South Dakota’s Indian population younger than other groups

Talk about it

PIERRE — South Dakota’s American Indian population is younger than the state’s white population, a trend officials say has implications for the provision of education and other services.

U.S. census data released Thursday show that nearly 44 percent of South Dakota’s Native American population was 19 or younger in the 2010 count. But only about 25 percent of the state’s white population was 19 or younger.

The Census Bureau’s report shows that about 51 percent of South Dakota’s American Indian population was between 20 and 64, while 5 percent was 65 or older. Among the state’s white population, nearly 59 percent was 20-64, while 16 percent was 65 or older.

Michael McCurry, an extension specialist at South Dakota State University specializing in demography, said the large population of young American Indians is part of an overall increase in the state’s Indian population. While the white population dominates in the eastern part of South Dakota, Indian populations dominate in reservation counties in central and western areas, he said.

“An increasing amount of our youth is going to be Native,” McCurry said. “It has tremendous implications for education and other services.

“If we go back to 1850, the majority of the population was Lakota. If we look at the trend, we seem to be becoming more and more American Indian again,” McCurry said.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard said the birth rate in reservation counties has been higher than in other areas of the state in recent years.

Tags: american indains, native americans, news, updates, state, demographics, education