on Aug. 1, 2000, of 27.8 years
eight years younger than the median for the population as a whole.
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/nation/intfile3-1.txt
- According to middle-series population projections, the nation's
American Indian and Alaska Native resident population will grow to
4.4 million by 2050. This means that this race group should see
its population increase faster over the next half-century than either
Whites or African Americans but more slowly than Hispanics (who may be
of any race) or Asians and Pacific Islanders.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-05.html
- There were an estimated 167,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives age
65 and over and 22,000 age 85 and over residing in the United States as
of July 1, 2000. Projections indicate these numbers will increase by
July 1, 2050, to 662,000 and 148,000, respectively.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-05.html
As of July 1, 1999, according to population estimates:
- The five states with the largest American Indian and Alaska Native
populations were: California (314,000), Oklahoma (263,000), Arizona
(261,000), New Mexico (166,000) and Washington (105,000) Overall,
roughly one-half of the nation's American Indians and Alaska Natives
lived in Western states.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html
- Each of the five states with the largest percentage of American Indians
and Alaska Natives were located west of the Mississippi River. They
were: Alaska (where persons of this group constituted 16 percent of the
total population), New Mexico (10 percent),South Dakota (8 percent),
Oklahoma (8 percent) and Montana (7 percent).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html
- Of the five counties with the largest American Indian and Alaska Native
population, four were located in either Arizona or New Mexico. However,
it was Los Angeles, Calif., that topped the nation, with 56,700
American Indians and Alaska Natives. Rounding out the top five
were: Maricopa, Ariz. (56,400); Apache, Ariz. (53,300); Navajo,
Ariz. (51,300); and McKinley, N.M. (48,900).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html
- Of the six counties (or county equivalents) with the largest percentage
of American Indians and Alaska Natives, five were located in either
South Dakota or Alaska. Shannon, S.D., where 95 percent of residents
were American Indians and Alaska Natives, led the nation, followed
by Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska (94 percent), Menominee, Wis.
(89 percent); Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska (86 percent); Bethel
Census Area, Alaska (85 percent); and Todd, S.D. (84 percent).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html
Between April 1, 1990, and July 1, 1999, according to population estimates:
- Arizona added 46,700 American Indians and Alaska Natives to its
population, more than any other state. Next were New Mexico (28,300),
California (27,000), Texas (25,100) and Florida (23,200).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html
- Florida's American Indian and Alaska Native population increased
63 percent -- tops among all the states. Nevada, at 56 percent, New
Jersey, at 42 percent, Georgia, at 37 percent, and Texas,
at 35 percent, were the runners-up.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html
- Both of the counties that added the most American Indians and Alaska
Natives to their populations were located in Arizona. Maricopa led the
way, adding 14,100 over the period, followed by Navajo (10,700). Rounding
out the top five were San Juan, N.M. (8,700), Robeson, N.C. (7,200) and
Sandoval, N.M. (6,600).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-126.html
The preceding facts come from the Current Population Survey, the
Statistical Abstract of the United States, population estimates and
projections and the Property Owners and Managers Survey. The data are
subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Previous
Census Bureau Facts for Features this year: African American History Month
(February), Valentine's Day (February 14), Women's History Month (March),
Census Day, 2000 (April 1), Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May),
Mother's Day (May 14), Father's Day (June 18), the Fourth of July, Back to
School (August), Grandparents Day (Sept. 10), Hispanic Heritage Month
(Sept. 15-Oct. 15) and Election Day (Nov. 7). Questions or comments should
be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel:
301-457-3030; fax: 301-457-3670; email:pio@census.gov.
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