CB11-FF.22

Nov. 1, 2011

 

American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage 

Month: November 2011

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

5.2 million

As of the 2010 Census, the nation’s population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, 

including those of more than one race. They made up 1.7 percent of the total population. Of this 

total, 2.9 million were American Indian and Alaska Native only, and 2.3 million were American 

Indian and Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races.

Source: 2010 Census Brief: Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin

<http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf>

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/population/www/projections/summarytables.html>

1.1 million

Increase in the nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native population between the 2000 Census 

and 2010 Census. The population of this group increased by 26.7 percent during this period 

compared with the overall population growth of 9.7 percent.
Source: Census 2000 Brief: Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin 

<http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-1.pdf> and 2010 Census Brief: Overview of 

Race and Hispanic Origin < http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf>

723,225

The American Indian and Alaska Native population in California as of the 2010 Census. 

California was followed by Oklahoma (482,760) and Arizona (353,386). 

Source: 2010 Census Summary File 1, Table QT-P5

15

Number of states with more than 100,000 American Indian and Alaska Native residents as of the 

2010 Census. These states were California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, New York, New Mexico, 

Washington, North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota and 

Illinois. 

Source: 2010 Census Summary File 1, Table QT-P5

19.5%

The proportion of Alaska’s population identified as American Indian and Alaska Native as of

the 2010 Census, the highest rate for this race group of any state. Alaska was followed by 

Oklahoma (12.9 percent), New Mexico (10.7 percent) and South Dakota (10.1 percent). 

Source: 2010 Census Summary File 1, Table QT-P5

29.0

Median age as of April 1, 2010, in years, for those who are American Indian and Alaska Native, 

and no other race. This compares with a median age of 37.2 for the population as a whole.

Source: Intercensal population estimates and 2010 Census Demographic Profile 

<http://www.census.gov/popest/intercensal/index.html> and <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

Reservations

334

Number of federal and state recognized American Indian reservations in 2010. This total 

excludes Hawaiian Homelands. All in all, there are 617 American Indian legal and statistical 

areas for which the Census Bureau provides data.

Source: Census Bureau Geography Division

22%

Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives, alone or in combination, who lived in 

American Indian areas or Alaska Native Village Statistical Areas. These American Indian areas 

include federal American Indian reservations and/or off-reservation trust lands, Oklahoma tribal 

statistical areas, tribal designated statistical areas, state American Indian reservations, and state 

designated American Indian statistical areas.

Source: 2010 Census Summary File 1
Tribes

565

Number of federally-recognized Indian tribes.

Source: Federal Register: Oct. 1, 2010, and Oct. 27, 2010

<http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/biaind.pdf>

<http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-27138.pdf>

100,000+

In the 2010 Census, the tribal groupings with 100,000 or more responses for the American Indian 

and Alaska Native alone-or-in-any combination population were Cherokee (819,105), Navajo 

(332,129), Choctaw (195,764), Mexican American Indian (175,494), Chippewa (170,742), Sioux 

(170,110), Apache (111,810), and Blackfeet (105,304).

Source: 2010 Census Summary File 1, Table PCT3

Families 

557,185

The number of American Indian and Alaska Native families in 2010. Of these, 57 percent were 

married-couple families, including those with children.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

 

29.6 and 26.8 years old

Median age at first marriage for American Indian and Alaska Native men and women age 15 to 

54, respectively, in 2010. For the population as a whole in this age range, the respective numbers 

were 28.7 and 26.7 years. The difference in the median age at first marriage between American 

Indian and Alaska Native women and women overall is not statistically significant.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

Housing

54%

The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native householders who owned their own home 

in 2010. This is compared with 65 percent of the overall population.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>
Languages 

28%

Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 5 and older who spoke a language other 

than English at home, compared with 21 percent for the nation as a whole. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

73%

Percentage of residents of the Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Ariz.-

N.M.-Utah, age 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home.

Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Education

77%

The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older who had at least a high 

school diploma, GED or alternative credential. Also, 13 percent obtained a bachelor’s degree or 

higher. In comparison, the overall population had 86 percent with a high school diploma and 28 

percent with a bachelor’s degree or higher. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

41%

Among American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older who have a bachelor’s degree, the 

percentage whose degree is in science and engineering, or related fields. This compares with 

44 percent for all people 25 and older with this level of education.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

 

67,644

Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older who had a graduate or 

professional degree. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

Businesses

$34.4 billion

Receipts for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses in 2007, a 28.0 percent 

increase from 2002. These businesses numbered 236,967, up 17.7 percent from 2002.
45,629

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms in California in 2007, which led 

the states. Oklahoma and Texas followed. Among the firms in California, 17,634 were in the Los 

Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metro area, which led all metro areas nationwide.

23,704

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that had paid employees in 2007. 

These businesses employed 184,416 people.

30.5%

Percent of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that operated in construction; and 

repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services in 2007.

52.9%

Percent of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned business receipts accounted for by 

construction, retail trade and wholesale trade in 2007.

4,599

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more

in 2007. 

162

Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 

2007. 

Source for data in this section: Survey of Business Owners-American Indian and Alaska Native 

Owned Firms: 2007. 

<http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo/>

Jobs

26%

The percentage of civilian-employed American Indian and Alaska Native people 16 and older 

who worked in management, business, science and arts occupations. In addition, 25 percent 

worked in service occupations and 24 percent in sales and office occupations. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

Veterans

156,515

The number of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. armed forces. 
Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

Income and Poverty

$35,062

The median income of American Indian and Alaska Native households. This compares with 

$50,046 for the nation as a whole.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

28.4%

The percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives that were in poverty in 2010. For the nation 

as a whole, the corresponding rate was 15.3 percent.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

Health Insurance

29.2%

The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives who lacked health insurance coverage. 

For the nation as a whole, the corresponding percentage was 15.5 percent.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone 

population <http://factfinder2.census.gov>

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features

series:

African-American History Month (February) Labor Day 

Super Bowl Grandparents Day 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

Women’s History Month (March) Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ Halloween (Oct. 31)

 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) (November) 

Older Americans Month (May) Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) Thanksgiving Day 

Mother’s Day The Holiday Season (December) 

Father’s Day 

The Fourth of July (July 4)

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)

Back to School (August)

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling 

variability and other sources of error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public 

Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.