The Poarch Creek Indian Reservation is a Creek

Indian reservation An Indian reservation is an area of land held and governed by a federally recognized Native American tribal nation whose government is accountable to the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs and not to the state government in which it ...

in the state of

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

. It is the home of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized

Native American tribe In the United States, an American Indian tribe, Native American tribe, Alaska Native village, tribal nation, or similar concept is any extant or historical clan, tribe, band, nation, or other group or community of Native Americans in the Unit ...

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 reservation as of 2006. The Poarch Band also holds other trust lands in Alabama and

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History

Despite the forced removal of Creek Indians from

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and

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. 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 "

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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.U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration,
Alabama: Poarch Creek Reservation
, accessed 7 May 2007

Demographics

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.

External links

Poarch Band of Creek IndiansUS Census Bureau's tract maps for Reservation 2865 (Poarch Creek)

References

{{authority control Muscogee Populated places in Escambia County, Alabama Geography of Escambia County, Florida Populated places established in 1984 Geography of Elmore County, Alabama Landmarks in Alabama American Indian reservations in Alabama Geography of Montgomery County, Alabama Geography of Monroe County, Alabama 1984 establishments in Alabama