Poverty Rates in Arizona
Native Americans are Still Getting the Bad Half of the Deal
On the national scale, Arizona has the 11th highest poverty rate in the country at 14.6% of its population.
This is just slightly better than the poverty rates of Tennessee and South Carolina, and just slightly higher than the poverty rate of New York.
Where the Worst Poverty in Arizona Occurs
The poverty in Arizona occurs largely in the northeastern corner of the state (see map below article). None of the counties within this rural region of Arizona exceed an average of 10 people per square mile.
Critical levels of poverty, defined by being 50% above the state average poverty rate, are found in the following counties:
- Apache (29.8%)
- Graham (22.3%)
- Navajo (23.7%)
Two of the three counties, Apache and Navajo, are populated by roughly 50% Native Americans, including Tribes like the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, among others.
None of the 20 major cities of Arizona experience critical levels of poverty.
Why the Worst Poverty in Arizona Exists
On the Apache County website, they posted a “Code of the West” listing all of the problems with buying rural land in the county.
This Code includes things like slow emergency response, unpaved or neglected roads, difficult access to utilities, vulnerability to the elements, and a lack of access to services like package or mail delivery and bussing.
If observed even closer, a lot of the lands where people are living in poverty are actually reservation plots which belong to different Native American tribes, such as the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, or White Mountain Apache Tribe. The problem of isolation now multiplies to even greater degrees.
Native Americans living on these reservations often times feel forgotten, or pushed to the side, by the United States government.
There is a serious negative stigma associated with these reservations which makes it harder on the residents, suicide rates are extremely high, and they have little to no political voice.
When is the last time anyone heard “I’m going to fight to improve the Native American reservations” in a campaign message?
What’s worse is that Native Americans serve in the United States military at a higher rate than any other ethnic group, and they clearly do not see the same respect when they return home.
All of this aside, it is important to keep in mind that the reasons for poverty are as unique as the individuals who live through it. Though finding trends in a specific area is important, no generalization can account for everyone.
What is Being Done about Poverty in Arizona
The USDA has also worked to build much needed schools, fire stations, and health clinics in these rural areas. However, the USDA does not reach everywhere.
To help improve the poverty situation for Native American Tribes, it will take an ending to the isolation that Native American reservations are currently suffering. This takes communication on behalf of both sides.
On the side of the Tribal governments, there are the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and legislative branches of many separate tribes. The ITCA links the 20 Tribes of Arizona together in order to give them a united voice.
On the side of the United States government, the USDA has said on its website that it communicates with Tribal governments. However, if any real wheels are to start turning, elected officials will have to begin paying more attention to our Native American residents.
References:
United States Census Bureau
United States Department of Agriculture
Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
Navajo County Website
