FARMINGTON – A new report ranks Shiprock third in the nation in
the percentage of Native Americans living below the poverty
line. The U.S. Census Bureau’s report analyzed the 20 cities
most populated by Native Americans and Alaska Natives and
compared the poverty rates from 2007 to 2011. The Daily Times of
Farmington reported that nine of the 20 cities were in New
Mexico and Arizona. Under current federal guidelines, a person
earning less than $11,170 a year or a family of four with an
annual income of less than $23,050 is considered to be living in
poverty. Shiprock’s poverty rate was 39.6 percent. Gallup was
ranked fourth on the list with 31.8 percent, Zuni Pueblo was
fifth at 31.8 percent, Farmington was seventh at 29.6 percent
and Albuquerque was 12th at 27.4 percent. Among the Arizona
cities on the list, Tucson ranked sixth with a poverty rate of
31 percent. Phoenix finished ninth on the list at 28.9 percent,
Tuba City was 11th at 28 percent and Mesa was 18th at 22.8
percent. Native Americans accounted f