How many cities have renamed Columbus Day / adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day?
Last updated October 10, 2023
• Approximate cities: 216
• Approximate schools: 83
• Approximate counties: 20
• Approximate states not observing Columbus Day: 29 + Wash D.C.
• Approximate schools: 83
• Approximate counties: 20
• Approximate states not observing Columbus Day: 29 + Wash D.C.
Indigenous Peoples' Day was first proposed in 1977 by a
delegation of Indigenous Nations to the UN-sponsored
International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. Thirty-five years later,
only two U.S. cities had renamed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day.
However, in just the 11 years since then, over 200 cities, counties, school districts, universities, and even some entire
states have joined them.
Great idea: On 9/19/2023, Miami-Dade County passed a resolution to designate the second Monday of October 2023 as [their region's tribe] Day, and every second Monday of every October thereafter as Indigenous People's Day. This is a great way to honor your region's Indigenous presence and/or legacy, while still honoring the national movement towards Indigenous Peoples' Day as called for by the 1977 UN-sponsored Conference and others.
Great idea: On 9/19/2023, Miami-Dade County passed a resolution to designate the second Monday of October 2023 as [their region's tribe] Day, and every second Monday of every October thereafter as Indigenous People's Day. This is a great way to honor your region's Indigenous presence and/or legacy, while still honoring the national movement towards Indigenous Peoples' Day as called for by the 1977 UN-sponsored Conference and others.
Which cities have renamed Columbus Day / adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day?
There are probably some cities, counties, and schools that we've missed here.
If you're aware of any additions or corrections to the list below, please
email us.
Note that we're no longer including proclamations,
only resolutions or similarly recurring documents.
- Ada, Oklahoma2019Article
- Albuquerque, New Mexico2015Video (min 5)
- Alexandria, Virginia2019Article
- Alpena, Michigan2015Article
- Amherst, Massachusetts2016Resolution
- Anadarko, Oklahoma2015Article
- Anchorage, Alaska2015Article
- Ann Arbor, Michigan2016Resolution
- Aquinnah, Massachusetts2023Article
- Arlington, Massachusetts2021Resolution
- Asheville, North Carolina2016Article
- Aspen, Colorado2017Article
- Austin, Texas2017ArticleAudio
- Bainbridge Island, WA2016Resolution
- Baltimore, Maryland2020OrdinanceAudio
- Bangor, Maine2017Article
- Bar Harbor, Maine2017Resolution (pg 18)
- Beaverton, Oregon2016Article
- Bedford, Massachusetts2021Article
- Belfast, Maine2015Article
- Bellingham, Washington2014Coast Salish Day
*In 2014, Indigenous Peoples' Day was still not well known, and this city renamed in honor of their region's Indigenous tribe. That's not recommended now. - Belmont, Massachusetts2021Article
- Berea, Kentucky2018Article
- Berkeley, California1992Article
- Bethlehem, NH2022Article
- Bloomington, Indiana2019Resolution
- Boise, Idaho2018Article
- Boston, Massachusetts2021Executive OrderAudio
- Boulder, Colorado2016Resolution
- Bozeman, Montana2016Article
- Brattleboro, Vermont0000City Announcement
- Brewer, Maine0000City Announcement
- Brodhead, Kentucky2018Article
- Brookline, Massachusetts2017Resolution
- Brunswick, Maine2017Article
- Burbank, California2017Article
- Burlingame, California0000City Calendar
- Burnside, Kentucky2018Article
- Buxton, Maine0000City Announcement
- Campbell, California2023Video (h1:m26)
- Cambridge, Massachusetts2016ResolutionAudio
- Carlsbad, California2022Document
- Carrboro, North Carolina2015Resolution
- Charlottesville, Virginia2017Resolution (pg 12)
- Chelsea, Maine0000City Announcement
- Cheverly, Maryland0000City Announcement
- Cincinnati, Ohio2018ResolutionAudio
- Coachella, California2022City website
- Colorado Springs, CO2020ArticleAudio
- Columbus, Ohio2020Article
*Columbus, Ohio first removed Columbus Day in 2018, and then adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2020. - Concord, New Hampshire2021Article
- Corbin, Kentucky2018Article
- Corpus Christi, Texas2018Article
- Corvallis, Oregon2015Oregon.gov
- Crab Orchard, Kentucky2018Article
- Dallas, Texas2019ResolutionAudio
- Davenport, Iowa2017Article
- Davis, California2019Article
- Denver, Colorado2016ArticleAudio
- Detroit, Michigan2017Article
- Dover, New Hampshire2020Resolution
- Durango, Colorado2016Resolution
- Durham, New Hampshire2017Resolution
- East Lansing, Michigan2016Resolution
- Easthampton, MA2021Resolution
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin2017Article
- Edina, Minnesota2016Resolution
- Edmonds, Washington2017Article
- El Paso, Texas2020Resolution
- Eugene, Oregon2016ResolutionAudio
- Exeter, New Hampshire2020Article
- Falls Church, Virginia2017-22Annual Proclamation
Proclamations are not recommended. We're still including a few cities here that have an existing pattern of annual proclamations, but not adding new cities on the basis of one-year proclamations. - Falmouth, Massachusetts2021Article
- Fargo, North Dakota2015Article
- Farmington, New Mexico2017Article
- Ferndale, Michigan2016Article
- Flagstaff, Arizona2018ResolutionAudio
- Fort Collins, Colorado2022Resolution
- Frankfort, Kentucky2018Article
- Gig Harbor, Washington2020Resolution
- Golden Valley, Minnesota0000City Announcement
- Gouldsboro, Maine2018Article
- Grand Forks, North Dakota2019Resolution
- Grand Marais, Minnesota2015Resolution (pg 16)
- Grand Rapids, Minnesota2014Article
- Great Barrington, MA2019Article
- Harrodsburg, Kentucky2018Article
- Hartford, Connecticut2021Resolution
- Helena, Montana2018Resolution
- Hillsborough, N. Carolina2015Article
- Holyoke, Massachusetts2021Resolution
- Hopkinsville, Kentucky2018Article
- Hopkinton, NH2019Article
- Houston, Texas2020ResolutionAudio
- Iowa City, Iowa2017Article
- Ithaca, New York2017Ordinance (pg 18)
- Junction City, Kentucky2018Article
- Kalamazoo, Michigan2017Resolution
- Kansas City, Missouri2017ArticleAudio
- Keene, New Hampshire2019Article
- Lancaster, Kentucky2018Article
- Las Cruces, New Mexico0000City Announcement
- Laurel, Maryland2023Minutes
- Lawrence, Kansas2016Resolution
- Lawton, Oklahoma2018Article
- Lewiston, New York2015Article
- Liberty, Kentucky2018Article
- Lincoln, Massachusetts0000City Calendar
- Livingston, Kentucky2018Article
- London, Kentucky2018Article
- Long Beach, California2017Article
- Los Altos, California0000City Calendar
- Los Angeles, California2017ArticleAudio
- Louisville, Kentucky2018City website
- Madison, Wisconsin2016ResolutionAudio
- Malden, Massachusetts20212nd Monday Proc
- Manitou Springs, Colorado2021Resolution
- Mankato, Minnesota2018Article
- Mansfield, Connecticut2020Resolution
- Mapleton, Minnesota0000City Calendar
- Maplewood, Missouri2021Resolution
- Marblehead, MA2019Article
- Mashpee, Massachusetts2019Article
- Maynard, Massachusetts2021Article
- Melrose, Massachusetts2021City website
- Minneapolis, Minnesota2014ArticleAudio
- Missoula, Montana2019Resolution
- Montgomery, Alabama2020City website
- Moorhead, Minnesota2019Article
- Moscow, Idaho2017Resolution
- Mt. Vernon, Kentucky2018Article
- Muncie, Indiana2021Resolution
- Nashua, New Hampshire2020Resolution
- Nashville, Tennessee2017Resolution
- Newark, New Jersey2017Notice
- Newburyport, MA2021Article
- Newcastle, Maine0000City Announcement
- Newstead, New York2015Article
- Newton, Massachusetts2021Article
- Norman, Oklahoma2017Resolution
- Norristown, Pennsylvania2020Resolution
- North Miami, Florida2020Resolution
- Northampton, MA2016Resolution
- Oak Park, Illinois2017Article
- Oberlin, Ohio2017Resolution
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma2018Article
- Okmulgee, Oklahoma2018Article
- Olympia, Washington2015Article
- Orono, Maine2017Article
- Osseo, Minnesota2023City Website
- Palo Alto, California2022Article
*This city made a major mistake in their rename, and it was obvious from watching council discussion that they hadn't done their homework on the issue or movement. While they technically renamed Columbus Day and adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day, their resolution should not be copied. - Perryville, Kentucky2018Article
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania2021Executive Order
- Phoenix, Arizona2016ArticleAudio
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts2018Article
- Portland, Maine2017Article
- Portland, Oregon2015ResolutionAudio
- Portsmouth, NH2022Article
- Prestonsburg, Kentucky2018Article
- Princeton, New Jersey2019ResolutionAudio
- Princeton, Texas0000City Calendar
- Provincetown, MA2019Article
- Pullman, Washington2018Resolution
- Red Wing, Minnesota2014Chief Red Wing Day
*In 2014, Indigenous Peoples' Day was still not well known, and this city renamed in honor of the Dakota Chief, Red Wing. That's not recommended now. - Reno, Nevada2019ResolutionAudio
*See the amendment at the bottom of Reno's resolution. After discussion, they understood the importance of including that wording(2). - Richmond, California0000City Calendar
- Richmond, Kentucky2018Article
- Rio Rancho, NM0000City Calendar
- Rochester, New York2018Ordinance (pg. 17)
- Russell Springs, Kentucky2018Article
- Salem, Massachusetts2020Resolution (pg 5-8)
- Salisbury, Maryland2020Video
- Salt Lake City, Utah2017Resolution
- San Fernando, California2015Resolution (pg 219)
- San Francisco, California2018Admin CodeAudio
- San Jose, California2020Article
- San Luis Obispo, CA2017ArticleAudio
- San Leandro, CA2021Resolution
- Santa Barbara, CA2018Article
*This city made a major mistake in their rename. While they technically renamed Columbus Day and adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day, their resolution should not be copied. See Santa Barbara County's 2020 resolution below for a better example. - Santa Clara, California2022Article
- Santa Cruz, California1994Article
- Santa Fe, New Mexico2016Resolution
- Science Hill, Kentucky2018Article
- Seattle, Washington2014ResolutionAudio
- Somerset, Kentucky2018Article
- Somerville, MA2018City website
- South El Monte, California0000City Calendar
- South Fulton, Georgia2018Press release
- South Lake Tahoe, CA2019ResolutionAudio
- South San Francisco, CA2020City Website
- Southfield, Michigan2018Article
- Spokane, Washington2016ResolutionAudio
- Springfield, Kentucky2018Article
- Springfield, Oregon2017Article
- St. Paul, Minnesota2015Article
- Stanford, Kentucky2017Article
- Starks, Maine2017Article
- Suisun City, California2021Resolution
- Superior, Wisconsin2017Article
- Tacoma, Washington2018ResolutionAudio
- Tahlequah, Oklahoma2017Article
- Takoma Park, Maryland2019Resolution
- Taylorsville, Kentucky2018Article
- Tempe, Arizona2021Article
- Traverse City, Michigan2015Article
- Victor, New York0000City Calendar
- Washington D.C.2019ActAudio
- Waterville, Maine0000City Website
- Watsonville, California2017Announcement
- Wausau, Wisonsin2018Article
- Wellesley, Massachusetts2021Website
- West Lafayette, Indiana2021Article
- Wichita, Kansas2019-22Annual proclamation
Proclamations are not recommended. We're still including a few cities here that have an existing pattern of annual proclamations, but not adding new cities on the basis of one-year proclamations. - Woodstock, Virginia2015City website
- Yakima, Washington2016City website
- Ypsilanti, Michigan2016Article
Counties that have renamed Columbus Day:
- Barnstable County, MA0000Article
- Bexar County, Texas2015Article
- Boulder County, CO0000Cnty Announcement
- Columbia County, Oregon2021Resolution
- Cook County, Minnesota2015Article
- Harris County, Texas2020Article
- Howard County, MD0000County Calendar
- Inyo County, California2021Annual proclamation
Proclamations are not recommended. We're still including a few places here that have an existing pattern of annual proclamations, but not making additions on the basis of one-year proclamations. - Johnson County, Iowa2017Article
- King County, WA0000Cnty Announcement
- Los Alamos County, NM0000Cnty Announcement
- Marathon County, WI2019Article
- Miami-Dade County, FL2023Resolution
- Montgomery County, MD2020Article
- Sacramento County, CA2023Article
- San Juan County, WA2023Article
- Santa Barbara, CA2020Resolution
- Sonoma County, CA2020Resolution
- Tompkins County, NY2018Article
- Ventura County, CA2019Article
School districts and universities that have renamed Columbus Day:
- ACES Public Schools, NM0000Calendar
- Akron Central School District, NY2015Article
- Alliance DOM High, CA0000Calendar
- Ashland Schools, MA0000Calendar
- Bethlehem Schools, NH2022Article
- Boston University, MA2021BU.edu
- Bremerton School District, WA0000Calendar
- Bridgeport School District, CT2015Article
- Bronx GLIG, NY0000Calendar
- Brown University, RI2016Brown.edu
- Buffalo Creek Academy, NY0000Calendar
- Buford Schools, GA0000Calendar
- Calico Rock, AR0000Calendar
- Cardinal Hayes, NY0000Calendar
- Charles Armstrong School, CA0000Calendar
- Chicago Public Schools, IL2019Article
- Churchill School, NY0000Calendar
- Coats Erwin Middle, NC0000Calendar
- Colorado State University, CO2020Article
- Columbia University, NY2019Columbia.edu
- Concord School District, MA2020Article
- Cornell University, NY2017Article
- Corvallis School District, OR2020Resolution
- CSU Fullerton, CA2017Resolution
- Drake University, IA2018Article
- Eau Claire School District, WI2017Resolution
- Edmonds School District, WA0000Resolution
- Fairfax County Schools, VA2020Article
- Gorham High School, ME0000Calendar
- Graceland University, IA2017Article
- Grafton Schools, MA2021Article
- Harvard University, MA2017Article
- Honeoye Central School District, NY0000Calendar
- Indian River High, FL0000Calendar
- Ithaca City School District, NY2017Article
- John Fuller Elementary, NH0000Calendar
- Keene State College, NH2019Article
- Lake Bluff Schools, IL0000Calendar
- Lasell University, MA2019Lasell.edu
- Loudoun County Schools, VT2020Article
- Michigan State University, MI0000Calendar
- Monclair Schools, NJ2020Article
- Mount Vernon District, NY0000Calendar
- New Haven School, CT2020Article
- New York City Schools, NY2021Article
- Niagara-WC School District, NY2016Article
- Northampton Public Schools, MA0000Calendar
- Oak Grove School, IL0000Calendar
- Orange County Schools, NC2018Resolution
- Pittsfield Schools, MA2018Article
- Plattsburgh Schools, NY2016Article
- Port Richmond High School, NY0000Calendar
- Rochester Schools, MN2016Article
- Ronan School District, MT0000Calendar
- Rowan University, NJ0000Calendar
- Sacred Heart Academy, CT0000Calendar
- Saint Joseph's College, ME0000Calendar
- San Diego School District, CA2019Article
- San Francisco School District, CA2017Article
- Santa Clara School District, CA2021Resolution
- Seattle School District, WA2014Resolution
- Southampton Schools, NY2018Article
- Syracuse University, NY2016SYR.edu
- Taft High School, IL2023TaftHighSchool.org
- Tufts University, MA0000Calendar
- University of Alaska Fairbanks2017UAF.edu
- University of Arizona2018Arizona.edu
- University of Buffalo, NY2021Buffalo.edu
- University of Central Oklahoma2016UCO.edu
- University of Idaho2017UIdaho.edu
- Univ of Massachusetts0000Calendar
- University of Montana2016Resolution
- University of Nevada, Reno2023Pres Letter
- University of New Mexico2018UNM.edu
- University of Utah2016Article
- University of Wisconsin Eau Claire2017Resolution
- Vassar, NY2023Pres Letter
- Von Steuben MSC, IL0000Calendar
- Washington State University, WA2018WSU.edu
- Westborough Schools, MA2021Article
- Winona State University, MN2016Winona.edu
- Woodland School District, CA2021Resolution
- Worcester Academy, MA0000Calendar
States that have stopped observing Columbus Day:
To "observe" a holiday means to take it off from work/school. When Columbus Day was first observed by the Federal government, it was already a holiday in 40 states. However, with the truth about Columbus now well known, only about half that number of states are still observing it:- AlaskaDoesn't observe CD
- ArkansasDoesn't observe CD
- CaliforniaDoesn't observe CD
- ColoradoDoesn't observe CD
- DelawareDoesn't observe CD
- FloridaDoesn't observe CD
- HawaiiDoesn't observe CD
- IowaDoesn't observe CD
- KansasDoesn't observe CD
- KentuckyDoesn't observe CD
- LouisianaDoesn't observe CD
- MaineObserves Indigenous Peoples' Day
- MichiganDoesn't observe CD
- MinnesotaObserves Indigenous Peoples' Day
- MississippiDoesn't observe CD
- NevadaDoesn't observe CD
- New MexicoObserves Indigenous Peoples' Day
- North CarolinaDoesn't observe CD
- North DakotaDoesn't observe CD
- OklahomaDoesn't observe CD
- OregonDoesn't observe CD
- South CarolinaDoesn't observe CD
- South DakotaDoesn't observe CD
- TennesseeDoesn't observe CD
- TexasDoesn't observe CD
- VermontDoesn't observe CD
- WashingtonDoesn't observe CD
- WisconsinDoesn't observe CD
- WyomingDoesn't observe CD
- +Washington D.C.Observes Indigenous Peoples' Day
States that have recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day or similar:
*There's a lot of variation in what states have done. Ideally, the second Monday in October should be renamed to Indigenous Peoples' Day with a resolution or bill, not a single-date proclamation. However, we do include proclamations below, since states that issue proclamations are likely to continue doing so.**The list below does not include states that have established a day of Indigenous recognition on a day other than the second Monday of October. At the very least, the date has to be correct in order to be considered similar to Indigenous Peoples' Day.
- AlabamaAmerican Indian Day and CD
- AlaskaArticle 2015 Proclamation
- Arizona2020 Proclamation
- California2022 Proclamation
- HawaiiRecognizes Discoverers' Day
- Iowa2018
- Kentucky2021 Resolution
- Louisiana2019
- MaineObserves Indigenous Peoples' Day Calendar
- Michigan2019 Proclamation
- Minnesota2016 Proclamation 2023
- NebraskaObserves Indigenous Peoples' Day and CD
- Nevada2020 Proclamation
- New Mexico2019 House Bill Observes IPD
- North Carolina2018 Proclamation
- OklahomaNative American Day and CD
- Oregon2021 House Bill Article
- Rhode IslandObserves Indigenous Peoples' Day and CD
- South DakotaObserves Native American Day
In 1989, Indigenous Peoples' Day was still not well known, and this state renamed to Native American Day. That's not recommended now. - Vermont2016 Bill
- Virginia2020 Proclamation
- Wisconsin2019 Executive Order
- +Washington D.C.Observes Indigenous Peoples' Day