Wanblee, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Wanblee is a census-designated place
on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
, located in Jackson County
, South Dakota
, United States
. The population was 725 at the 2010 census, virtually all of whom are members of the Oglala band of Lakota Sioux. Wanbli is the Lakota word for eagle and the town was named for its proximity to Wanbli hohpi paha (Eagle Nest Butte). Wanblee is a few miles directly northeast of the North American continental pole of inaccessibility.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Wanblee has been assigned the ZIP code
57577.
of 2000, there were 641 people, 132 households, and 107 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 287.0 people per square mile (111.0/km²). There were 144 housing units at an average density of 64.5/sq mi (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of Wanblee was 97.19% Native American, 2.34% White, and 0.47% from two or more races.
There were 132 households out of which 50.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% were married couples
living together, 35.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 18.2% 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 4.86 and the average family size was 5.35.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 47.6% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
About 68.9% of families and 72.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 72.9% of those under age 18 and 86.2% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income
in Wanblee was $4,584. The median income for a household was $14,286, and the median income for a family was $14,844. Males had a median income of $18,750 versus $17,917 for females.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
, located in Jackson County
Jackson County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,930 people, 945 households, and 675 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,173 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 725 at the 2010 census, virtually all of whom are members of the Oglala band of Lakota Sioux. Wanbli is the Lakota word for eagle and the town was named for its proximity to Wanbli hohpi paha (Eagle Nest Butte). Wanblee is a few miles directly northeast of the North American continental pole of inaccessibility.
Geography
Wanblee is located at 43°34′12"N 101°39′34"W (43.569908, -101.659567).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 CDP has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Wanblee has been assigned the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
57577.
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 641 people, 132 households, and 107 families residing in the CDP. 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 287.0 people per square mile (111.0/km²). There were 144 housing units at an average density of 64.5/sq mi (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of Wanblee was 97.19% Native American, 2.34% White, and 0.47% from two or more races.
There were 132 households out of which 50.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% 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, 35.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 18.2% 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 4.86 and the average family size was 5.35.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 47.6% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
About 68.9% of families and 72.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 72.9% of those under age 18 and 86.2% of those age 65 or over. 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...
in Wanblee was $4,584. The median income for a household was $14,286, and the median income for a family was $14,844. Males had a median income of $18,750 versus $17,917 for females.
Notable residents
- Russell MeansRussell MeansRussell Charles Means is an Oglala Sioux activist for the rights of Native American people. He became a prominent member of the American Indian Movement after joining the organisation in 1968, and helped organize notable events that attracted national and international media coverage...
: Native American activist and actor was born in Wanblee on November 10, 1939.