CUA Census Report Number 3: Indian Population in Douglas County

Transcription

1 University of Nebraska at Omaha Publications Archives, Center for Public Affairs Research CUA Census Report Number 3: ndian Population in Douglas County Carol Lunbeck University of Nebraska at Omaha Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, and the Public Affairs Commons Recommended Citation Lunbeck, Carol, "CUA Census Report Number 3: ndian Population in Douglas County" (1972). Publications Archives, This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Public Affairs Research at t has been accepted for inclusion in Publications Archives, by an authorized administrator of For more information, please contact unodigitalcommons@unomaha.edu.

2 , CUA CENSUS REPORT f/3: NDAN POPULATON N DOUGLAS COUNTY by C. J~ Lunbeck January 1972 Center for Urban Affairs University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska ḷi ~.

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4 n spite of the recent emphasis on minority group problems, there are still significant gaps in the store of knowledge about the American ndian in the urban setting. Omaha is not unique. Much empirical data can be found in the census figures, but it must be extracted and synthesized before it becomes meaningful. the urban ndian in Omaha is far from complete. Even so, the picture of f realistic solutions to the problems confronting urban ndians are to be found, a great deal more empirical research should precede and accompany the development of programs. Programs which would attack the social inequities common to all poverty or minority groups, while at the same time dealing with cultural and psychological differences, need a very firm foundation in fact. Historically, programs for the benefit of the American ndian J, have been directed toward the reservation ndian and centered around reservation life. Although ndians were migrating to the urban areas by 1920, a major population shift away"from the reservation and to the cities did not take place until after World War. Until recently, the growing urban ndian population attracted little attention. Knowledge about the urban ndian has been illusory and tended toward stereotypes. Now that concern '. f '! for minority groups has focused on the ndian in the urban setting, it is expedient to set about separating myth from fact. A logical place to begin is with population size and composition. t has been generally assumed that taking a census of ndians is fraught with so many problems that the results are rendered virtually meaningless.

5 ' ' Garbarino (1971:173) summarizes these problems as follows: There are many problems in assessing the population. The people involved represent an extremely mobile population so that an individual in the city for one count might very well be away for a count made the week before or the week after. t is not only the mobility between the city and other regions that complicates census taking, the mobility within the city is also an unknown factor. An additional problem in making a count of people of ndian extraction is that their visibility is low, as compared to the visibility of the Black population, for example, and people who consider themselves to be ndians, unless asked about their ethnicity, may not be included in that category. t often depends on the individual who is making a point of being ndian... Mexican ndians are usually classified as Mexicans or Spanish American rather than ndians, although some of them count themselves as part of the ndian population, and technically, they are part of the ndian category. Therefore, population estimates often come down to hair-splitting division into artificially drawn categories and guesswork. Whether or not the above allegations are based in fact, the U.S. Census can be considered the most accurate and reliable source of population r d~ta. Thus, analysis of census data provides the firmest basis from which to~nclusions about the urban ndian population. The following is a compilation and analysis of data from the census years for ndians in the Omaha area. Overview ndian population statistics for 1960 were available only in totals for major geographic divisions, and these same divisions were used in They are as follows: 1. Omaha. 2. Douglas County--includes Omaha. 3. Urbanized area--contains a city of 50,000 or more (central city) plus the surrounding closely settled area, based on population size or density.

6 SMSA--Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, based on contiguous counties and includes Omaha, Douglas County, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties. Further breakdowns, consisting of census tract areas within the city and surrounding counties, included American ndians in the "other races" category along with Japanese, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Asian ndians and Malaysians. Therefore, figures for data items such as family income, education, crowding, and other indicators of quality of life are only available for the "other races" category, not.for ndians separately. The 1970 Census enumerated the American ndian population as a separate category for the first time. Population figures are available by census tract, as well as for block groups, which are smaller units within census tracts. This fine breakdown applies only to population figures, ~owever. Other data items are categorized by "other race" as they were in n 1970, individuals classified as American ndians were those who indicated their race as ndian (American) or reported an ndian tribe. Those who reported their race as American ndian were also asked to indicate their tribe; however, tribal affiliation is not included in the official publications.* Table provides the basic population data for ndians in Nebraska by county. Tables and compare the ndian population of the Omaha SMSA for the census years 1960 and *Bureau of the Census Census User's Guide, Part 1, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. c., 1970, p. 95.! t

7 - 4 - STATE TOTAL - 6,624 TABLE AMERCAN NDAN POPULATON FOR NEBRASKA COUNTES-1970 r l; h li Adams 40 Howard 38 Antelope 5 Jefferson 10 Arthur Johnson 2 Banner 1 Kearney Blaine 2 Keith 22 Boone 3 Keya Paha 2 Box Butte 307 Kimball 4 Boyd 15 Knox 263 Brown 18 Lancaster 531 Buffalo 73 Lincoln 48 Burt 68 Logan 1 Butler 4 Loup Cass 17 McPherson 1 Cedar 16 Madison 153 Chase Merrick 9 Cherry 85 Merrill 27 Cheyenne 13 Nance 9 Clay 8 Nemaha 8 Colfax 4 Nuckolls 3 Cuming 4 Otoe 12 Custer 17 Pawnee 1 Dakota 150 Perkins Dawes 132 Phelps 2 Dawson 9 Pierce 6 Deuel 5 Platte 10 Dixon 3 Polk 5 Dodge 85 Red Willow 14 Douglas 1,194 Richardson 100 Dundy Rock 1 Fillmore 23 Saline 8 Franklin 1 Sarpy 107 Frontier 6 Saunders 10 Furnas 6 Scotts Bluff 440 Gage 39 Seward 1 Garden 7 Sheridan 312 Garfield 2 Sherman 1 Gosper Sioux 16 Grant 1 Stanton 3 Greeley 1 Thayer 12 Hall 54 Thomas Hamilton 7 Thurston 1,9ll Harlan 1 Valley 4 Hayes Washington 51 Hitchcock 1 Wayne 10 Holt 3 Webster 3 Hooker Wheeler York 23 Zipay/CUA/9/13/71

8 - 5 - CONCLUSONS: TABLE jifith the exception of Thurston, which contains the Winnebago and... Omaha~:eservations, those counties having the largest ndian populations are in SMSA's--Douglas and Lanster. 2. Total population in SMSA's (Douglas, Sarpy, Lancaster Counties) in the State is 1,832, or 27.65% of the State total. 3. Another 1,911 or 28.85% of the total reside in Thurston County-- presumably on the reservations. Thurston County is immediately adjacent to Dakota County, which is part of the Sioux City SMSA. l 4. All of the above accounts for 56.50% of the total ndian population of Nebraska. 5. An urban population is comprised of all persons living in (a) (b) (c) incorporated places of 2,500 inhabitants or more, densely settled urban fringe, unincorporated places of 2,500 or more. Thus, it may be assumed that the urban influence would extend to most of the ndian population of Nebraska. Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

9 - 6 - TABLE NDAN POPULATON BY MAJOR SUBDVSONS Numerical Percent ncrease or ncrease or Decrease Decrease Omaha % Douglas County (includes Omaha % Urbanized Area (includes Douglas & Sarpy Counties) % SMSA (includes Douglas, Sarpy & Pottawattamie Counties) % l l f i: Omaha (total population) 301, , , % CONCLUSONS: TABLE 1. The increase of 72.9% in the ndian population of Omaha was nearly five times greater than the total Omaha population increase. t. :! d,< l. Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

10 - 7 - TABLE NDANS AS PERCENT OF TOTAL POPULATON OF OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY 196Q Number Per.cent Number Population ndians ndians Population ndians Omaha 301, % 347, Douglas County 343, % 389, Percent ndians 0.3% 0.3% CONCLUSONS: TABLE 1. As a percent of the total Omaha and Douglas County population, the ndian population rose from 0.2% in 1960 to 0.3% in , ; Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

11 - 8 - n 1970, for data items other than population, the ndian population will still be included in the "other race" category. Thus, the composition of the "other race" category can be important in making inferences about ndians from other census data. Such knowledge can also provide a foundation for calculating and drawing samples, as well as a base against which data from other sources can be compared and from which projections can be made. Establishing the percentage of ndians included in the "other race" category will serve these purposes. n 1960 these percentages could be determined only for the city, county, and SMSA units. n 1970, however, the census tract and block group statistics are available, making possible the establishment of finer distinctions. Table V and Map A show the ndian population of Omaha for 1970, by census tract and as a percentage of the total census tract population. The difference between the census years for the other race category is presented in Table V, and compared with the ndian category for Tables V and V show the other race category as percentages of census (< L tracts for 1960 and 1970 respectively. Table V shows ndians as percent of other race by census tract for i (; Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

12 - 9 - TABLE V. NDAN POPULATON BY CENSUS TRACT AND AS PERCENT OF TOTAL CENSUS TRACT POPULATON Totals: Omaha = 1131; Douglas County = 1194 Percent Census Tract Total Population ndians of Total l!' ~' A B o A B J2 'z~~ 'Q Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

13 !.. r TABLE V (cont.) Percent Census Tract Total Population ndians of Total A B JS A B A B A B r! A B A B A B A B A B G D E F G H J K L M

14 ~~~ooo ~~ o~wo~~~ cc a 'Z? lid ~ [)i) ~ OD ~ 1k 1k til [}o til P ~ ~ MapA ~s 3 First Count C~nsus :::::::a:::::::::::......, L:::::::::::::::::::L::::::: :::::: ; : : : ::: :: : : : : : ~ :: ; : :::::::14:::::::.., twlle,t ;n ::::::::: :::: ~:::: 2,.!;. :-~ ~ >>>:<:: :-: :-.: :.:: ;.;. F : 14: c;t.., \!.: r -r.. ::.a.:: 3 0 e 2 5 :::::::: 13 :::::: [)i)od!tijd lid [)" ~ [W [)"@@[)i)1k D under 0.1 L3 ~ Otnaba total = 1,131 Dou;las County total s 1,184 j,./cua UN-0 "0 "' ""~~---- ~ ~ 1... ~

15 CONCLUSONS - TABLE V & MAP A 1. There is no area or census tract that is predominently ndian. 2. Eleven census tracts have no ndians. 3. ndians as percent of total census tract range from The highest number of ndians (82) reside in Census Tract Highest percentage of ndians (6.43) is in Census Tract The ndian population tends to cluster in the urban core: 492 or 43.50% (of 1131) in twelve center city and East Omaha tracts. :~ j...

16 TABLE V OTHER RACE AND NDAN POPULATON BY CENSUS TRACT n t1 11!! t -, ' A B c D Census Tract Number Other Total Other Difference* J.<: A B ' J jj_ A B E 1970 ndian ) 0 0

17 r ' TABLE V (Cont.) A B c D E Census Tract 1\lbU -r970 DHterence>< 1970 Number_ Other Total Other ndian A B A B ;.u 9 62A B A B A B A iu i 68B A B A B A B C o l 74D E F G H J K L M ~ 16 TOTAL (Omaha) *Difference Between Columns B and C.

18 TABLE V OTHER RACE AS PERCENT OF CENSUS TRACT POPULATON: 1960 Census Total Other Percent Census Total Other Percent Tract Pop. Races 1960 Tract Pop. Races ~ o A B il> 575L o A B A B L." A B nl A B Total Other Races *ndians= 654/1113, or 58.76% of the Other Race category for Omaha in Douglas County = 705/1195 or % SMSA = 770/1374, or 56.04% Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

19 TABLE V OTHER RACE AS PERCENT OF CENSUS TRACT POPULATON: 1970 Total Other Races: 2422 Census Total Other % Census Total Other % Tract Pop. Races 1970 Tract Pop. Races ~ A B A B A B A B Zo A B A B A ? B A B J.l 4.DU.l'f u.jl :>4 U.) A A B B A j) 5501 Hl U.JL: 74B C D E F 'fu L:)/j Otl L:.O'f 74G 32b9 10 U.JU H J K L M

20 TABLE V NDANS AS PERCENT OF OTHER RACES BY CENSUS TRACT, 1970 TOTAL OTHER 2422 TOTAL NDAN 1131 Census Tract Percent Number Total Other ndian ndian L l:l A B g A B ' :! i Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

21 TABLE V (Cont.) Census Tract Percent Number Total Other ndian ndian A B 30 8 Zb.b A B A B A B ll9 67A B A B A B A B 5 3 bu.ou 74A B C D E F G H J K L M :l Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

22 Problems of employment, housing, education, health, and nutrition are generally recognized as being endemic to the ndian population. Low family income, unemployment, alcoholism, low level of education, high infant mortality, crowded living conditions, lack of skills, all contribute to the unfavorable socio-economic position occupied by the ndian in American society. (Garbarino: 1971; Weppner: 1971; Olson: 1971) Very little statistical data relating to these problems are available for Omaha's urban ndian population. As census figures are released,more detailed data relating to income, education, employment and housing will become available. Other pertinent data are already being collected by various social agencies. f these data were made available to researchers they could be compiled and synthesized to add.to the present knowledge. The following list suggests some of the areas in which data is gathered, and some specific statistics which could be utilized. 1. Education system: (a) (b) (c) (d) Reading achievement scores. Drop-out statistics. Q and other test scores. Number of days attendance. 2. Health: (a) (b) (c) Life expectancy. nfant mortality. Major cause of death.

23 Crime: (a) (b) (c) Number of arrests. Type of arrests. Alcohol related arrests. 4. Citizenship: (a) (b) Number of registered voters. Number voting in elections. 5. Mental Health: (a) Admissions to and length of stay in mental hospitals, and/or outpat~ent. 6. Social Health: (a) (b) (c) Divorce rate. Desertion rate. Number of welfare recipients. An example of utilization of school system data follows. Two reports published by the Omaha Public School System were synthesized, resulting. in Table X. Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

24 TABLE X AMERCAN NDAN SCHOOL POPULATON (August) (A) (B) (C) (D) Census2/Attendance Pupils in School School Age Difference Between Area Public/Non-Public Population 3 Columns B and C Adams Ashland Park Beals Belvedere Benson West lloyd - - u Castelar Catlin Central Central Park Chandler View u Clifton Hill Corrigan - 0 Crest ridge - 0 Dodge uru~a tu.l.l Dundee Edison 0 Field Club Florence Fontenelle Franklin Gilder Giles Harrison Hartman Hawthorne Highland ndian Hill rvington Jackson Jefferson Kellam Kennedy Lake Lincoln lb lb u Long Lothrop Marrs Mason Masters Miller Park ll 14-3 Minne Lusa Monmouth Park Mount View 0 Oak Valley Park Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71 -

25 - 22.;.. TABLE X Cont 0 (A) (B) (C) (D) Census/Attendance Pupils in School School Age Difference Between Area Public/Non-Public Population Column B and C Pawnee, Pershing Pleasant Hill Ponca Riverview Roooins Rosehill Rosewater Belle Ryan Sarato"a Sauncfers Sherman South Lincoln Springville Sunny Slope ~nun Vinton Wakonda Walnut Hill Wash:i.mzton Vestern HTs - - u Windsor Yates Totals * 1. OPS Reports # 127, # Census: ncludes children in attendance. 3. School Age Population: ncludes all residents between 5 and 21. * Difference between Col. B and Col. C: 124 (29.52% residents between 5 and 21 are not attending school). Madison} Webster On school attendance area list (Report #127) but not on school census (Report #129). No ndian population. CONCLUSONS: TABLE X 1. There are 124 more school age children than are attending school. 2. Since no indication is given as to age groups, it would be erroneous to conclude that these are dropouts. They could fall in the age group and be beyond high school attendance age. lt Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

26 - 2'3 - References: 1970 Census Files A and B. Zipay, John P First Count Census Data: Population and Housing Characteristics for Douglas County Nebraska. Waddell, Jack and Michael Watson, Eds The American ndian in Urban Society, Little, Brown and Company, Boston. l,, li,, h li., Lunbeck/CUA/9/21/71

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