Poospatuck Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Poospatuck Reservation, New York
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Map of Poospatuck Reservation
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_Reservation_Locator_Map.svg)
Location of Poospatuck Reservation
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Area | |
| • Land | 0.1130 sq mi (0.2927 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0562 sq mi (0.1456 km2) |
| Elevation | 17 ft (5 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 436 |
| • Density | 3,858.4/sq mi (1,489.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
11950
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| Area code(s) | 631, 934 |
| GNIS feature ID | 979384 |
The Poospatuck Reservation is a special place for the Unkechaugi people, a Native American group. It's located in Mastic, New York, in Suffolk County. This reservation is one of two Native American reservations in Suffolk County. In 2020, about 436 people lived there.
The Unkechaugi are descendants of Native Americans who lived in this area long ago. They spoke an Algonquian language. The Poospatuck Reservation is the smallest reservation in New York State. It covers about 55 acres. This land was set aside for the Unkechaugs in 1691. It's located in Mastic, near Poospatuck Creek. The reservation is also known for its many shops by people in nearby towns. It is about 70 miles east of New York City.
The Unkechaugi people and their reservation are recognized by the state of New York. However, they have not yet received official federal recognition from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Even so, a federal judge ruled that the Unkechaugi meet the requirements to be considered a tribe. This means they have "Sovereign Immunity," which protects them from certain lawsuits.
Geography of Poospatuck Reservation
The Poospatuck Reservation is a small area of land. According to the United States Census Bureau, it has about 72.3 acres of land. It also has about 36 acres of water. However, the reservation itself reports its size as 55 acres.
Population and People
The Poospatuck Reservation is home to many people. The population has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 125 | — | |
| 1980 | 203 | 62.4% | |
| 1990 | 136 | −33.0% | |
| 2000 | 271 | 99.3% | |
| 2010 | 324 | 19.6% | |
| 2020 | 436 | 34.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 271 people living on the reservation. These people lived in 93 households. Most of the people living there were Native American, mainly Unkechaug people. There were also some African American and White residents. A small percentage of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about three people. The average family had about three to four people. The population included people of all ages. About 36.5% were under 18 years old. The median age was 27 years old. This means half the people were younger than 27 and half were older.
The median income for a household in 2000 was $13,125. The median income for a family was $17,500. This means half the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. About 36.6% of the population lived below the poverty line.
