This map from the National Atlas of the United States of America shows the distribution of federal lands and Indian reservations across the United States. T
The legend indicates the different types of federal land management and their corresponding colors on the map.
Here’s what each color represents:
- Pink: Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Yellow: Bureau of Land Management
- Purple: Bureau of Reclamation
- Blue: Department of Defense
- Orange: Fish and Wildlife Service
- Light Green: Forest Service
- Green: National Park Service
- Dark Green Brown: Tennessee Valley Authority
- Gray: Other agencies
Additionally, the map includes a small inset map for Alaska and Hawaii, showing the same types of federal lands and Indian reservations in those states.
The map uses an Albers equal area projection, with a scale of 1:10,000,000, showing distances in both miles and kilometers.
Federal Government
Here’s a summarized and easily readable table for the primary federal land holders:
| Department | Agency | Acronym | Acres Managed (2018) | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Interior | Bureau of Land Management | BLM | 244.4 million | Formed in 1946, primarily manages rangeland, also oversees recreation, timber, energy, mineral extraction, and conservation. 99% in Western states/Alaska. |
| United States Fish and Wildlife Service | FWS | 89.2 million | Primarily for conservation and promotion of wildlife. 85.9% in Alaska. Some resource extraction permitted under certain conditions. | |
| National Park Service | NPS | 79.9 million | Manages 429 units including national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and battlefields. 66% in Alaska. | |
| Department of Agriculture | United States Forest Service | USFS | 192.9 million | Manages national forests, mostly in the West. Also manages about 60% of federal lands in the Eastern US. |
| Department of Defense | – | DoD | 26.1 million (worldwide) | Manages military bases and reservations. 8.8 million acres in the US. Largest single tract is White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico (2.3 million acres). |
| Other Federal Agencies | – | – | – | Remaining 4% of federal land managed by various agencies including Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, USPS, NASA, and Department of Energy. |
This table outlines the primary federal land holders, their acronyms, the amount of land they manage as of 2018, and key points about their responsibilities and areas of focus.
Indian Reservations
There are approximately 326 federally recognized Indian Reservations in the United States. These reservations were primarily set aside by the federal government for Native Americans.
The population on these reservations includes both Native Americans and non-Native Americans, with the total population being 1,043,762.
Here are the 30 biggest ones with a total area (land + water) of over 1,000 square miles.
| Legal/Statistical Area Description[2] | State(s) | Population | Total Area in mi2 (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo Nation | Arizona, New Mexico, Utah | 173,667 | 27,451.49 (71,099.034) |
| Uintah and Ouray Reservation | Utah | 24,369 | 6,825.13 (17,677.00) |
| Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation | Arizona | 10,201 | 4,453.83 (11,535.37) |
| Cheyenne River Reservation | South Dakota | 8,090 | 4,419.09 (11,445.40) |
| Pine Ridge Reservation | Nebraska, South Dakota | 18,834 | 4,353.80 (11,276.29) |
| Standing Rock Reservation | North Dakota, South Dakota | 8,217 | 3,662.63 (9,486.18) |
| Crow Reservation | Montana | 6,863 | 3,606.63 (9,341.13) |
| Wind River Reservation | Wyoming | 26,490 | 3,532.61 (9,149.43) |
| Fort Peck Indian Reservation | Montana | 10,008 | 3,302.00 (8,552.15) |
| San Carlos Reservation | Arizona | 10,068 | 2,926.92 (7,580.70) |
| Fort Apache Reservation | Arizona | 13,409 | 2,631.21 (6,814.79) |
| Hopi Reservation | Arizona | 7,185 | 2,533.12 (6,560.75) |
| Blackfeet Indian Reservation | Montana | 10,405 | 2,400.13 (6,216.31) |
| Osage Reservation | Oklahoma | 47,472 | 2,303.98 (5,967.27) |
| Yakama Nation Reservation | Washington | 31,272 | 2,187.98 (5,666.85) |
| Colville Reservation | Washington | 7,687 | 2,185.19 (5,659.62) |
| Flathead Reservation | Montana | 28,359 | 2,057.93 (5,330.02) |
| Rosebud Indian Reservation | South Dakota | 10,869 | 1,975.42 (5,116.32) |
| Hualapai Indian Reservation | Arizona | 1,335 | 1,604.60 (4,155.89) |
| Fort Berthold Reservation | North Dakota | 6,341 | 1,582.62 (4,098.96) |
| Lake Traverse Reservation | North Dakota, South Dakota | 10,922 | 1,508.73 (3,907.59) |
| Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation | New Mexico | 3,254 | 1,374.06 (3,558.79) |
| Leech Lake Reservation | Minnesota | 10,660 | 1,310.57 (3,394.36) |
| Red Lake Reservation | Minnesota | 5,896 | 1,258.33 (3,259.07) |
| Nez Perce Reservation | Idaho | 18,437 | 1,204.25 (3,119.00) |
| White Earth Reservation | Minnesota | 9,562 | 1,167.01 (3,022.55) |
| Southern Ute Reservation | Colorado | 12,153 | 1,063.41 (2,754.21) |
| Warm Springs Reservation | Oregon | 4,012 | 1,023.04 (2,649.66) |
| Fort Belknap Reservation | Montana | 2,851 | 1,018.36 (2,637.54) |
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