November is National Native American Indian Heritage Month. American Indians have the least known demographics among the mainstream population. The following information was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau:
Population
• 4.5 million – As of July 1, 2005, the estimated population of American Indians and Alaska Natives. They made up 1.5 percent of the total population.
• 696,600 – The American Indian and Alaska Native population in California as of July 1, 2005, the highest total of any state in the nation.
Families and children
• 525,800 – The number of American Indian and Alaska Native families.
• 3.41 – The average number of people in an American Indian and Alaska Native family. This is larger than the average size of all families (3.18 people).
Housing
• 56 percent – The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native households who own their own home.
• $95,454 – Median value of homes owned by American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Languages
• 25 percent – Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 5 years and older who speak a language other than English at home.
Education
• 76 percent – The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives age 25 and older who have at least a high school diploma. Also, 14 percent have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Veterans
• 170,000 – The number of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
Income and Poverty
• $33,627 – The median income of households that reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race. The median income is based on a three-year average (2003–2005).
• About 25 percent – The poverty rate of people who reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race.
(Courtesy of American Indian Heritage Committee)