States with American Indian Names

November 8, 2009

You may Listen or download this story in .mp3 format. or as a .wav file

Profile America — Sunday, November 8th. As National American Indian Heritage Month continues, many may not be aware that the states they live in have names derived from Indian names. In fact, the names of 16 states come from American Indian or Alaska Native words, including Alaska, Kentucky, Mississippi and Wisconsin, as well as Connecticut, Michigan, and Illinois. Six American Indian tribal groups number more than 100,000. The largest are Cherokee at 730,000 and Navajo at nearly 300,000. Other tribes with more than 100,000 include Choctaw, Chippewa and Sioux. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0854966.html
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 36
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html