States With the Most Indian Reservations and Tribal Areas

Special Report

Published: October 17, 2019 6:35 pm

Last Updated: February 17, 2020 12:45 pm

Until the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century, indigenous people inhabited most of what is now the United States. During hundreds of years of sometimes bloody conflict, the native people were forcibly removed from their lands and placed in defined areas called reservations — where Native American populations are concentrated today.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed U.S. Census Bureau data to identify the states with the most Indian reservations and tribal areas.

While there are 326 federally recognized Indian reservations, there are nearly 700 tribal areas. For this reason, we did not limit our review to just reservations, but rather found the states with the most tribal areas. Lands inhabited by Native Americans and administered by the U.S. government as federal Indian reservations are called reservations, pueblos, rancherias, missions, villages, and communities. We also included on our list state designated tribal statistical areas (SDTSAs). These are statistical entities for state recognized American Indian tribes that do not have a state recognized land base. SDTSAs are identified for the Census Bureau by a designated state official.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs defines a federally identified tribe as an American Indian or Alaska Native tribal unit recognized as having a government-to-government relationship with the United States. These tribal entities are eligible for funding and services from the BIA. There are about 2.6 million people who identify as American Indians. The state with the highest number of Native Americans is Arizona. Here are the states with the largest Native American populations.

Federally recognized tribes have rights of self-government and are entitled to federal benefits, services, and protections because of their unique relationship with the United States. There are 573 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages that occupy about 56.2 million acres of reservations and tribal areas that are held in trust by the United States.

Sixteen states have no federally recognized tribes, and most of those states are in the East and South. Even though Native Americans no longer inhabit most areas east of the Mississippi River, their legacy lives on in place and state names across the United States. Here are 50 places with Native American names.

Click here to see the states with the most Indian reservations and tribal areas

To identify the states with the most Indian reservations, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the 573 federally recognized tribes in each state from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Conference of State Legislatures, last updated in November 2018. Tribes whose land spans multiple states were counted for each of the states they are in. Tribes that are recognized on a state level but not a federal level were not considered. Data on the largest tribe in each state and the total population that identifies as “American Indian Alone” (which includes individuals who did not specify a tribe) came from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2017 5-Year Estimates.

Source: Courtesy of Google Maps 2013

38. Georgia
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 1
> State population living in American Indian areas: 16 (14th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Tama (state) Reservation (Population: 16)

See all stories featuring: Georgia

[in-text-ad]

Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images

37. Wyoming
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 1
> State population living in American Indian areas: 27,088 (20th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Wind River Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 27,088)

See all stories featuring: Wyoming

24/7 Wall St.
Largest Native American Population in Every State

Source: Swampyank / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

36. Rhode Island
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 1
> State population living in American Indian areas: 2,400 (13th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Narragansett Reservation (Population: 2,400)

See all stories featuring: Rhode Island

Source: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons

35. Mississippi
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 1
> State population living in American Indian areas: 7,823 (23rd smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Mississippi Choctaw Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 7,823)

See all stories featuring: Mississippi

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Courtesy of Google Maps 2018

34. New Jersey
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 2
> State population living in American Indian areas: 7,315 (22nd smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Nanticoke Lenni Lenape SDTSA (Population: 6,177)

See all stories featuring: New Jersey

Source: Courtesy of Google Maps 2018

33. Delaware
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 2
> State population living in American Indian areas: 8,775 (24th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Nanticoke Indian Tribe SDTSA (Population: 8,235)

See all stories featuring: Delaware

[in-text-ad]

Source: Courtesy of Southern Ute Indian Tribe

32. Colorado
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 2
> State population living in American Indian areas: 14,419 (23rd largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Southern Ute Reservation (Population: 12,995)

See all stories featuring: Colorado

ALSO READ: 23 Countries That No Longer Exist and the History Behind Them

Source: bernson74 / Getty Images

31. Massachusetts
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 3
> State population living in American Indian areas: 211 (15th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Wampanoag-Aquinnah Trust Land (Population: 211)

See all stories featuring: Massachusetts

Source: Photo by John Moore / Getty Images

30. Texas
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 3
> State population living in American Indian areas: 1,955 (17th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 926)

See all stories featuring: Texas

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Courtesy of Google Maps 2015

29. Virginia
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 4
> State population living in American Indian areas: 4,080 (20th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Chickahominy SDTSA (Population: 3,649)

See all stories featuring: Virginia

Source: Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD / Wikimedia Commons

28. Iowa
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 4
> State population living in American Indian areas: 8,992 (25th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Omaha Reservation (Population: 4,814)

See all stories featuring: Iowa

[in-text-ad]

Source: Magicpiano / Wikimedia Commons

27. Connecticut
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 5
> State population living in American Indian areas: 581 (16th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Mohegan Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 318)

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

ALSO READ: States With the Largest Native American Populations

Source: Courtesy of Kansas Kickapoo Tribe

26. Kansas
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 5
> State population living in American Indian areas: 6,143 (21st smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Kickapoo (KS) Reservation (Population: 4,123)

See all stories featuring: Kansas

Source: Hillary / Wikimedia Commons

25. North Dakota
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 5
> State population living in American Indian areas: 40,522 (15th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Lake Traverse Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 10,967)

See all stories featuring: North Dakota

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Courtesy of National Park Service

24. Idaho
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 5
> State population living in American Indian areas: 33,561 (18th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Nez Perce Reservation (Population: 18,790)

See all stories featuring: Idaho

Source: zrfphoto / Getty Images

23. Maine
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 6
> State population living in American Indian areas: 2,884 (18th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Penobscot Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 807)

See all stories featuring: Maine

[in-text-ad]

Source: Ammodramus / Wikimedia Commons

22. Nebraska
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 7
> State population living in American Indian areas: 28,822 (19th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Pine Ridge Reservation (Population: 19,779)

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

ALSO READ: Every State With a Native American Name

Source: Photo by Robert Alexander / Getty Images

21. Utah
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 7
> State population living in American Indian areas: 203,086 (7th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 175,005)

See all stories featuring: Utah

Source: Courtesy of Pee Dee Indian Tribe via Facebook

20. South Carolina
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 7
> State population living in American Indian areas: 9,442 (25th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Pee Dee SDTSA (Population: 3,210)

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Courtesy of Cher-O-Creek Intratribal Indians / Facebook

19. Alabama
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 8
> State population living in American Indian areas: 191,734 (8th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Cher-O-Creek SDTSA (Population: 86,398)

See all stories featuring: Alabama

Source: Courtesy of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina / lumbeetribe.com

18. North Carolina
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 8
> State population living in American Indian areas: 608,662 (2nd largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Lumbee SDTSA (Population: 505,183)

See all stories featuring: North Carolina

[in-text-ad]

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. Montana
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 8
> State population living in American Indian areas: 78,785 (11th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Flathead Reservation (Population: 29,218)

See all stories featuring: Montana

24/7 Wall St.
50 Places With Native American Names

Source: Courtesy of United Houma Nation / Facebook

16. Louisiana
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 9
> State population living in American Indian areas: 246,834 (6th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: United Houma Nation SDTSA (Population: 204,977)

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

Source: Courtesy of Florida Seminole Tourism / Facebook

15. Florida
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 10
> State population living in American Indian areas: 3,179 (19th smallest)
> Largest American Indian area: Hollywood Reservation (Population: 940)

See all stories featuring: Florida

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: National Park Service; Photographer: D. Luchsinger / Wikimedia Commons

14. South Dakota
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 11
> State population living in American Indian areas: 84,289 (10th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Pine Ridge Reservation (Population: 19,779)

See all stories featuring: South Dakota

Source: Andy8Kahn / Wikimedia Commons

13. Oregon
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 11
> State population living in American Indian areas: 10,093 (24th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Warm Springs Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 4,588)

See all stories featuring: Oregon

[in-text-ad]

Source: zrfphoto / Getty Images

12. New York
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 11
> State population living in American Indian areas: 17,206 (21st largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Allegany Reservation (Population: 6,240)

See all stories featuring: New York

ALSO READ: Largest Native American Population in Every State

Source: Royalbroil / Wikimedia Commons

11. Wisconsin
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 12
> State population living in American Indian areas: 45,432 (13th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Oneida (WI) Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 24,460)

See all stories featuring: Wisconsin

Source: chip1252 / Getty Images

10. Minnesota
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 13
> State population living in American Indian areas: 40,567 (14th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Leech Lake Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 11,456)

See all stories featuring: Minnesota

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Rex_Wholster / Getty Images

9. Michigan
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 13
> State population living in American Indian areas: 35,763 (17th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Isabella Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 27,225)

See all stories featuring: Michigan

Source: grandriver / Getty Images

8. Arizona
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 21
> State population living in American Indian areas: 273,291 (3rd largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 175,005)

See all stories featuring: Arizona

[in-text-ad]

Source: LindaJohnsonbaugh / Getty Images

7. New Mexico
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 26
> State population living in American Indian areas: 255,449 (5th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 175,005)

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

ALSO READ: 23 Countries That No Longer Exist and the History Behind Them

Source: alacatr / Getty Images

6. Nevada
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 28
> State population living in American Indian areas: 15,617 (22nd largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Washoe Ranches Trust Land (Population: 3,080)

See all stories featuring: Nevada

Source: Image courtesy of Puyallup Tribe of Indians / Facebook

5. Washington
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 29
> State population living in American Indian areas: 168,968 (9th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Puyallup Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 50,786)

See all stories featuring: Washington

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Rdlogan05 / Wikimedia Commons

4. Oklahoma
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 30
> State population living in American Indian areas: 2,615,424 (the largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Creek OTSA (Population: 786,729)

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

Source: Teri Wertman / Getty Images

3. Hawaii
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 75
> State population living in American Indian areas: 36,924 (16th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Nanakuli Hawaiian Home Land (Population: 5,107)

See all stories featuring: Hawaii

[in-text-ad]

Source: Cheri Alguire / Getty Images

2. California
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 108
> State population living in American Indian areas: 74,212 (12th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Agua Caliente Indian Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (Population: 25,595)

See all stories featuring: California

ALSO READ: States With the Largest Native American Populations

Source: Image Courtesy of Knick Tribal Council / kniktribe.org

1. Alaska
> Number of American Indian areas in the state: 221
> State population living in American Indian areas: 263,917 (4th largest)
> Largest American Indian area: Knik ANVSA (Population: 74,179)

See all stories featuring: Alaska

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.