US Census Press Releases

Releases = =AB=20 Facts=20 for Features & Special Editions

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CB08-FF.18=20
Oct. 16, 2008=20
PDF=20 Version

American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage
Month: = November=20 2008

The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. = Red Fox=20 James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback from state to state, getting=20 endorsements from 24 state governments, to have a day to honor American = Indians.=20 In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional = resolution=20 designating November 1990 as =93National American Indian Heritage = Month.=94 Similar=20 proclamations have been issued every year since 1994. This Facts for = Features=20 presents data for American Indians and Alaska Natives, as this is one of = the six=20 major race categories.

Note: Unless otherwise specified, the data in the = =93Population=94=20 section refer to the population who reported a race alone or in = combination with=20 one or more other races.

Population

4.5 million
As of July 1, 2007, the = estimated=20 population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of = more than=20 one race. They made up 1.5 percent of the total population.
Source:=20 Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/011910.html>

8.6 million
The projected population = of=20 American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one = race, on=20 July 1, 2050. They would comprise 2 percent of the total population. =
Source:=20 Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/012496.html>

44,803
Increase in the nation=92s = American Indian=20 and Alaska Native population from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007. The = population=20 of this group increased by 1 percent during the period.
Source: = Population=20 estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/011910.html>

30.3
Median age of the single-race = American=20 Indian and Alaska Native population in 2007, younger than the median of = 36.6 for=20 the population as a whole. About 27 percent of American Indians and = Alaska=20 Natives were younger than 18, and 8 percent were 65 and older. =
Source:=20 Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/011910.html>

689,120
The American Indian and = Alaska Native=20 population in California as of July 1, 2007, the highest total of any = state.=20 California was followed by Oklahoma (393,500) and Arizona (335,381).

About 8,300 American Indians and Alaska Natives were added to = Texas=92=20 population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007. That is the largest = numeric=20 increase of any state. Georgia (3.4 percent) had the highest rate of = increase=20 during the period.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/011910.html>

5
Number of states where American = Indians and=20 Alaska Natives were the largest race or ethnic minority group in 2007. = These=20 states are Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. =
Source:=20 Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/011910.html>

11
Number of states with more than = 100,000=20 American Indian and Alaska Native residents on July 1, 2007. These = states were=20 California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, New York, Washington, = Florida,=20 North Carolina, Michigan and Alaska. Combined, these states were home to = 62=20 percent of the nation=92s American Indian and Alaska Native residents. =
Source:=20 Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/011910.html>>

18%
The proportion of Alaska=92s = population=20 identified as American Indian and Alaska Native as of July 1, 2007, the = highest=20 rate for this race group of any state. Alaska was followed by Oklahoma = (11=20 percent) and New Mexico (10 percent).
Source: Population estimates = <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/011910.html>

146,500
The number of American = Indians and=20 Alaska Natives in Los Angeles County, Calif., as of July 1, 2007. Los = Angeles=20 led all of the nation=92s counties in the number of people of this = racial=20 category.

Maricopa County, Ariz., added about 2,300 people to this group = between July=20 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, leading the nation=92s counties in this=20 category.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/012463.html>

10
Among counties or equivalents with = total=20 populations of 10,000 or more, number that were majority American Indian = and=20 Alaska Native, as of July 1, 2007. Shannon, S.D., led the way, with 87 = percent=20 of its population being a member of this race group.
Source: = Population=20 estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archive= s/population/012463.html>

Families and Children

537,500
The number of American Indian = and=20 Alaska Native families in 2007. Of these:=20

314,900 were married-couple families, including = those with=20 children.=20
146,400 were married couples with their own = children, under=20 the age of 18.

Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and = Alaska=20 Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

3.57
Average number of people in an = American=20 Indian and Alaska Native family in 2007. This was larger than the = national=20 average size for all families (3.2 people). Source: 2007 American = Community=20 Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

Housing

56%
The percentage of American Indian = and=20 Alaska Native households who owned their own home in 2007.
Source: = 2007=20 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native = alone=20 population <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

$116,700
Median value of homes owned = by=20 American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Source: 2007 American Community = Survey=20 for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

Languages

27%
Percentage of American Indians = and Alaska=20 Natives 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home. =
Source:=20 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native = alone=20 population <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

Education

76%
The percentage of American = Indians and=20 Alaska Natives 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. = Also, 13=20 percent had at least a bachelor=92s degree.
Source: 2007 American = Community=20 Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

61,976
Number of American Indians and = Alaska=20 Natives 25 and older who had a graduate or professional degree. =
Source: 2007=20 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native = alone=20 population <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

Businesses

$26.9 billion
Receipts for American = Indian- and=20 Alaska Native-owned businesses in 2002. These businesses numbered = 201,387.

20,380
Number of American Indian- and = Alaska=20 Native-owned firms in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside combined = statistical=20 area, making that area number one in the metro category. Among counties, = Los=20 Angeles had the highest number of firms (13,061).

38,125
Number of American Indian- and = Alaska=20 Native-owned firms in California, which led the states. Oklahoma, Texas, = New=20 York and Florida followed.

Nearly 3 in 10
Number of American = Indian- and=20 Alaska Native-owned firms that operated in construction and other = services (such=20 as personal services, and repair and maintenance).

24,498
Number of American Indian- and = Alaska=20 Native-owned firms that had paid employees. These businesses employed = 191,270=20 people.

3,631
Number of American Indian- and = Alaska=20 Native-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms = accounted=20 for nearly 2 percent of the total number of American Indian- and Alaska=20 Native-owned firms and more than 64 percent of their total receipts.

178
Number of American Indian- and = Alaska=20 Native-owned firms with 100 or more employees. These firms generated = nearly $5.3=20 billion in gross receipts =97 24 percent of the total revenue for = American Indian-=20 and Alaska Native-owned employer firms.

New York; Los Angeles; and Gallup, = N.M.
The=20 three cities with the largest number of American Indian- and Alaska = Native-owned=20 firms, with 7,134; 5,767; and 2,642, respectively.=20

Source for data in this section: American Indian- and Alaska = Native-Owned=20 Firms: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases= /archives/business_ownership/007013.html>

Jobs

25%
The percentage of = civilian-employed=20 American Indian and Alaska Native people 16 and older who worked in = management,=20 professional and related occupations. In addition, 23 percent worked in = sales=20 and office occupations and about the same percentage worked in service=20 occupations.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American = Indian=20 and Alaska Native alone population. <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

Caregivers

54%
Percentage of American Indians = and Alaska=20 Natives 30 and older who lived with grandchildren and were responsible = for their=20 care. The corresponding rate for the population as a whole was 40 = percent.=20
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and = Alaska=20 Native alone population. <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

Veterans

165,200
The number of American Indian = and=20 Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. armed forces. Source: 2007 American = Community=20 Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. = <http://factfinder.census.gov/&= gt;

Income and Poverty

$35,343
The 2007 median income of = households=20 where the householder reported being American Indian and Alaska Native = and no=20 other race.
Source: Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data from the 2007 = American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/arch= ives/income_wealth/012528.html>

25.3%
The 2007 poverty rate of people = who=20 reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race.=20
Source: Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data from the 2007 American = Community=20 Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/arch= ives/income_wealth/012528.html>

Health Insurance

32.1%
The percentage of people who = reported=20 they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race who lacked = health=20 insurance coverage, based on a three-year average (2005-2007). =
Source:=20 Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: = 2007,
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/arch= ives/income_wealth/012528.html>

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census = Bureau=92s=20 Facts for Features series:

African-American History Month (February)=20
Super Bowl=20
Valentine=92s Day (Feb. 14)=20
Women=92s History Month (March)=20
Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/=20
St. Patrick=92s Day (March 17)=20
Asian/Pacific American Heritage=20
Month (May)=20
Older Americans Month (May)=20
Cinco de Mayo (May 5)=20
Mother=92s Day=20
Hurricane Season Begins (June 1)=20
Father=92s Day=20
The Fourth of July (July 4)=20
Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities=20
Act (July 26)=20

Back to School (August)=20
Labor Day=20
Grandparents Day=20
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)=20
Unmarried and Single Americans=20
Week=20
Halloween (Oct. 31)=20
American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage=20
Month (November)=20
Veterans Day (Nov. 11)=20
Thanksgiving Day=20
The Holiday Season (December)

Editor=92s note:The preceding = data were=20 collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling = variability=20 and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released = about=20 two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine = production=20 timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census = Bureau=92s=20 Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; = or=20 e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.

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