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.