Women dance at the Fourth Annual Hilo Inter-Tribal PowWow at Wailoa State Park. Photography by Baron Sekiya for Hawaii 24/7

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

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

Population

4.9 million
As of July 1, 2008, the estimated population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race. They made up 1.6 percent of the total population.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html

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

83,250
Increase in the nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native population from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008. The population of this group increased by 1.7 percent during the period.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html

29.7
Median age of the American Indian and Alaska Native population in 2008, younger than the median of 36.8 for the population as a whole. About 30 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives were younger than 18, and 8 percent were 65 and older.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html

738,978
The American Indian and Alaska Native population in California as of July 1, 2008, the highest total of any state. California was followed by Oklahoma (406,492) and Arizona (359,841).

About 12,828 American Indians and Alaska Natives were added to Texas’ population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008. That is the largest numeric increase of any state. Texas (4.3 percent) also had the highest rate of increase during the period.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html

5
Number of states where American Indians and Alaska Natives were the largest
race or ethnic minority group in 2008. These states are Alaska, Montana,
North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html

11
Number of states with more than 100,000 American Indian and Alaska Native residents on  July 1, 2008. These states were California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, New York, Washington, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan and Alaska. Combined, these states were home to 61 percent of the nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native residents.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html

18%
The proportion of Alaska’s population identified as American Indian and Alaska Native as of July 1, 2008, the highest rate for this race group of any state. Alaska was followed by Oklahoma (11 percent) and New Mexico (11 percent).
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html

155,010
The number of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Los Angeles County, Calif., as of July 1, 2008. Los Angeles led all of the nation’s counties in the number of people of this racial category.

Maricopa County, Ariz., added about 2,300 people to this group between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, leading the nation’s counties in this measure.

Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html

10
Among counties or equivalents with total populations of 10,000 or more, number that were majority American Indian and Alaska Native, as of July 1, 2008. Shannon, S.D., led the way, with 88 percent of its population being a member of this race group.
Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html

Families and Children

545,403
The number of American Indian and Alaska Native families in 2008. Of these:

·     321,430 were married-couple families, including those with children.
·     145,691 were married couples with their own children, under the age of 18.

Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population http://factfinder.census.gov

3.64
Average number of people in an American Indian and Alaska Native family in 2008. This was larger than the national average size for all families, regardless of race (3.22 people).
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population http://factfinder.census.gov

Housing

55%
The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native households who owned
their own home in 2008.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population http://factfinder.census.gov

$129,000
Median value of homes owned by American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population http://factfinder.census.gov

Languages

29%
Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population http://factfinder.census.gov

Education

76%
The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. Also, 13 percent had at least a bachelor’s degree.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population http://factfinder.census.gov

57,146
Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older who had a graduate or professional degree.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population http://factfinder.census.gov

Businesses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source for data in this section: American Indian- and Alaska Native-Owned Firms: 2002 http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/007013.html
(Note: Preliminary estimates for 2007 will be published in July 2010 with final numbers scheduled for release in March 2011.)

Jobs

24%
The percentage of civilian-employed American Indian and Alaska Native people 16 and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations. In addition, 24 percent worked in sales and office occupations and about the same percentage worked in service occupations.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. http://factfinder.census.gov

Caregivers

56%
Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 30 and older who lived with grandchildren and were responsible for their care. The corresponding rate for the population as a whole was 41 percent.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. http://factfinder.census.gov

Veterans

160,471
The number of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. http://factfinder.census.gov

Income and Poverty

$37,815
The median income of households from the 2008 American Community Survey where the householder reported being American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. http://factfinder.census.gov

24.2%
The 2008 poverty rate of people who reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. http://factfinder.census.gov

Health Insurance

31.7%
The percentage of people who reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race who lacked health insurance coverage, based on a three-year average (2006-2008).
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/014227.html