Smoke Signals 1 1
FEBRUARY 1,2012
Census says nearly half of American Indians report multiple races
WASHINGTON, D.C. The
U.S. Census Bureau released on
Wednesday, Jan. 25, a 2010 Census
brief, "The American Indian and
Alaska Native Population: 2010,"
that shows almost half (44 percent) v
of this population, or 2.3 million peo
ple, reported being American Indian
and Alaska Native in combination
with one or more other races.
This multiracial group grew by 39
percent from 2000 to 2010.
Overall, 5.2 million people, or 1.7
percent of all people in the United
States, identified as American Indi
an and Alaska Native, either alone
or in combination with one or more
races. This population grew by 27
percent from 2000 to 2010.
Those who reported being Ameri
can Indian and Alaska Native alone
totaled 2.9 million, an increase of 18
percent from 2000 to 2010.
The multiple race American In
dian and Alaska Native population,
as well as both the alone and alone-or-in-combination
populations, all
grew at a faster rate than the total
U.S. population, which increased by
9.7 percent from 2000 to 2010.
78 percent live
outside Tribal areas
A majority of the American
Indian and Alaska Native alone-or-in-combination
population (78
percent) lived outside of American
Indian and Alaska Native areas.
At the same time, most counties
Percent Increase of the American Indian and
Alaska Native Population: 2000 to 2010
39.2
26.7
9.7
1&4X
Total population American Indian and American Indian and American Indian and
(308.7 million) Alaska Native alone or Alaska Native alone Alaska Native bi
In combination (2.9 million) combination
(5 J million) (2.3 million)
Somas: Census 2000 and 2D10 Camus
-.United Stater
Census
with relatively higher proportions
of American Indians and Alaska
Natives tended to be in close prox
imity to reservations, trust lands
or Oklahoma Tribal statistical ar
eas. This was especially evident in
counties throughout the West and
in Oklahoma.
The 10 states with the largest
American Indian and Alaska Native
alone-or-in-combination population
in 2010 were California, Oklahoma,
Arizona, Texas, New York, New
Mexico, Washington, North Caro
lina, Florida and Michigan.
Among these states, Texas, North
Carolina and Florida experienced
substantial rates of growth in this
population at 46 percent, 40 per
cent and 38 percent, respectively.
The American Indian and Alaska
Native alone population experi
enced growth of at least 20 percent
in Texas, North Carolina, Florida
and New York.
The multiple-race American
Indian and Alaska Native popula
tion increased by more than 50
percent in 18 states. North Caro
lina, Delaware and South Dakota
experienced the most rapid growth
in this population at more than 70
percent.
In all but three states, the multiple-race
proportion of the Ameri
can Indian and Alaska Native
alone-or-in-combination population
increased from 2000 to 2010.
Tribal groupings
The largest number of people who
identified with an American Indian
Tribal grouping, either alone or in
combination, identified as Chero
kee (819,000). The Navajo tribal
grouping had the largest number
of individuals who identified with
one Tribal grouping and no other
race (287,000).
Among the largest American In
dian Tribal groupings, Blackfeet had
the highest proportion who reported
more than one Tribal grouping or
race. Seventy-four percent of Black
feet individuals reported an addi
tional race andor Tribal grouping.
The largest Alaska Native Tribal
grouping, either alone or in combi
nation, was Yup'ik (34,000), followed
by Inupiat (33,000). Yup'ik also had
the greatest number of people who
identified with one Tribal grouping
and no other race (29,000).
Among all Alaska Native Tribal
groupings, Tlingit-Haida had the
highest proportion who reported
more than one Tribal grouping or
race. Forty-two percent of Tlingit-Haida
individuals reported
an additional race andor Tribal
grouping. D
Native y
ou
a nee
O
asses
imsnmm isem unssm ssm s
riirn
Ad created by George Valdez