Poverty Rates in North Dakota
Extreme Isolation of Native Americans Leads to Severe Poverty
With a poverty rate of 10.8%, North Dakota has the 34th highest poverty rate in the United States. This is just slightly better than the poverty rate of Wisconsin, but just slightly higher than the poverty rate of Iowa.
Where the Worst Poverty in North Dakota Occurs
The highest rates of poverty in North Dakota occur primarily on Native American reservations on both the northern and southern sides of the state (see map below article).
These lands are home to many Native American people belonging primarily to Sioux and Chippewa tribes.
The counties with critical poverty rates (at least 50% above the state average poverty rate) are the following:
- Benson (22.4%)
- Rolette (25.9%)
- Sioux (28.1%)
These counties are also very rural, with the population density dropping as low as 3.7 people per square mile. Though this isn’t much lower than the North Dakota average, it is important to remember that almost all of North Dakota is relatively rural land.
There are no major cities (25,000 people or more) in North Dakota with a critical poverty rate.
Why the Worst Poverty in North Dakota Exists
Since all of the most critical poverty in North Dakota occurs in very rural areas, it is important to consider the isolation problem that comes with rural life, especially when poor.
Some of the problems that come with an isolated rural life include slow emergency response, unpaved or neglected roads, limited access to utilities, vulnerability to the elements, and a lack of access to services like package or mail delivery and bussing.
When these already challenging obstacles of rural life are combined with the problem of isolation associated with Native American reservations, the 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?
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 North Dakota
Many of the organizations that choose to help in the fight against poverty do so through charitable and outreach services. One example of such an organization is the Great Plains Food Bank.
The Great Plains Food Bank has been working to end hunger in North Dakota for 25 years by distributing over 5 million pounds of surplus food each year to 230 food shelves and 52,000 people.
Another important aspect to solving the problem of poverty in North Dakota, however, is to strengthen communication between tribal governments and the federal government.
Though the USDA says they communicate with tribal governments, it becomes clear when observing poverty rates that Native American communities in the United States do not get the same opportunities and attention as the rest of the country.
America can do better. Communication with tribal governments must be expanded.
References:
United States Census Bureau
Great Plains Food Bank
