Special Report

The Biggest Native American Population in Every State

Thomas C. Frohlich

Published: October 1, 2018 9:24 pm

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 5:03 pm

Native American tribes and nations in the United States face a range of threats to their sovereignty from federal and state governments, as centuries-old treaty agreements are questioned, and due to land-use and resource extraction policies. The country’s indigenous peoples’ long history of struggle shows no end in sight.

Scholars estimate that by the time Europeans began to settle America, nearly 10 million people had already been living in the continental United States. That number fell sharply after colonization, due to wars and the spread of diseases.

Native Americans are still dealing with the effects of 400 years of persecution and discrimination. During the 17th and 18th centuries, government officials forced tribes onto remote reservations that often lacked natural resources or arable soil. Today, American Indians have the highest poverty rate of any major racial group in the United States, with one in four living below the poverty line. Those who live on reservations face obstacles such as food insecurity and associated health problems like diabetes.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed population data across the country using the U.S Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey to identify the Native American heritage with the largest population in each state.

According to the Department of the Interior, across the country there are approximately 2 million members of federally recognized American Indian tribes. A much larger population of close to 6 million U.S. residents self-identifies as American Indian, including more than 4 million who self-identify as a specific American Indian tribe.

Methodology

To identify the largest native population in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of residents in each state who self-identify as American Indian and Alaskan Native, and who specified a certain nation, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 5-year American Community Survey (ACS). We were not able to consider tribes not tabulated by the Census, such as Abenaki, Catawba, Eastern Tribes, Kickapoo, Mattaponi, Quapaw, Shawnee, and Yuchi.

This category includes people who indicate their race as “American Indian or Alaska Native” or report entries such as Navajo, Blackfeet, Inupiat, Yup’ik, or Central American Indian groups, or South American Indian groups. Generally, such individuals have origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Click here to see the biggest Native American population in every state.

Source: Donna L. Burnett / USAF

1. Alabama
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 27,330)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 61,383 (22nd lowest)
> State population: 4,841,164 (23rd highest)

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Source: umnak / Flickr

2. Alaska
> Largest native population: Yup’ik (pop: 38,980)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 148,468 (11th highest)
> State population: 736,855 (4th lowest)

Source: Wolfgang Staudt from Saarbruecken, Germany / Wikimedia Commons

3. Arizona
> Largest native population: Navajo (pop: 159,513)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 377,995 (3rd highest)
> State population: 6,728,577 (15th highest)

Source: Xasartha / Wikimedia Commons

4. Arkansas
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 25,947)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 52,927 (18th lowest)
> State population: 2,968,472 (19th lowest)

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Source: Marvin Lynchard / DoD

5. California
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 127,218)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 762,617 (the highest)
> State population: 38,654,206 (the highest)

Source: U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Don Branum

6. Colorado
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 20,652)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 116,673 (13th highest)
> State population: 5,359,295 (22nd highest)

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Source: The Bearmaiden / Flickr

7. Connecticut
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 5,176)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 37,216 (13th lowest)
> State population: 3,588,570 (22nd lowest)

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Source: Xasartha / Wikimedia Commons

8. Delaware
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 2,224)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 9,443 (2nd lowest)
> State population: 934,695 (6th lowest)

Source: Juanmonino / Getty Images

9. Florida
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 44,541)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 165,888 (9th highest)
> State population: 19,934,451 (3rd highest)

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Source: pkphotography / Getty Images

10. Georgia
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 31,966)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 88,365 (19th highest)
> State population: 10,099,320 (8th highest)

Source: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Suzanna Lapi

11. Hawaii
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 10,958)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 34,051 (11th lowest)
> State population: 1,413,673 (11th lowest)

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Source: Courtesy of Cherokees of Idaho

12. Idaho
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 5,539)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 41,147 (14th lowest)
> State population: 1,635,483 (12th lowest)

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Source: wellesenterprises / Getty Images

13. Illinois
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 24,317)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 99,383 (16th highest)
> State population: 12,851,684 (5th highest)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

14. Indiana
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 18,029)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 55,391 (20th lowest)
> State population: 6,589,578 (16th highest)

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Source: nicoolay / Getty Images

15. Iowa
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 4,545)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 26,718 (9th lowest)
> State population: 3,106,589 (21st lowest)

Source: ricardoreitmeyer / Getty Images

16. Kansas
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 20,054)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 63,437 (25th lowest)
> State population: 2,898,292 (17th lowest)

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. Kentucky
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 14,245)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 34,126 (12th lowest)
> State population: 4,411,989 (25th lowest)

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Source: faungg's photos / Flickr

18. Louisiana
> Largest native population: Houma (pop: 12,392)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 61,602 (23rd lowest)
> State population: 4,645,670 (25th highest)

Source: raksybH / Getty Images

19. Maine
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 1,738)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 22,706 (7th lowest)
> State population: 1,329,923 (10th lowest)

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Source: ftmeade / Flickr

20. Maryland
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 15,307)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 64,022 (25th highest)
> State population: 5,959,902 (19th highest)

Source: Public Herald / Flickr

21. Massachusetts
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 7,049)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 49,405 (17th lowest)
> State population: 6,742,143 (14th highest)

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Source: Xasartha / Wikimedia Commons

22. Michigan
> Largest native population: Chippewa (pop: 39,441)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 153,750 (10th highest)
> State population: 9,909,600 (10th highest)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

23. Minnesota
> Largest native population: Chippewa (pop: 51,394)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 104,514 (14th highest)
> State population: 5,450,868 (21st highest)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

24. Mississippi
> Largest native population: Choctaw (pop: 11,071)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 24,578 (8th lowest)
> State population: 2,989,192 (20th lowest)

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Source: WorldExotc21 / Getty Images

25. Missouri
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 33,908)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 83,629 (23rd highest)
> State population: 6,059,651 (18th highest)

Source: trialsanderrors / Flickr

26. Montana
> Largest native population: Blackfeet (pop: 14,095)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 85,285 (22nd highest)
> State population: 1,023,391 (7th lowest)

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

27. Nebraska
> Largest native population: Sioux (pop: 7,434)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 30,632 (10th lowest)
> State population: 1,881,259 (14th lowest)

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Source: Flory / Getty Images

28. Nevada
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 8,290)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 59,611 (21st lowest)
> State population: 2,839,172 (16th lowest)

Source: AppalachianViews / Getty Images

29. New Hampshire
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 2,133)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 11,244 (3rd lowest)
> State population: 1,327,503 (9th lowest)

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Source: KatVitulano Photos / Flickr

30. New Jersey
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 11,129)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 62,804 (24th lowest)
> State population: 8,915,456 (11th highest)

Source: Luca Galuzzi (Lucag) / Wikimedia Commons

31. New Mexico
> Largest native population: Navajo (pop: 124,567)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 222,818 (5th highest)
> State population: 2,082,669 (15th lowest)

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Source: Dave Pape / Wikimedia Commons

32. New York
> Largest native population: Iroquois (pop: 34,569)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 205,873 (7th highest)
> State population: 19,697,457 (4th highest)

Source: krugerpictures / Flickr

33. North Carolina
> Largest native population: Lumbee (pop: 70,529)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 199,213 (8th highest)
> State population: 9,940,828 (9th highest)

Source: woodysworld1778 / Flickr

34. North Dakota
> Largest native population: Chippewa (pop: 19,913)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 48,686 (16th lowest)
> State population: 736,162 (3rd lowest)

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Source: Eric Foltz / Shutterstock.com

35. Ohio
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 37,692)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 104,392 (15th highest)
> State population: 11,586,941 (7th highest)

Source: Viktorcvetkovic / Getty Images

36. Oklahoma
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 218,586)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 541,411 (2nd highest)
> State population: 3,875,589 (23rd lowest)

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Source: http://wikivisually.com/wiki/Wikipedia:Templates_with_red_links/U.S._Counties

37. Oregon
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 21,872)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 128,631 (12th highest)
> State population: 3,982,267 (24th lowest)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

38. Pennsylvania
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 21,675)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 98,310 (17th highest)
> State population: 12,783,977 (6th highest)

Source: ericharrison / Flickr

39. Rhode Island
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 1,557)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 13,959 (4th lowest)
> State population: 1,054,491 (8th lowest)

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Source: Boston Public Library / Wikimedia Commons

40. South Carolina
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 16,707)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 46,219 (15th lowest)
> State population: 4,834,605 (24th highest)

Source: library_of_congress / Flickr

41. South Dakota
> Largest native population: Sioux (pop: 72,513)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 87,776 (20th highest)
> State population: 851,058 (5th lowest)

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Source: usdagov / Flickr

42. Tennessee
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 35,038)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 67,290 (24th highest)
> State population: 6,548,009 (17th highest)

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Source: Carol M. Highsmith

43. Texas
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 79,468)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 344,565 (4th highest)
> State population: 26,956,435 (2nd highest)

Source: dicau58 / Flickr

44. Utah
> Largest native population: Navajo (pop: 19,539)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 53,052 (19th lowest)
> State population: 2,948,427 (18th lowest)

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Source: Hosmich / Wikimedia Commons

45. Vermont
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 1,011)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 8,697 (the lowest)
> State population: 626,249 (2nd lowest)

Source: sarahvain / Flickr

46. Virginia
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 25,374)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 85,820 (21st highest)
> State population: 8,310,301 (12th highest)

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Source: David Ansley / Wikimedia Commons

47. Washington
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 28,241)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 220,427 (6th highest)
> State population: 7,073,146 (13th highest)

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Source: tristanbnz / Getty Images

48. West Virginia
> Largest native population: Cherokee (pop: 8,323)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 18,687 (5th lowest)
> State population: 1,846,092 (13th lowest)

Source: ilbusca / Getty Images

49. Wisconsin
> Largest native population: Chippewa (pop: 23,335)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 96,315 (18th highest)
> State population: 5,754,798 (20th highest)

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

50. Wyoming
> Largest native population: Arapaho (pop: 5,779)
> State residents who self-identify as American Indian: 22,028 (6th lowest)
> State population: 583,029 (the lowest)