An extraction of the 1930 Indian Census for the Ponca tribe of the Ponca Reservation in South Dakota. In 1930 there were 398 members that fell under the jurisdiction of the Yankton Agency. Most of them still resided within the Ponca Reservation, but some had moved elsewhere and are so indicated within the actual census images. This extraction provides their given names, surnames, sometimes the maiden name, age, and sex of each tribal member.
The Ponca Tribe is part of the Dhegiha group of the Siouan family, closely related to the Omaha. Their history parallels that of the Omaha until the final separation near the Niobrara River. Historically, they lived in earth lodges, cultivated land, and hunted. By the early 19th century, their numbers had declined significantly due to disease and conflict with the Sioux, leading to their forced relocation to Indian Territory in 1877. The tribe’s current population is divided between Nebraska and Indian Territory with distinct gentes and surnames reflecting their interactions with Europeans.