Fort Yates, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
Fort Yates is a city in Sioux County
, North Dakota
in the United States
. It is the tribal
headquarters of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
and county seat
of Sioux County. The population was 184 at the 2010 census.
with the purpose of overseeing the Hunkpapa
and Blackfeet bands, and the Inhunktonwan and Cutheads of the Upper Yanktonais, of the Lakota Oyate. Its name was changed by the US Army in 1878 to honor Captain George Yates
who was killed by the Lakota Oyate
at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. The Army post and fort were decommissioned in 1903, leaving the agency town its name.
Fort Yates also served as the headquarters of the US Standing Rock Indian Agency, headed by US Indian Service Agent James McLaughlin
who ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull
on 14 December 1890. The 19th-century American Indian
leader Sitting Bull
was once buried at Fort Yates, but reports indicate that his body was possibly removed and transferred to a gravesite overlooking the Missouri River near Mobridge, South Dakota. An historical marker (pictured) notes the location of the Fort Yates burial site. Sitting Bull College
is in the city of Fort Yates.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 228 people, 73 households, and 47 families residing in the town. The population density
was 3,688.4 people per square mile (1,467.2/km²). There were 78 housing units at an average density of 1,261.8 per square mile (501.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.42% Native American, 5.26% White, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.95% of the population.
There were 73 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.8% were married couples
living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.12 and the average family size was 3.85.
In the town the population was spread out with 35.5% under the age of 18, 15.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,500, and the median income for a family was $31,875. Males had a median income of $26,125 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $9,512. About 6.4% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 17.6% of those sixty five or over.
Sioux County, North Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,044 people, 1,095 households, and 871 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,216 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the tribal
Indian tribe
In the United States, a Native American tribe is any extant or historical tribe, band, nation, or other group or community of Indigenous peoples in the United States...
headquarters of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Standing Rock Indian Reservation
The Standing Rock Indian Reservation is a Lakota, Yanktonai and Dakota Indian reservation in North Dakota and South Dakota in the United States...
and county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Sioux County. The population was 184 at the 2010 census.
History
The first US Army post at this site was established in 1863 as the Standing Rock CantonmentCantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
with the purpose of overseeing the Hunkpapa
Hunkpapa
The Hunkpapa are a Native American group, one of the seven council fires of the Lakota Sioux tribe. The name Húŋkpapȟa is a Sioux word meaning "Head of the Circle"...
and Blackfeet bands, and the Inhunktonwan and Cutheads of the Upper Yanktonais, of the Lakota Oyate. Its name was changed by the US Army in 1878 to honor Captain George Yates
George Yates
*Classic Battles: Little Big Horn 1876, Peter Panzieri, ISBN 1-85532-458-X*Crazy Horse and Custer, Stephen E. Ambrose, 1975, ISBN 0-385-47966-2*Cavalier in Buckskin, Robert M. Utley, 1988, ISBN 0-8061-2150-5...
who was killed by the Lakota Oyate
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. The Army post and fort were decommissioned in 1903, leaving the agency town its name.
Fort Yates also served as the headquarters of the US Standing Rock Indian Agency, headed by US Indian Service Agent James McLaughlin
James McLaughlin (Indian agent)
US Indian Service Agent James McLaughlin , son of Felix and Mary Prince, was born and raised in Avonmore, Ontario, Canada. He moved to St Paul, Minnesota in 1863 , where he met and married his wife Marie Louise Buisson, a Mdewakanton mixedblood, in 1864, and obtained his United States citizenship...
who ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
on 14 December 1890. The 19th-century American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
leader Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
was once buried at Fort Yates, but reports indicate that his body was possibly removed and transferred to a gravesite overlooking the Missouri River near Mobridge, South Dakota. An historical marker (pictured) notes the location of the Fort Yates burial site. Sitting Bull College
Sitting Bull College
Sitting Bull College is a tribal college in Fort Yates, North Dakota. It was founded in 1973 by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe of the Standing Rock reservation in south-central North Dakota. It is one of 34 tribally controlled colleges nationwide. It is also a member of the American Indian Higher...
is in the city of Fort Yates.
Geography
Fort Yates is located at 46°5′6"N 100°37′49"W (46.084899, -100.630144).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 228 people, 73 households, and 47 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,688.4 people per square mile (1,467.2/km²). There were 78 housing units at an average density of 1,261.8 per square mile (501.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.42% Native American, 5.26% White, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.95% of the population.
There were 73 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.12 and the average family size was 3.85.
In the town the population was spread out with 35.5% under the age of 18, 15.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,500, and the median income for a family was $31,875. Males had a median income of $26,125 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $9,512. About 6.4% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 17.6% of those sixty five or over.