Poarch Creek Indian Reservation

The Poarch Creek Indian Reservation is a Creek Indian reservation in the state of Alabama. It is the home of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized Native American tribe in the state.

The reservation is located eight miles (13 km) northwest of Atmore. Of the Poarch Band's 2,340 members, about 1,000 lived on or near the 230-acre (0.93 km2) reservation as of 2006.[1] The Poarch Band also holds other trust lands in Alabama and Florida.[2]

History

Despite the forced removal of Creek Indians from Georgia and Alabama in 1836, some Creeks in the Tensaw district of Alabama maintained a distinct community around the small town of Poarch, with segregated schools established by 1908. The federal government held a tract of land at Poarch in trust for the Indians until 1924.[3] In the 1940s the community began to organize politically in its own interest, and from 1950 to 1970 tribal leader Calvin McGhee spearheaded a campaign for recognition of Creek land claims in the southeastern states. The Poarch Band raised funds largely through an annual Thanksgiving Day Pow Wow.

Established as a federal reservation in 1984, the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation is governed by a nine-member tribal council and provides police, fire, judicial, and social services. A "bingo palace" has been wholly owned by the tribal government since 1990, along with some small industrial plants and a restaurant and motel catering to tourists.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1990212—
2000208−1.9%
201028235.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

The total population figure for the reservation lands in 2010 is 283. However, 282 persons reside in the Escambia County portion, while 1 individual lives on the Elmore County portion. The historical chart reflects those living exclusively in Escambia County.

References
  1. History of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Archived 2010-07-27 at the Wayback Machine," accessed 7 May 2007.
  2. U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, "Alabama: Poarch Creek Reservation", accessed 7 May 2007
  3. Paredes, J. Anthony. "Federal Recognition and the Poarch Creek Indians" in Peredes, J. Anthony, ed. Indians of the Southeastern United States in the Late 20th Century (Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 1992) p. 121
  4. U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, "Alabama: Poarch Creek Reservation", accessed 7 May 2007
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.

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