Penobscot Indian Island Reservation is an Indian reservation for the Penobscot tribe in Penobscot County, Maine, United States near Old Town. The population was 562 at the 2000 census. A small, uninhabited part of the reservation is in Aroostook County. The reservation is home to a small museum, as well as Penobscot High Stakes Bingo, which was established in 1973. This was one of the first Native American gambling enterprises operating in the country.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Indian reservation has a total area of 53.4 km² (20.6 mi²). 20.1 km² (7.8 mi²) of it is land and 33.3 km² (12.9 mi²) of it (62.45%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 562 people, 214 households, and 157 families residing in the Indian reservation. The population density was 28.0/km² (72.5/mi²). There were 263 housing units at an average density of 13.1/km² (34.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the Indian reservation was 14.59% White, 84.88% Native American, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 214 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the Indian reservation the population was spread out with 33.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the Indian reservation was $24,653, and the median income for a family was $24,000. Males had a median income of $34,500 versus $23,194 for females. The per capita income for the Indian reservation was $13,704. About 23.5% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

As of 2008, the chief of the island is currently Kirk Francis. The vice-chief is Bill Thompson.

References