The Poarch Band descends from Muscogee Creek Indians who sided with the United States in the Creek War of 1813–1814. Many Creeks remained in Alabama despite the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
They have lived in Alabama as a distinct community for the last two centuries. The Poarch Band represents only some of the descendants of those who were not removed.
Over the decades, many Indians intermarried with African-American or European-American neighbors, and some descendants assimilated into those social and cultural groups.
The Poarch Creek Indian Reservation is located in southern Alabama near the city of Atmore, Alabama. Their current tribal chairman is Buford L. Rolin The tribe owns Poarch Creek Indian Gaming, which operates three casinos: Wind Creek Casino and Hotel in Atmore, Creek Casino Wetumpka (formerly Riverside Entertainment Center) in Wetumpka, and Creek Casino Montgomery (formerly Tallapoosa Entertainment Center) in Montgomery.
Tribal membership requirements
To be eligible to enroll in the tribe, people must be descended from the American Indians listed on the either of three roles: 1870 U.S. Census of Escambia County, Alabama; 1900 U.S. Census of Escambia County, Alabama; 1900 U.S. Special Indian Census of Monroe County, Alabama. Besides being of Muscogee Creek heritage, they must have a minimum blood quantum of 1/4 American Indian blood and not be enrolled in any other tribe to enroll in the tribe.