Shinnecock Reservation, New York

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Shinnecock Reservation is an Indian reservation for members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, United States. It lies on the east side of Shinnecock Bay in southeastern Long Island, adjacent to the communities of Southampton, Tuckahoe, and Shinnecock Hills. The population was 504 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Tribal recognition & gambling prospects
4 References

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Indian reservation has a total area of 3.3859 km² (1.3073 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 504 people, 179 households, and 119 families residing in the Indian reservation. The population density was 148.5/km² (385.5/mi²). There were 194 housing units at an average density of 57.2/km² (148.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the Indian reservation was 3.97% White, 2.38% Black or African American, 91.07% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.39% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.96% of the population.

There were 179 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.64.

In the Indian reservation the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the Indian reservation was $14,055, and the median income for a family was $14,143. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the Indian reservation was $8,843. About 61.3% of families and 50.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 66.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Tribal recognition & gambling prospects

The Shinnecock Nation has been asking for Federal recognition from the United States Government since 1978. The Shinnecock Nation plans to build a casino, which is fought by Southampton town. But the Nation has some associates: they get funding from Marian Ilitch-owned Gateway Casinos Resorts, LLC, and support from California Rep. Richard Pombo (R) who sponsored a new bill in Congress, H.R. 512, to speed up federal recognition for some tribes. Pombo got money for his 2006 campaign at a Mike Ilitch-backed fundraiser. [1] Disclosure documents on file with the Secretary of the U.S. Senate indicate that the Shinnecock Indian Nation and their partners (Gateway Casino Resorts, LLC and Michael J Malik Sr. dba MJM Enterprises and MJM Enterprises & Development) have paid D.C. lobbyists $1,140,000 since 2004.[2]