Johnston] NAVAHO POPULATION HI 



cannot account for a difference of this magnitude, since only scattered 

 remnants of the Ute and Paiute tribes remained in the vicinity of the 

 Navajo Reservation in Utah at this time. 



Despite these apparent limitations, it can be argued that the 1930 

 census produced more reliable statistics on the population of the 

 Navaho than any enumeration conducted before or since that time. 

 Three observations can be made in support of this view. First, the vise 

 of a larger number of regular census enumerators appears to have 

 produced a more thorough coverage, on the whole, than could be 

 realized by the more experienced, but numerically inadequate staff 

 of the Navajo Agency. Secondly, the totals that were returned bear 

 a relatively close correspondence with the estimates of the Navajo 

 Agency despite the discrepancies discussed above. Finally, it should 

 be noted that the number of Navahos who were in residence away 

 from the reservation area at the time of the 1930 census was far smaller 

 than in 1950 or subsequently, so that a much higher proportion of the 

 Navaho population was to be found on the reservation itself, where 

 the chances of mistaken identification would be somewhat lessened. 



The most recent special enumeration of the Indian population of 

 the United States was undertaken in connection with the 1950 census. 

 In this census, however, special schedules were used only in selected 

 Indian agency areas, so that a considerable proportion of the total 

 Indian population of the country was not covered by the Indian enu- 

 meration. The Indian population returned on the special Indian 

 schedules in 1950 numbered 246,766 or 72.1 percent of the total enu- 

 merated Indian population of 342,226. 



The Navajo Agency area was among the 30 agency areas that were 

 covered in the special Indian enumeration. Thus the 1950 census 

 statistics on the population of the Navaho pertain to all Indians re- 

 siding on the Navajo Reservation who reported their tribal affiliation 

 as Navaho, plus Indians residing in off-reservation areas known to be 

 occupied by Navahos.^^ 



The 1950 Indian Reservation Schedule (Form P-8) was designed 

 to provide information on nine subjects in addition to those covered 

 by the regular population and housing schedules. The items covered 

 on the Indian reservation schedule were : 

 A. HOUSING DATA {Otsevve and record) 



1. Type of house construction (check one) 



n Frame □ ^^^^ G Stone or brick 



n Tent p Brush D Mud or adobe 



Other (specify) . . 



2. Type of floor construction (check one) 



□ Earth □ Wood □ Stone or cement 



Other (specify) 



«■'' The special schedule used in the selected Indian agency areas during the 1950 census 

 (Form P-8) is described in Bureau of the Census, 1955, appendix A, pp. 85 and 98. 



