Encompassing over 27,000 square miles in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, the Navajo Nation (NN) is the geographically largest Native American nation in the U.S. With 256,712 enrolled members, it is the second largest in population; 175,228 Navajos reside within the Nation's boundaries. This is a 3.5 times increase over the 50,000 people who lived on the Nation's 17 million acres in 1940 and marketed 300,000 lambs annually. (Data from the 2000 US Census, provided by the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development.)

The Navajo Nation is divided into 110 Chapters (local governance units), grouped into five Agencies (administrative districts). Kayenta is the only incorporated township. Most population centers are clusters of housing around schools, hospitals, trading posts, and chapter houses. Distances are vast and the road conditions are rough on any vehicle. According to the NDED, NN unemployment is 44 percent, the median family income is $11,885, and the per
capita income is $6,217.