American Indian Communities in Minnesota - Twin Cities American Indian Community

American Indian Communities in Minnesota
Twin Cities American Indian Community



Number of Residents

Seven-County Metro Area (1997)(18): 25,957

19 and under: 11,632

20-64: 13,862

65 and over: 643


Hennepin County (1997)(18): 15,857

19 and under: 7,329

20-64: 8,165

65 and over: 363

Anoka County (1997)(18): 2,404

19 and under: 1,097

20-64: 274

65 and over: 33

Ramsey County (1997)1: 4,903

19 and under: 2,129

20-64: 2,622

65 and over: 152

Minneapolis and St. Paul (1995)(19):

Total: 19,744




Governance

No tribal organizations have governance authority off the reservations. American Indians have the option of participating in governmental affairs on the reservation of the community or band they are enrolled in, if any.

Employment

Minneapolis (1990):(20)

Labor Force Participation
Rate: 53.8%

Unemployment: 22.2%

St. Paul (1990):4

Labor Force Participation
Rate: 61.8%

Unemployment: 21.6%

Seven County Metro Area (1990):(21)

Unemployment: 16.07%





Economic Development

Estimated number of American Indian owned businesses: 82 (1996)(22)



School Attendance

St. Paul: approximately 834 American Indian youth are enrolled in public elementary or high school 1997-1998, constituting 1.85% of students.(23)

Minneapolis: 2,838 American Indian youth are enrolled in public K-12 education 1997-1998, constituting 5.83% of students.(24)





TWIN CITIES AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

One third of Minnesota American Indians live in the central city areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, with an additional 15 percent living in the suburbs.(25) The Twin City's minority population has increased rapidly from 1980 to 1990, growing by 81 percent.(26) The American Indian population is a part of this increase. One percent of metro area residents are American Indians, the third highest percentage of the 25 largest U.S. cities.(27) Forty-three percent of the American Indian population are children under the age of 18.(28)

Most American Indians living in the metro area live in census tracts where they account for less than 2 ½ percent of the population. However there is one census tract in South Minneapolis where American Indians account for almost 50 percent of the population.(29) This is the area located in the Phillips neighborhood that contains Little Earth, the American Indian controlled housing program.(30) There are also a number of American Indians residing in North Minneapolis.(31) Areas in St. Paul with the highest concentration are the Payne-Phalen, Thomas-Dale, and North End planning districts.(32) Twin Cities American Indians have ties with Minnesota reservations as well as those in North and South Dakota and Wisconsin.(33) There are many organizations in the metro area which focus on meeting the needs of the American Indian community.(34)



Next Page | Table of Contents | Senate Counsel & Research home page